LITTLE BOY RUN DOWN Hurt by Pair of Mules Driven by Negro The State, April 9, 1911 Orangeburg, April 8 – Tom VanOrsdell, a young son of C. M. VanOrsdell of this city, was injured this morning by coming in contact with two mules hitched to a wagon. Although he received many bruises, his injuries are not serious. The accident seems to have been the result of careless driving on the part of the negro in the wagon, who did not stop to see what extent the little fellow was injured. The negro was arrested and placed in the guard house. The State May 17, 1896 The City of the Edisto Graduating Exercises of Orangeburg's Graded Schools - Other Items Orangeburg, may 16 - One of the most pleasant occasions of the picnic season was participated in near there Thursday. The Orangeburg firemen - and by the way, one of the most efficient volunteer departments in the two Carolinas - had a picnic, or rather a "fish fry: at Mrs. Smoak's pond, about five miles from this city, and gave a general invitation to the numerous friends of the fire-fighters to attend. Mrs. Smoak "ran off" the water from the pond a few days ago, therefore it was no difficulty task to wade in and dip up the finest specimens of trout, jack and a variety of perch, large and tempting. So, as a "fish fry" it was a success, so pronounced by all. The attendance was large, consisting of the old and the young of both sexes and it was late before the merry crowd returned to the city. The numerous friends of Mr. W. P. Brunson, who has been extremely ill for several weeks, are pleased to greet him on the streets again. The graduating exercises of the Orangeburg graded school were held at the opera house last night and the house was packed with the friends of the graduating class and the school. The graduating class, consisting of Misses Sadie Tucker, first honor graduate and valedictorian; Edith Westcott, second honor graduate; Nellie Salley, Goldie Wannamaker, Carrie Dantzler, Annie Heidtman and John Fairey and Duncan Jaffords; Revs. Watson and Bodie, T. M. Raysor, ex-chairman of the board; Superintendent Rankin, with the guest of the board, Prof. F. C. Woodward of the South Carolina college, occupied seats on the stage. Superintendent Rankin and Maj. w. L. Glaze, chairman of the trustees, made statistical statements concerning the year's work for the information of the patrons. Hon. T. M. Raysor, after an excellent address to the graduates, delivered to each of the class certificates of graduation. The exercises not mentioned above, are shown by the following program: Music by orchestra. Prayer by Rev. e. O. Watson. Essay - "A Justifcation of Napoleon's Banishment;" Miss Edith Westcott. Essay - "No Excellence Without Labor;" Miss Nellie Salley. Essay - "Nominalist and Realist;" Miss Goldie Wannamaker. Essay - "The Influence of Christ;" Miss Carrie dantzler. Music by orchestra. Essay - "Self Improvement;" Miss Annie Heidtman. Oration ' "Nothing Succeeds Like Success;" John Fairey. Essay - "Columbus day Library" and Valedictory; Miss Sadie Tucker. Class Song - Vacation Song. Presentation of diplomas. Address by Prof. F. C. Woodward. Music by orchestra. Benediction by Rev. N. D. Bodie. The essays and orations by the graduates were interesting, but the feast for those who have worked and are still working for the highest stand possible for the institution, was the address of Prof. Woodward. He condemned in unmeasured words many of the "plans" and "systems" in vogue in many schools for inculcating knowledge. Particularly was he severe while referring to the examinations annually made for the purpose of determining what progress had been made by pupils, saying they were useless, a waste of time and a hardship imposed upon the young which was detrimental to mind and body. The dry season has seriously injured all crops and gardens here are burnt up. Mrs. M. Walls, after a lingering illness, died last night at her home on Whitman street in this city. A husband and several children, who have our people's deepest sympathy, survive her. Times and Democrat, The (Orangeburg, SC) - January 13, 2006 Deceased Name: DPU legend dies -- Alan McC. Johnstone oversaw utility's growth over 2 decades Alan McC. Johnstone, the man credited with explosive growth of the Orangeburg Department of Public Utilities during 21 years as its manager, died Friday at the age of 95. Johnstone, DPU's director emeritus and the man for whom the utility's administration building on Russell Street is named, spent four decades working in Orangeburg. After retirement, he wrote a history of Orangeburg utilities. It wasn't the first time he was a part of history. Known as "Mr. Clemson Tiger," Johnstone was the lone surviving charter member of IPTAY, Clemson's athletic booster organization founded in 1934. He also was the last survivor from Clemson's first golf team in 1931. A native of Newberry and a 1932 graduate of Clemson University, Johnstone came to Orangeburg in 1937 to start and operate the city's first water-treatment plant. "I was fortunate to be hired by Mr. Pearson (DPU's first manager). I learned so much working for him and with him," Johnstone told The Times and Democrat in 1998. Becoming manager in 1956, Johnstone was instrumental in extension of DPU services, especially water and electric, outside the city. While a majority of public utilities only provide service within their municipal limits, DPU provides service over more than 300 square miles. With Johnstone as DPU's manager from 1956-77, the number of customers skyrocketed. Through his planning, the electric, gas, wastewater and water systems met demand. The number of DPU employees almost doubled to 127. The operation continued to grow as water and electric services were extended into rural areas. "We also worked closely to provide for industrial development needs. That's an important factor," Johnstone said. Administration expanded too. In 1977, the new office building was built on Russell Street. Immediately after Johnstone retired, the new facility was named the "Alan McC. Johnstone Building." His accomplishments in the Electric Division included addition of seven substations at various places throughout the city and rural areas. Johnstone recalled notable challenges -- Hurricane Gracie in 1959 and the Great Ice Storm of January of 1973. "During the ice storm, the city had absolutely no power to run the water plant, and I was tormented by the fear that some house in the city would catch fire and the fire would spread and cause destruction because there was no water to put out the fire," Johnstone said. "Thankfully, nothing like that happened. But immediately after the ice storm, we had an emergency power-generating plant installed at the water plant to make it a completely self-sufficient water system," he said. "We no longer had to worry about loss of water when the power went out." Johnstone led DPU into the natural gas business in 1954 and expanded water services by 2 million gallons a day in 1948 to 8 million gallons per day in 1964. Jurisdiction for wastewater treatment was transferred to DPU in 1971. Johnstone oversaw the planning and construction of the 6-million-gallon-per-day wastewater treatment plant four miles south of Orangeburg off U.S. Highway 21. It was completed and put into operation the year after he retired. During his years at DPU and after, Johnstone was involved in the economic development efforts of both the city and Orangeburg County. For 15 years, he served as chairman of the County Development Commission. Johnstone was a member and past president of the Orangeburg Chamber of Commerce and the Rotary Club of Orangeburg. Also, he was a member of First Presbyterian Church, where he served as a deacon, elder, treasurer and clerk of the session. After serving in World War II for four years, he resigned his commission in 1970. In addition, Johnstone was named the state's "Professional Engineer of the Year" for 1971-72. As to his long affection for Clemson University, for Johnson it was a family matter. His grandfather was one of the original members of the board of trustees when Clemson was established in 1892, four years before the first students came. For many years the senior Johnstone served as chairman of the board until his death in 1928. The Johnstone dormitory complex was named in his memory in the 1960s. Funeral arrangements for Johnstone are to be announced by Dukes-Harley Funeral Home in Orangeburg.

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