MOUNTAIN REST COMMUNITY CLUB, Oconee County, SC Business - Merchants Version 2.3, 1-Apr-2003, MR-11.TXT **************************************************************** REPRODUCING NOTICE: ------------------- These electronic pages may not be reproduced in any format for profit, or presentation by any other organization, or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. Paul M Kankula - nn8nn Seneca, SC, USA Oconee County SC GenWeb Coordinator Oconee County SC GenWeb Homestead http://www.rootsweb.com/~scoconee/oconee.html Oconee County SC GenWeb Tombstone Project http://www.rootsweb.com/~scoconee/cemeteries.html http://www.rootsweb.com/~cemetery/southcarolina/oconee.html **************************************************************** DATAFILE INPUT . : Linda Flynn at ke8fd@@bellsouth.net.com in Apr-2003 DATAFILE LAYOUT : Paul M. Kankula at kankula1@innova.net in Apr-2003 BUSINESSES OF THE PAST AROUND MOUNTAIN REST Stumphouse Store, located almost where Lamar Land's house sits today, was operated by the Driscoll family during the early 1920s. Land's Grocery, owned and operated by Lamar and Ethel Land for many years. Scrouge Out, located about one-half mile west of top of mountain, built by Gillard family about 1932 and later operated by the Vissage family, closed sometime in early 1950s. John S. Carter Store, operated for many years by John S. and Maggie Carter. Koller Restaurant, owned and operated by David and Millie Koller, 1974-78. Lombard Grocery was a log building near the Lombard home on Highway 107, operated by Oly and Beulah Lombard from 1933 til 1953. They moved to here from Jackson County, NC. Their son. Jack Lombard, now lives at the homeplace and has moved the log building, and uses it as part of his museum. The first store near intersection of Highway 28 and 107 was built by the Browns and operated first by Leonard Campbell, J.T. Fowler, Dennis and Mary (Fowler) Hamby 1936 til 1943, Juan and Lula Fowler 1943 til 1946, George Cowan, then J.L.(Buck) and Ora Blakely 1947 til 1960. Wade and Pauline Nicholson 1961 til 1963. After they moved, the building was torn down. Store on Earles Ford Road in Whetstone Community. The Samuel Conleys had a store on Earles Ford Road. In later years, Ike Henry and wife Clara (Conley) ran the store until the 1940s. J.H. and Mattie Brown lived on a road behind the CCC camp #1, at Whetstone, and had a country store in their yard. This was a popular place for the CCC boys to buy tobacco, etc. The Browns built a store building at the four-way stop at Whetstone. The first to operate the store was W.T.(Tim) Ramey. He had a set of real elk horns over the door and named the store "Elk Horn Station." Others who operated the store were a Mr. Crowe, Mr. and Mrs. Jack Duncan, and last, Mr. and Mrs. Boone Cobb.--[PN] PRESENT BUSINESSES AROUND MOUNTAIN REST The Whittler is located in the Belmont Community on Whetstone Road, built and operated by Mack and Lucille Vissage, opened in the summer of 1982, and features arts and crafts. Piedmont Sandwich Company and Piedmont Pantry: It all began in the late 1960s when Jimmy and Edith Nash moved to the Mountain Rest community. Having been in the food service business before, they began their "sandwich factory" on the Whetstone Road. The first employee other than family members was Glenda McCall, who later married their son, David Nash. Mr. Nash proudly displayed their first invoice for sandwiches--they were sold to Lamar and Ethel Land who ran a store for many years on the corner of Highway 28 and Whetstone Road. A few years after beginning the sandwich business, the Nashes decided to build a restaurant and thus began Piedmont Pantry. They served delicious homecooked buffet meals and never lacked for customers when the Pantry was open. Tourists enjoyed eating there and were always anxious to take their friends. Their business grew to the point that when the Nashes began to have to slow down and take longer vacation breaks, there were many disappointed customers. Issaqueena Falls Dining Room, owned and operated by Mr. and Mrs. Randall Eades. Stump House Quick Stop, owned and operated by Randall Eades. Wayne's Grocery, operated by Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Owens. The building is owned by Hercial Moore. Matheson Grocery, owned and operated by Mr. and Mrs. Zeke Phillips. Nicholson Grocery, owned and operated by Mr. and Mrs. Wade Nicholson, begun in 1961. Roy's Jewelry, owned and operated by Roy and Edna Sams, begun in 1983. One of the most recent businesses in Mountain Rest is Roy's Jewelry, located in a mobile home between Nicholson's Grocery and Cuzzins. Roy Sams, owner of the business, moved from Florida to Franklin, NC, after his wife passed away. While in North Carolina, he met Edna S. Collins, widow of John E. Collins, Sr., who had lived in Mountain Rest since 1946. The Samses were married in September 1983, and in October they opened their jewelry and craft shop. Roy does custom-made pieces, repairs jewelry, and likes to make products from gems from all over. On the side, he works on mowers and chainsaws, too. He's had practice as a mechanic for a long time. Bring your repairs to Roy and see what he can do with them. Edna is a retired teacher and spends a lot of her time in the craft department making afghans and other crochet pieces. They are gradually enlarging the craft materials and also handle some small antiques. Burrell's Place: In 1970 Morgan Burrell opened Burrell's Grocery and Service Station at the old Toll Gate place on Highway 107. Sometime later Burrell decided to try selling beer at his place, and he picked up the first load from the distributor in his own truck and the rest is history. The name has been changed to Burrell's Place, and the gas pumps are no longer in use. It is a popular place for all who stop by to visit with Morgan and his wife, Clara, whether it be the college professor or student, hunter or fisherman, tourist, or just the local "good ole boy." If you happen to stop by on certain nights, you can hear live bluegrass music by Burrell's Turnpike Rambler Band or some other group. Mountain Rest Superette. The building is owned by the Browns and houses the Mountain Rest Post Office. The store is operated by Elwin Collins. Moxley Ann Sons, building and construction company was begun in 1983. It involves the whole family, his wife, the former Ann Brown, sons Rick, Charles, and Thorn. Carson Henry has recently opened a hand-crafted furniture business in the old John S. Carter building. Cuzzins Store, at the intersection of Highway 28 and 107, owned and operated by Mr. and Mrs. Robert Lowery. This building was built about 1946 by Juan W. Fowler, and he and his wife Lula operated a store there for some time, as Fowler's Store. He sold it to Big Jim Rochester; it was then sold to a Mr. Carter, later to T.L. Mack. Ben Rogers operated it for several years, and sold it to his grandsons, Perry Rogers and Roger Butts. They renamed it Cuzzins Store, and it is still known as Cuzzins Store. Musicians gather there every Saturday night for a jam session.--[PN] Conley Lodge Summer Home MRS. W. P. HENRY, Manager MOUNTAIN REST, SC This well known old Southern home is located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the beautiful valley of Whetstone, with its fertile fields and laughing brooks where swimming, fishing, mountain climbing and other forms of recreation are available. Two cottages are available by those preferring them on account of the privacy they afford. People with communicable diseases not accepted. We are limited in rooms. Early reservations desirable. Rates $7-per week, payable weekly. Most convenient Railroad Station is Walhalla, SC. Motor parties may get directions from Piedmont Motor Company, Walhalla, SC. Trains will be met for registered guests. For further information write Mrs. W.P. Henry, 115 Sprindale Street, Athens, Georgia, or after June 15th, address Mountain Rest, SC. [ca. 1920s]