BRANCHVILLE -- Just six months after a tornado ripped through the town of Branchville, the chairman of the popular Raylrode Daze Festivul is finally able to offer an upbeat appraisal of the ordeal.

"The tornado was one of the best things that ever happened to Branch Junction. It did us good to see how important the festival is," said Tom Jennings, a local banker who has spearheaded the nine-member committee for the past eight years. "In town, the people have fun with it. But to see people outside of town so interested in the outcome of our festival ... that was really heartwarming to me."

All along, the 2008 Raylrode Daze Festivul promised to be extra special. Coinciding with the town of Branchville's 150th birthday celebration, the session that kicks off today also marks the 40th anniversary of the historic festival that has delighted crowds for generations.

Then came March 15 and the devastating tornado that destroyed much of the town, including virtually every structure in Branch Junction, the festival center. Not only did the outlook for a special festival celebration look bleak, but the town's immediate future was in doubt.

"It was very dim. When the storm hit, the festival was on our list of concerns, but not very high up. Some people didn't have homes," Jennings said. "But the idea of not having a festival never entered my mind."

What type of festival, however, was the question.

"The Branch Junction was 95 percent destroyed. It was a dark and dismal outlook, as far as I was concerned," Jennings said. "But we never considered canceling."

So, according to Jennings, "phone calls were made," and "people came to our rescue." There was good participation in getting the storm debris cleaned up, and "what was once a very dismal, dim outlook was starting to look up."

"We got together that Sunday morning after the storm hit (Saturday night). The festival items had to get housed because of unsafe conditions," he said. "We still were not knowing what we could do. We tried to salvage what we could. We got some plans."

With donations and support from town residents and local elected officials, the Raylrode Daze Festivul Committee has been hard at work rebuilding the Junction ever since.

Stressing the "great economic impact on Branchville," state Sen. John Matthews said he was able to arrange for a $46,000 appropriation from the General Assembly as part of the county's economic development package. After talking with Branchville Mayor Tim Cooner and Orangeburg County Council Chairman Harry Wimberly shortly after the tornado, the senator said the effort began immediately to "get the Raylrode Festivul back on track."

"Community festivals are the glue that holds our communities together," he said. "It's part of our history."

Wimberly, who represents the Branchville area, provided $16,000 in county funds that were used to buy new buildings for the Junction from Discount Builders in Orangeburg.

"It's the least we could do under the circumstances, when the Branch Junction was totally destroyed. It was a collaborative effort on County Council," Wimberly said. "I was glad to be able to assist the Raylrode Daze Festivul Committee, and I look forward for a great Raylrode Daze."

In addition, County Council approved $35,000, or triple its previous appropriation, of accommodations tax money.

Of that $35,000, $20,000 goes for general promotional costs, while $15,000 is to attract a nationally known performer for two nights, along with promotional costs. Last year, the festival received $12,500 in accommodations tax funds.

The public needs to understand that the festival will continue, Wimberly told council.

"Everything they had got destroyed," he said. "There was some question in many folks' (minds) if the Raylrode Daze Festivul would happen because of the devastation on that side of town."

The rebuilding project, which began in late July, includes eight new buildings that are rented out during the festival, as well as a new welcome center and a new building in the Junction that's used for crafts and concessions.

"The big thing is we got the Red Dog back," said Jennings, referring to the "saloon" building that had been destroyed in a 2007 fire. "We were in the thought process of what we would do ... the Red Dog is used for storage. During the festival, we use it to play bingo ... and, if we have rain or bad weather, we can still put a band in there and have some kind of a festival."

Also planned at the Red Dog is today's big Sunday dinner barbecue that will kick off a week of celebration.

"Barbecue will be given out after church, around (noon) and then cake and ice cream and entertainment," Jennings said. "About 6 p.m. will be the church service."

Also on Sunday, Sept. 21, the contemporary Christian band All Will Be Won will perform, along with the Cal Smoak Special train rides and traditional performances by the Can-Can Girls and the Gunfighters.

Other events planned during the week include a pet show on Monday, a talent show on Tuesday and bingo on Wednesday. A wild game supper will be held Thursday, followed by karaoke, carnival rides and store-window judging.

The grand opening ceremonies will be held at noon Friday, the beginning of a weekend of festivities, including street dances, a Saturday parade, cloggers, a kangaroo court and various contests for festival-goers of all ages. Performers include the Voltage Brothers, the East Coast Party Band, DJ C-Lo and Night Vision.

For more information or a complete schedule of events, visit www.raylrodedazefestivul.com/.

With the new Web site touting all of the events, Jennings said the biggest question he gets is "are you still having it?"

"A lot of festivals don't make it to 40 years. We should be proud we've had it that long," he said. "I never dreamed this. I figured we'd get something, but a whole new Red Dog ... never in my wildest imagination.

"Barring any natural disasters, we'll be in good shape for the next few years."

T&D Government Writer Tucker Lyon can be reached by e-mail at tlyon@timesanddemocrat.com or by telephone at 803-533-5545. Discuss this and other stories online at TheTandD.com.

You must be logged in to comment.