PROSPERITY — It’s all about trains this year at Prosperity’s Hoppin’, slated Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m in downtown Prosperity.
“We have several objectives for the festival,” said Andy Hawkins of the event’s planning committee. “Entertainment and fun for our local folks, keeping our stories alive and letting other people know we’re here and what a fun place it is to visit.”
The first trains rolled into Prosperity in the mid 19th century to facilitate the needs of the expanding agricultural hub and have shaped the town’s history, said Hawkins.
An authority on the history of the rail lines which ran through Prosperity is Author F. Will Martin, who will be travelling from Tennessee to speak on the subject at 11 a.m. in the old depot.
“He’s a real train aficionado,” said Hawkins.
Also present will be representatives from the South Carolina Railroad Museum in Winnsboro who will be displaying memorabilia as well as bringing along an actual gang car that will be parked outside the depot.
“Kids will be able to get on it and have their pictures taken,” Hawkins said.
The depot itself was saved from demolition through penny sales tax funding and help from the town as well as private donors.
Historically the depot contained two separate waiting rooms — one for Caucasians and the other for African Americans.
In 2012 a door was cut between the two rooms and first to cross the physical as well metaphorical barrier was Prosperity native Bishop Fred C. James.
Inside the depot will be an extensive model train setup constructed by Newberry native and model train collector/enthusiast Rey Lominack.
Lominack, 70, received his first model train set for Christmas when he was 9 years old. He has amassed a large collection over the years.
“There weren’t a lot of other things for kids to play with and an electric train was the best thing you could get for Christmas,” he said.
Although his hobby lapsed as he grew older — a fact he attributes to cars, girls and school — he never got rid of his collection which contains a formidable number of antique trains and accessories.
Also part of the festivities will be a juried art show for vendors featuring everything from sculptures and pottery to hand-crafted soaps.
Between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. musical acts Johnny Merck and the Frog Town Lounge Lizards, Michael Boliver and Munson Summer will stake the stage to provide aural entertainment.
In front of Grace Church will be a children’s area featuring interactive games including corn hole, a milk jug toss and archery sponsored by the Department of Natural Resources.
Also present will be the Newberry Car Buffs putting on a display of classic cars as well as food trucks from Food Factory and Steelhorse Smokehouse which will be serving — of course — frog legs.
Hawkins said the festival’s train theme will remain in place for the next year or two before they move on to another theme inseparable from Prosperity’s identity.
“We have a lot of stories to tell about our town,” said Hawkins, who also said the town is growing and many people who have relocated to Prosperity are unfamiliar with its history. “We’ve got to keep telling the stories so the town has a story to tell.”