Tag: #GreatFallsSouthCarolina

Memorable Catawba River Fishing, Great Falls, SC.

This weekend in the United States is Labor Day weekend. Unfortunately, some people still have to work on Labor Day (which is celebrated on Monday). Who really wants to work on a holiday during the Summer or for that matter any other long weekend.

Impressive catch of freshwater
Bullhead Catfish, Crappie, and Bluegill

I am remembering a Summer in 1963 (not in September, but in July) when I was vacationing in Great Falls, South Carolina with my family. We drove out from San Diego, California to visit my paternal grandparents and my dad’s brother and sister.

Pictured from left to right:
My Brother, Larry;
my Uncle Eddie,
and my dad.

On this particular weekend the men and boys went fishing 🎣 along the Catawba River in Great Falls, South Carolina. Why is it that the majority of times (at least back then) they never asked the girls or women to go fishing? However, they expected the women to cook up whatever fish they caught and brought home.

My brother with his River Catch

The Catawba River is just a short drive from my grandparents home. The “men“ landed an impressive catch of freshwater fish including Bullhead Catfish, Crappie, and Bluegill.

My dad and brother
displaying their catch
of the day.

I do not recall which one actually caught the most fish or if this was my brother’s first time fishing or not. I do know they definitely made sure to capture their catch with a camera for prosperity or probably to remember the funtastic time they had spending the day together.

My Uncle and brother
holding up a string
of freshwater fish.

Regardless of who caught what, or who caught the most, what mattered most was the quality time they had together. You better believe we had us a feast of fried catfish and other freshwater panfish for supper that night.

How do you like to spend a long holiday weekend? Do you get together with friends and family? Stay home and barbecue on the grill? Or just enjoy a relaxing weekend at home?

Click on each image to enlarge.

Debbie’s Six Word Saturday-2026.09.05

Photo Credit: Copyright ©️1963 Nornal H. Waters (my dad) … All Rights Reserved.

Location: Great Falls, South Carolina, USA

God Bless. Have a pleasant and peaceful weekend. May it be filled with love, happiness, and laughter. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Throwback Thursday: SCSPA

What is SCSPA? They are letters on a couple of my dad’s memorabilia from his high school days. You may wonder what they actually stand for as did I when I first saw them. Let me tell you, they stand for South Carolina Scholastic Press Association. I never knew my dad was apart of the South Carolina Scholastic Press Association. He never talked about his time growing up in South Carolina. The only part of South Carolina he shared was when he brought our family on vacation to visit his parents and his brother and sister. We visited Great Falls, South Carolina, where his parents lived, approximately every three to five years.

However, I am not discussing our vacations in this post. I am discussing the SCSPA and his small role in it.

OFFICIAL DELEGATE
South Carolina Scholastic
Press Association
Nornal Waters
Business Manager
The Hi-Times
Great Falls
Eleventh Annual Convention
April 10-11, 1947
Columbia, South Carolina

The South Carolina Scholastic Press Association promotes responsible scholastic journalism in South Carolina. We educate, evaluate and empower students and advisers who work with middle and high school literary magazine, newspaper, and yearbook programs in the state.

What I only learned recently is that my dad was a part of the Great Falls Hi-Times newspaper staff. He served as the school newspaper’s business manager. I found this interesting, my dad never talked about his school days. I thought it was cool to discover his involvement in this aspect of his high school.

The school newspaper business manager oversees the operations of all business-related operations of the Hi-Times, but will primarily be responsible for the promotion and tracking of advertising sales.

A few of my dad’s responsibilities were:

  • to obtain ad sales possibly by phone as well as in person.
  • Keeping and organizing record of all ad sales
  • Prepare a final sales report for each issue and makes sure the ad designer gets a copy
  • Serve as a member of the editorial board

A bit of History of SCSPA

“It all began as the journalist begins- with people, an idea, an empty page. Today, after more than half a century, the idea expands toward fulfillment as the pages are filled with a history. It is a story of people working toward excellence- people tending toward an ideal that promises to shine far, far into the future. It is a story of youth yearning toward an expression of truth. It is the story of the South Carolina Scholastic Press Association.”

SCSPA’s 50th Anniversary Booklet: The First 50 Years
S.C.S.P.A.
Columbia S.C.
April 11, 1947

The SCSPA holds annual fall and spring conferences which currently draws more than 600 participants. Not sure how many participants there were in 1947, only that my dad was one of those participants for the spring conference.

Students as well as their advisers from schools all over the state attend the annual SCSPA conference. It honors outstanding students and advisors during the spring conference. It recognizes contributions to scholastic journalism through awards and scholarships.

My dad’s attendance would have been an honor and recognition for his participation in his school’s Hi-Times newspaper. Through his memorabilia I am learning more and more about my dad and what his life was like before I came into existence.

Throwback Thursday

Photo Credit: ©️Deb L. Waters

God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.