You used to see these all over the place but no more. I can't even tell you the last time i've saw one. Maybe over in the Lake City or Mullins area they are more plentiful but not around Florence ... anymore.
They harken back to a by-gone era. When tobacco was picked by hand, bundled together and hung up to dry in these old barns built solely for this purpose. My brother used to work in tobacco when he was young. He said it was hard, hard backbreaking HOT work. I believe him. I never saw anybody look happy while doing it!
When our grandparents first moved down here to South Carolina from Pennsylvania they lived in Mullins in an area called "Penderborough". I have no idea where it even is today. I haven't been there since the 1970's. My brother worked tobacco for a man named Mr. Marvin Shelley. Mr. Marvin even came and visited us in Pennsylvania once.
I know you had to be very careful of snakes in these barns because they were rife with them. That right there kept me firmly OUT!
Anyway i've always loved these old barns. If this one falls down I might purloin a piece of wood from it and do... something with it. Not sure what but something.
Hope I didn't bore you too much with my meanderings into the past and hope you have a great week-end!
