Ridgeway, South Carolina
When the Charlotte and South Carolina Railway decided to build their new railroad along the "ridge way" instead of through Camden in the 1850s, the community known as "New Town" became "Ridgeway." Settled by the Scotch-Irish in 1799, today, the Fairfield County town is home to roughly 300 residents along US 21, SC 34, and what is now the Southern Railway.
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| Ruff's Old Store Museum (above) and the current Ruff's Hardware Store. The Ruff family has been operating businesses in Ridgeway since 1840. |
Downtown Ridgeway is a National Historic District and includes 31 different buildings. Specialty and antique shops, a tea room, and an art gallery can be found downtown. Ruff's Hardware Store and Ruff's Furniture Store have been in operation since 1840. Next to Ruff's Hardware is the Ruff's Old Store Museum - a trip back in time to how a general store appeared in the late 1800s.
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| Ruff's Chapel |
Just outside of downtown sits Ruff's Chapel, a former Methodist church built in 1873. In 1980, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. The church bears the last name of David H. Ruff, who owned the furniture and hardware store. The chapel was the first Methodist Church in Ridgeway, and Mr. Ruff is buried here.
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| The Thomas Company Building - advertising the "Pig on the Ridge" Festival - is now home to a tea room and deli. |
Ridgeway is home to two festivals: the "Pig on the Ridge Festival" occurs on the first Friday and Saturday of November. It is known as the largest Barbecue cookout in South Carolina. "Arts on the Ridge" occurs the first weekend in May. Ridgeway also celebrates the holidays with "Holiday on the Ridge" and an Easter Promenade.
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