Living-and-breathing history

'Revolutionary War Days' mix
costumed performers with firing of cannons

April 16, 2007

By MIKE ROSIER
Index-Journal staff writer

NINETY SIX — “Signora Bella” rings her bell enthusiastically, and curious visitors from all corners of the Ninety Six National Historic Site stream quickly to her call.
“Bella” — who’s really professional period performer Jody Ellis — then proceeds to hold them captive for the next 45 minutes with a variety of feats worthy of a true 1700s-era traveling performer, decked out in period dress of colorful pantaloons and a drawstring corset.
Her awe-inspiring “feats” would include the juggling of sharpened blades and flaming brands, maneuvering atop a “razor-sharp ball of death” and the navigation of a slack rope.
Using her considerable talents, honed during 17 years of performance, Ellis mesmerized the crowd as part of this past weekend’s “Revolutionary War Days” event — taking place at the Ninety Six National Historic Site complete with its noted “Star Fort” and the crack and boom of smooth-bore muskets and a 6-pound cannon.
“Bella” — using a thick, “Northern Italian” accent — asks the crowd for four brave volunteers.
Numerous excited hands are raised.
She instructs her first volunteer, an eager middle-aged man dubbed “David the Brave,” to steady a rotund globe — her “razor-sharp ball of death” — for the first part of her act.
“Would you like to see such a feat?” she inquires.
The audience responds with a collective yell that propels her atop the ball, on which she walks forward slowly in front of the crowd. She then asks her other sturdy volunteers — three strapping young lads — to toss her a variety of articles, which she then juggles.
The audience eats it up and thanks her with a loud ovation.
It’s just the sort of interaction that makes Ellis want to tighten her breathtaking corset for another eight-hour day of walking ropes and juggling fiery brands.
It’s exactly what she and other period performers live for — the art of a living history.
“I enjoy having the intimacy, and the fact that I can look everyone in the eye when I perform,” Ellis said following her fourth performance Saturday. “I appreciate that aspect a lot of about what I do. That’s the most gratification I get from (performing). I enjoy the interaction, and the fact that we can feed off of each other.”
Having traveled the country as a full-time performer now for four years, Ellis, who got her start in colonial Williamsburg, Va., says the Ninety Six event is a new favorite.
“It was a very good day,” said Ellis, a native of northern California. “This was my first time in this part of South Carolina, and it’s a beautiful part of the country. The people were great. I’ve been doing ‘Signora Bella’ since 1990 and I have an Italian heritage. (Bella) and I ebb and flow a lot, so it’s a lot of fun. I’ve done my research. George Washington writes about slack-rope walking in Philadelphia. I enjoy this very much.”
But Ellis’ performance as “Signora Bella” was hardly the weekend’s lone attraction.
Members of the South Carolina Society of the Sons of the American Revolution and U.S. Rep. Gresham Barrett gathered for a ceremony to honor the first South Carolinian patriot to be killed in action during the American Revolution — James Birmingham, of the Long Cane Militia. Birmingham also holds the little-known distinction of being the first patriot soldier to die following the more noted clashing of arms at Lexington and Concord — at the Battle of Ninety Six in 1775.
More than 100 people attended the ceremony.
Other highlights included the firing of a 6-pound cannon nicknamed “Boots” and the blasting of a small-yet-lethal swivel gun from atop the “Star Fort” ramparts.
Longtime historic performer Scott Bester, who represented an artillery sergeant of the Second Regiment of the South Carolina Line Continentals, and who commanded the “Boots” gun crew, said he enjoys the light he sees in the eyes of youngsters — many of whom are seeing living, breathing history displayed for the very first time.
“This is a good way of presenting history,” he said. “It’s about the look in a child’s eyes when they look up and see all the equipment and the cannon, and the idea that they are actually enjoying history. I grew up with American history. I just love it.”
There were other performers dressed in the authentic uniform and dress of colonial settlers, the famed British “redcoats” and even a proud Cherokee warrior.
Visitors were also treated to the firing of smooth-bore muskets, the life of a true-to-history settler’s camp and the fire-stoked activities of a Colonial-era blacksmith.
Eric Williams serves as chief park ranger and historian of the Ninety Six site.
He says performers like Ellis, with her “Signora Bella” in tow, aid the park in presenting youngsters with a side of history they’ve never encountered before.
“The event was very well attended,” Williams said. “We want to engage children and show them that history can be fun, and (Ellis) helped with that. The crowds were steady throughout the weekend and were very enthusiastic. It was a great weekend for the park.”

Obituaries

Helen Alverson

Helen Martin Alverson, 77, of 3921Wilbert Street, widow of Jerome Walsh Alverson, died Saturday, April 14, 2007, at Self Regional Medical Center.
Born in Ninety Six; a daughter of the late Claude and Florence Lankford Martin. She was retired from the Mathews Plant of Greenwood Mills and was formerly employed by Security Forces. She was a member of First Free Will Baptist Church.
Surviving are a son Ronald “Randy” Spencer and wife Pam of Hodges; two daughters, Vickie Rice and husband John of Greenwood and Tamela Bundrick-Adams and husband James of Ninety Six; one brother, Walter L. “Buddy” Martin of Greenwood; five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Services will be 3 p.m. Tuesday, at First Free Will Baptist Church with the Rev. Paul Reid, Rev. Chris Todd, and Rev. Bobby Davis officiating. Burial will follow in McCormick City Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Billy Martin Jr., Gene Martin, Bo Willis, Billy Elgin, Connie Stamps, and Michael O’Shields.
Honorary escorts will be grandsons, great grandsons, and Bill Mack Stamps, Jr.
The body is at Harley Funeral Home where the family will receive friends Monday night from 6 until 8 p.m. and will be placed in the church at 2 p.m. Tuesday.
The family is at the home of her daughter Tamela Bundrick-Adams, 2109 Ninety Six Highway.
Memorials may be made to the Greenwood Humane Society, P.O. Box 242, Greenwood, SC, 29648.
Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.harleyfuneralhome.com.

Mozelle Fuller

Mozelle Maggie Smith Fuller, 84, resident of National Health Care in Greenwood, widow of Casper Lee Fuller, died April 15, 2007, at Self Regional Medical Center.
Born in Parksville, she was a daughter of the late William H. and Florence Hipp Smith. She was a homemaker. Mrs. Fuller was a member of Restoration Ministries Church of God, formerly South Greenwood Church of God.
Survivors include two sons, William “Bill” and wife, Irene Fuller of Waterloo and Clarence and wife, Rebecca Fuller of Greenwood; a daughter, Sara Fuller Garland and husband, Danny of Ninety Six; nine grandchildren; ten great-grandchildren. Mrs. Fuller was preceded in death by a son, Charles L. Fuller. She was the last member of her immediate family.
Funeral services will be conducted 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 17, 2007, at Restoration Ministries with Rev. Brandon Sinclair, Rev. Tommy Wooten, and Rev. Jason Garner officiating.
Burial will be in Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
Pallbearers will be Jeff Fuller, Charlie Miller, Hoyt Fuller, Danny Garland, Fred Fuller, Hamilton Fuller, Woody Hensley, and Roy Smith, Jr.
Honorary escort will be the staff of Station No.1 at National Healthcare of Greenwood and the Men’s and Ladies Sunday School Class at the Restoration Church.
The family is at the home of Bill and Irene Fuller, 770 Isle of Pines Circle and Sara and Danny Garland, 702 Sherrard Road and will receive friends 7-9 p.m. Monday evening at Blyth Funeral Home.
The body is at Blyth Funeral Home and will be placed in the church one hour prior to the service.
For additional information and online condolences, please visit www.blythfuneralhome.com.
Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation services is assisting the Fuller family.

William V. Jordan

ABBEVILLE — William V. Jordan, the infant son of Matavia Elmore and Cornelius Jordan, died April 13, 2007, at Self Regional Healthcare center. Services are incomplete and will be announced by Brown and Walker Funeral. The family is at the home of his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Elmore, 103 Price St.

Alberta Freeman Payton Lewis

Mrs. Alberta Freeman Payton Lewis died Saturday, April 14, 2007, at the Self Regional Hospital.
Services are incomplete and will be announced by Walker Funeral Home. The family is at her home at 509 Church Street in McCormick.

Linnie Bell Minick

SALUDA — Linnie Bell Mobley Minick, 78, of 361 Logan St., died Thursday, April 12, 2007, at her home.
She was born in Saluda County, daughter of the late James and Janie Dozier Mobley. She was a member of Pleasant Hill Baptist Church and the Women Aide Society. She is survived by; son, Barrett Minick, Jr. of Saluda; three daughters, Linda K. Burton, Johnston, Ruby Sidberry and Claudia Minick both of Norristown, PA; four brothers, Eddie and James Mobley of Washington, D.C., Benjamin Mobley, Leesburg, Fla. and Clarence Mobley, Ohio; two sisters, Tommie Pugh and Janie Bonham both Saluda; five grandchildren, two great grands.
Services will be 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Pleasant Hill Baptist Church conducted by Reverend Clarence Kenner. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
The body will be placed in the church at 1 p.m.
Butler & Sons Funeral Home is in charge.

Mildred Plampin

Mildred Nalley Plampin, 82, resident of 104 Yorke Drive, widow of James N. Plampin died Saturday, April 14, 2007, at her residence.
Born in Easley September 2, 1924, a daughter of the late John L. and Annie Moore Nalley, she lived in Roslyn, PA for many years before returning to Greenwood in 1987. Mrs. Plampin was a member of South Main Street Baptist Church.
Survivors include her son, James N. “Jim” Plampin, Jr. of the home; daughter, Karen Plampin and husband, Michael of Slidell, LA; 5 grandchildren; 5 great-grandchildren; and brother, Jack Nalley of Fort Mill.
Funeral services will be conducted Wednesday at 10 a.m. from the Blyth Funeral Home Chapel with Reverend Ryan Eklund officiating. Entombment will follow at Oakbrook Memorial Park Mausoleum.
Pallbearers will be her son, son-in-law and grandsons.
The family is at the home, 104 Yorke Drive and will receive friends Tuesday from 6-8 p.m. at the funeral home.
The family would like to thank Health Related Personnel, especially Ella Cooke and Dianna Hallady who gave exceptional care to Mrs. Plampin over the last seven years.
Those desiring, may make memorials to Connie Maxwell Children’s Home, PO Box 1178, Greenwood, SC 29648 in memory of Mrs. Plampin.
For additional information and online condolences please visit www.blythfuneralhome.com.
Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services is assisting the Plampin family.

Rev. James Wiegman

Reverend Grover James Wiegman, 64, resident of 210 Bypass 225, husband of Kathryn Ann Lee Wiegman died Thursday, April 12, 2007, at his residence.
Born in Lansing, MI August 27, 1942, he was a son of Ruth Franks Wiegman and the late Paul Edward Wiegman, Sr. A graduate of Eastern High School in Lansing, MI and a US Army Veteran, he was a 1971 graduate of Kentucky Mountain Bible College in Jackson, KY. Having pastored at Greenwood Wesleyan Church for the past 6 years he was former pastor of Wyoming Wesleyan Church in Wyoming, MI, Rives Junction Wesleyan Church in Rives Junction, MI, Emanuel Grace Wesleyan Church in Lansing, MI, and Monticello Wesleyan Church in Charlottesville, VA.
Surviving in addition to his wife of 36 years of the home and his mother of Lansing, MI are two daughters, Sarah Wiegman and Sharon Fix and husband Daniel, all of Cincinnati, OH; grandson, Caleb Fix, also of Cincinnati, OH; 2 brothers, Paul Edward Wiegman, Jr. of Lansing, MI and Gary Douglas Wiegman of Grayling, MI.
Funeral services in Greenwood will be conducted Wednesday at 2 p.m. at the Greenwood Wesleyan Church with Reverend George Brassard officiating.
The body is at Blyth Funeral Home and will be placed in the church at 1 p.m. Wednesday.
Pallbearers will be Tony Seabolt, Mike Johns, David Johns, Ronnie Bentley, Needham Jones and Rodney Shaw.
Honorary escort will be Ministers of the Wesleyan Church of South Carolina.
The family is at the home, 210 Bypass 225 and will receive friends Tuesday from 7-9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Graveside funeral services with military honors will be Saturday at 3:30 p.m. at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens in Lansing, MI with Reverend Robert Bickert officiating. The family will receive friends at Gorsline Runciman Funeral Home in Lansing Saturday from 1-3 p.m.
Those desiring may make memorials to Greenwood Wesleyan Church, 210 Bypass 225 Greenwood, SC 29646 in memory of Reverend Wiegman.
For additional information and online condolences please visit www.blythfuneralhome.com.
Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services is assisting the Wiegman family.

Opinion

Usage policy is needed for state ‘grants’ fund

April 16, 2007

Supporters of a state “grants” fund say it was created to pay for the most deserving community projects. Critics, however, say it is being abused by some lawmakers who use the money - now at $22.5 million - for pet projects.
As the debate goes on in the South Carolina Legislature about how and by whom the fund should be used, there are sure to be pros and cons. That’s true of most things, especially where much of the public’s tax money is concerned. Grants, after all, whether state or federal, are all public money. Furthermore, grants, whether state or federal, are used in a variety of ways, with some of them questionable.

STATE SENATOR JIM RITCHIE, R-Spartanburg, perhaps put it in perspective best. “When the fund was first established,” Ritchie said, “I don’t think anyone ever thought it would end up having the amount of money it does. Given the amount of dollars now flowing through it, I think the public would expect careful analysis of its usage.”
That may be the understatement of the century. The public - taxpayers - should expect a “careful analysis” of all public money, how much there is, how much is used for what, and whether some of it should be given back to taxpayers in the form of tax cuts.
Consider a statement from one state lawmaker. “I’ve never been asked by a constituent to cut taxes.” After that public statement, it would be surprising if constituents didn’t pop that question to that lawmaker ..... often.

THERE IS ALWAYS ONE thing that never seems to change, though. The more money there is to spend, the more some lawmakers want to spend it. It’s also amazing, sometimes, how some look at it as “government” money and, therefore, should be spent.
It’s basic and simplified, perhaps, but remember: Government - federal, state and local - has no money it doesn’t get from taxpayers in one form or another. And when you consider that government, at all levels, is among the biggest, if not the biggest, employer in the country, it boggles the mind.
Careful analysis of how tax revenues are spent? That ought to be standard operating procedure without anyone having to say it.