SENECA — Oconee County’s largest city is getting a boost from the presidential campaign of Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C., who was born at Oconee Memorial Hospital and lived in Seneca during his early childhood.
Sen. Edwards now represents North Carolina in Congress but his upbringing in Seneca’s Utica Mill Village has worked its way into his campaign and television commercials.
The house in Sen. Edwards’ television ads sits empty on Sirrine Street, but owners and neighbors Broadus and Linda Thomas remember a 10-year-old John Edwards who played in the close-knit textile mill community.
"I remember when they brought him home," Mr. Thomas said. "It was only a two-room house then. It’s only a three-room house now. It’s not very big."
Mr. Thomas said Sen. Edwards lived in the house with his parents, Wallace and Bobbie Edwards, until he was 10. The family then moved to Jantzen Circle, just off S.C. 28 on the western end of Seneca.
Sen. Edwards is scheduled to attend a Welcome Home Rally at 6 p.m. Monday in the Seneca River Baptist Association’s Family Life Center on South Poplar Street.
Mr. Thomas said he was in the military during much of Sen. Edwards’ youth and was more acquainted with other family members.
Mr. Thomas said several reporters from news organizations including The Boston Globe have interviewed him, but he is not ready to turn the house into landmark.
"I use it for storage," Mr. Thomas said. "John’s a nice guy, but I don’t think he will be president this term. Maybe next time."
Mayor Dan Alexander, watching his city bask in the publicity of being named the No. 1 retirement location in the Carolinas last year, now enjoys the new rays of the spotlight from Sen. Edwards’ biography.
"I’ve talked with several reporters from The Associated Press, a Raleigh, N.C., reporter and the Atlanta Journal," Mayor Alexander said. "We have gotten a lot of national recognition. It’s good for Seneca and what’s good for Seneca is good for Oconee County."
Seneca historian Louise Bell said Oconee County has been blessed with famous people and that Sen. Edwards adds another feather in a cap that already boasts plentiful plumage.
"Lindsey Graham, our U.S. Senator, lives here," Ms. Bell said. "We’ve had Edgar Hines, former head of the Episcopal Church in America, Rod Heller, director of the American Cancer Society, Jimmy Orr who played in the National Football League and Bennie Cunningham (former member of the Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers).
"For the short number of years Seneca has been a city, we have been blessed with a number of quality leaders, not only locally, but those who have gone on to make their mark in the world in religion, health and government," Ms. Bell said.
Charles Hamby, chairman of the Oconee County Democratic Party, said he has been inundated with requests from the media and people wanting to know more about Oconee County.
"I have had continuous calls," Mr. Hamby said. "It’s good for Oconee County, no matter what party you are in."
Ms. Bell, who admits to being a Republican, said she plans to attend the Democratic event because it’s good for Seneca.
"It shows off the best of what we have," said Ms. Bell who has been instrumental in many art and historical projects in Oconee County for more than half a century.
"Even the British are talking about him on their television," she said. "He’s from Seneca. What is it in Seneca that inspires one to achieve excellence? We could not afford this kind of coverage."
| Edwards rally scheduled
What: Welcome Home Rally
When: 6 p.m. Monday
Where: Seneca River Baptist Association’s Family Life Center at 298 S. Poplar St.
Description: Democratic presidential candidate and Seneca native John Edwards will attend a Welcome Home Rally Monday prior to Tuesday’s Democratic presidential preference primary in South Carolina.
Contact: Oconee County Democratic Party Chairman Charles Hamby at (864) 972-9498. |
David Williams can be reached at (864) 882-0522 or by e-mail at williamsde@IndependentMail.com.
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