Aiken

Last Sunday was a great day to take the Model A on a trip.  So, we checked the oil, tires, and radiator to make certain all was in good shape before leaving the garage.  Yep, all was good!  Nice to have a newly rebuilt engine that isn't sucking down oil like they might stop making it!  

We were off to Aiken, SC.  In the late 19th century, Aiken gained fame as a wintering spot for wealthy people from the Northeast. The Aiken Winter Colony was establish by Thomas Hitchcock, Sr. and William C. Whitney. Over the years Aiken became a winter home for many famous and notable people including George H. Bostwick, James B. Eustis, Madeleine Astor, William Kissam Vanderbilt, Eugene Grace president of Bethlehem Steel, Allan Pinkerton, W. Averell Harriman and many others.

In the spring of 1931, all attention was riveted on Aiken when Nicholas Longworth, Republican Speaker of the House, came down unexpectedly with pneumonia and died there on April 9, 1931. He had been visiting family friends – all long-time Republicans and fellow poker players – who had a winter home in town. Longworth was married to US President Theodore Roosevelt's daughter, Alice Roosevelt Longworth, who rushed to his side from Cincinnati, Ohio, arriving prior to his death.

Knowing South Carolina, as we do, we knew not much was going to be open for lunch on a Sunday.  So, we did our homework on the computer before leaving.  We had decided we would go to Davro's for Sunday brunch.  They had an interesting menu posted on line.

We left about 11 and meandered our way through the rural areas along US 1.  We went through the towns of Lexington, Leesville-Batesburg, Ridge Springs, Monetta and on into Aiken.  Before the interstate system came to South Carolina, US 1 was a very busy highway across the midsection of South Carolina.  Today, it sees very little traffic and is a perfect Model A road.

We arrived in the beautiful downtown area of Aiken about 1 in search for our little restaurant.  It is a quaint little place with plenty of seating on their patio.  The temperature was about 78 degrees without a cloud in the sky.  Very warm, unusually so, for early January!  The service was a bit slow, but the food made up for that.  Delicious!

Soon, we were back in the little car for our trip home.  We made our way across US 1 to Lexington, where we picked up SC 6, crossing the Lake Murray Dam.  We arrived home about 4.  Of course, as always when traveling in the Model A, John got in his after meal nap.  I'll never understand how he can sleep in a Model A - much less a completely open car!

Next weekend, we are off to Sandy Run, SC for a Model A meeting at club members, Vent and Frances Mack's home.