Letter: 1957 history of peach growing

Title

Letter: 1957 history of peach growing

Accession Number

2023.6.3

Accession Date

February 14, 2023

Accession Creator

David Lovegrove

Depositor

Found in collection

Description

Letter from Troy Cribbs to J. E. Boling of the Greer Chamber of Commerce explaining the history of the peach industry in the Piedmont region of South Carolina (2 sheets)

Creator

Troy H. Cribb

Date

April 12, 1957

Format

photocopy of typed letter

Storage Location

General Archive Box #5 Folder #1

Language

English

Text

Mr. J. E. Boling, Manager
Greer Chamber of Commerce
Greer, S. C.

Dear Mr. Boling:

Please pardon the delay in replying to your letter of March 7th concerning the early years of the peach industry in Piedmont South Carolina.
My first association with the industry was in 1924 when South Carolina Peach Growers Association began operation. At that time, the only commercial orchard in the Greer section was owned by the late J. Verne Smith, who shipped 3780 crates that year. His orchard was planted either in 1900 or 1901, and at that time he was considered to be the pioneer commercial peach grower of the Piedmont. Mr. W. T. Adams shipped 3356 crates of peaches from an orchard which his father had planted in 1906. There was a total of 1787 crates of peaches shipped by the following growers from Spartanburg County in 1924 from their first commercial plantings:
J. J. Cudd 618
P. J. Woodfin 427
A. J. Harris 130
B. M. Gramling 292
M. F. Johnson 259
V. E. Johnson 11
F. H. Culbreth 12
J. W. Turpin 15
G. F. Settle 23
Because of the success of Mr. Smith's venture in growing peaches, many of the growers in Spartanburg County made
-2-
frequent trips to his orchard to keep up with his horticultural practices. So, Mr. Smith's success in the early days of the commercial industry had a good influence on the successful growth of the peach industry in Piedmont South Carolina. He was always willing to give of his time to help anyone with their problems.
Prior to the planting of the commercial orchards referred to above, there were some small orchards in Greenville County from which the peaches were sold locally.
Very truly yours,
[signature]
Troy H. Cribb

Relation

Letter: 1957 Peach Festival luncheon invitation to peach growers

Photograph: Float in the 1958 Peach Festival Parade with '57 Peach Queen Martha Brannon

Photograph: Miss USA float in the Peach Festival parade

Photograph: Peach Festival float, Martha Brannon, S.C. Peach Festival Queen

1957 Peach Festival program