OLAR -- It's safe to say C.F. Rizer of Olar had a vision of the future back around the year 1912. After all, his business of selling farm supplies and equipment was doing well. But then Henry Ford's Model T car came along, turning Rizer's head and his profits.

Within a year, Rizer would discontinue his line of buggies, wagons and harnesses and switch gears, becoming Rizer's Auto Co. of Olar. His franchise covered Bamberg, Barnwell, Colleton, Hampton and Allendale counties.

This historical information, provided by this year's committee of the Model T's to Olar Festival, also points out that Rizer had such confidence in Ford's automobiles he even loaned Ford a substantial amount of money to expand his auto-manufacturing business.

In honor of the two men and the car that came to be known as the "Tin Lizzie," the town will celebrate its seventh annual Model T's to Olar Festival this Friday and Saturday, Oct. 16-17.

The festival began in 2002 as the vision of three friends, Charles Hancock, Jim Proffit and Buddy Folk.

"They wanted to do it because of the history," said Brenna Hancock, festival chairwoman. "They wanted to bring something to the town and put Olar on the map. We never intended to make a profit with this festival from day one. It's strictly community enrichment. We're just doing this to give back to the community."

The town owns a Model T, which has been restored as a police car with the help of Proffit. This year's event will also include Model A's and some antique tractors.

"The Model T is a rare car, so to have a whole lot in one area is very uncommon. People come from Ohio, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina for the event," Hancock said.

The cars will be lined up on Friday to get them ready to participate in the festival parade at 10 a.m. Saturday and then be judged.

Along with the many food and craft vendors, there will be plenty of activities, including a mini train, inflatables for kids, and art and history exhibits.

"Live musical groups will perform throughout the day, including the Gold City Quartet," one of the biggest Southern gospel groups in the United States, Hancock said.

Another attraction of the Model T's to Olar Festival will be the Haunted House, a fund-raiser sponsored by the Olar Fire Department. The fire station building was once the Rizer Automotive Co. Volunteers from the fire department transform the station into a spooky, kid-friendly attraction each year.

Olar is at the crossroads of U.S. 321 and S.C. 64. The festival will go on, rain or shine, from 9 a.m. to midnight each day.

For a complete schedule of events, call Brenna Hancock at 803-383-1795 or visit geocities.com/modeltfestival.

T&D Correspondent Pam Leoniak-Delk can be reached by e-mail at paloma3@juno.com. Discuss this and other stories online at TheTandD.com.

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