History

How Two Notch Road got it's Name

"Tradition has it that the road was named for the notches blazed in the trees by the Indians to identify the trail. It was widely used in colonial times a stage coach route and trade path. During his journey from Augusta to Camden in 1791, George Washington followed Two Notch Road as the main thoroughfare through the area. It is said that Washington’s coach broke down at a large sycamore tree on the way and he rested beneath the tree. A historical marker has been erected at that point, which is near the junction of the present old Two Notch Road and U.S. Highway 1" (Neuffer, C).

There are several different accounts on how Two Notch Road recieved its name. The story above is what we can assume to be the most relialble, a large sycamore tree with two notches used as a landmark. The sycamore tree, as depicted in the Two Notch Road Association logo, now stands as a historical marker which can be found today.

Clippings of the Past

Journey back in time to discover the local legends of Two Notch Road published in newspapers over the years.

“You can buy some of the most expensive furniture in town, go to the mall, find all types of food, find religion, find sin, get married and get buried." (Lester, W.)

“One of the best known landmarks on Two Notch Road is the old Furniture Barn which was converted from a mule barn by Simon Faust many years ago. Old-timers say that you used to be able to buy almost anything at the barn. In many ways, it is a fitting symbol of Two Notch Road – a winding stretch of highway which one resident referred to as the “flea market of Columbia, a place where you can find anything you want." (Lester, W)

“At the corner of Two Notch and Beltline, Harvey Ray, a Columbia legend, stands on the street corner wearing a straw hat and waving a pole with a paper cup dangling from the end. His peanut and snow cone business may be small but he is enthusiastic as he barks out the virtues of cold snow cones on a muggy day.” (Lester, W)

“Inside his 10-foot wide trailer which serves as bait and tackle shop, marriage chapel, meeting place, fireworks shop and tax service, Jim Bartlett leaned back with a grin...Bartlett performs about four marriages a month in the trailer. He has a sign which he hangs on the door when he performs the ceremony. It says “Marriage in Progress. Open in One Minute.” When he’s finished his ceremony, he lets the good ol’ boys back in to drink beer while the papers are signed." (Lester, W)

A Short History of Edgewood

Below you'll find a short history of Edgewood South Carolina written by University of South Carolina Political Science professor and local history enthusist John B. McConaughy in 1967.

"As one looks at the stream of traffic flowing North on Two Notch Road (U.S.1) from Taylor St. to West Beltiline, it is difficult to imagine that this section of Columbia, now called Edgewood was once a settlement of a dozen houses surrounded by small farms. Business now occupies both sides of most of Two Notch Road. The old settlers in Edgewood, however, remember the farms and the few houses which were principally occupied by families whose men worked in the Southern Railway Shop on Blanding Street and used to walk the rails of the Southern Railroad to work early in the morning and back after work at night" (McConaughy, J).

Pictured above is the street car that ran along Two Notch Road. (McConaughy, J)

Residents want Better Future for Edgewood

Featured in a 1996 edition of The State newspaper, were three women, founders of the Edgwood Coalition, who had a vision of improving the town around Two Notch Road.

"When Freedom Nubee sits on her front porch of an evening, she watches the traffic move by on Two Notch Road. She doesn't much like what she sees -- drivers pulling into the pornographic bookstore across the way or soliciting neighborhood girls who happen to be walking home...So she and two allies -- Doris Trezevant and Norma White have formed what they call the Edgewood Coalition. The three hope to drum up community and official support for a neighborhood park and center as well as communitywide cleanup.

“All three hope others feel enough commitment to Edgewood to breath into it new sparks of life. And hope.”

‘Within the community, we have all these excellent programs.’ White says. ‘There are a lot of resources and there are a lot of ideas and we need to come together…’ ‘…and heal this community,’ Nubee finishes for her" (Crumo, C).

From left to right, Coalition members Freedom Nubee, Doris Trezevant and Norma White. (Crumbo, C).

Crumbo, C. (1996). Residents want better future for Edgewood. The State

Lester, W. (1978, June 7). Two Notch Road; Religion, Sin, Food, Bars, Stores -- All on One Stretch of Highway. The Columbia Record.

McConaughy, J. (1967, January 1). A Short History of Edgewood. Edgewood Community.