The Little Mountain Reunion is one of South Carolina’s original and oldest folk festivals. It was begun back in 1882, the brain child of some farsighted person connected with Newberry College, in hopes that more or less local class reunions would generate interest in the rather young school. The school had had many set-backs since its organization, misused by Federal troops during the Civil War, moved to Walhalla in the upper part of South Carolina, and finally back to Newberry, the county seat of Newberry County. Because most people traveled either on two or four feet, the lack of trains and automobiles, you know, meeting places were selected mainly because of the convenience of their location

The Newberry Observer tells us that in 1882 this group met first at Corinth Lutheran Church across the Saluda River. It was probably in the next year, or possibly the following year, that the officials decided to try the site at Little Mountain. This turned out to be such a success until it was decided by those present that each year a Newberry College Reunion would be held at the foot of Little Mountain, where the spring gushed out sparkling water and the mountain beckoned those young enough to make the trek to the top. This was on property recently bought by A. N. Boland from Frederick Henry Dominick. He was quite agreeable to this plan and for many years prepared and sold barbecue, rice and hash, lemonade, and ice-cream to those who attended. For those who wished to bring along their own picnic, tables were erected between trees. Every year, people came riding in on horseback or in buggies, wagons, carts, etc. Then in 1890 when the first train rumbled through Little Mountain, old-timers recall how more coaches were added at reunion time to bring people from Irmo, Ballentine, White Rock, Hilton, Chapin, Clinton, Goldville, Kinards, Prosperity, Newberry and Slighs

A typical Little Mountain Reunion afforded not only a time to renew friendships made at school but it gave one the time to catch up on political thinking and the state of politics in the Dutch Fork. A welcoming address by the president of Newberry College made everyone feel at home and gave a pretty good idea of the state of the college.

These reunions became a traditional part of the community, situated in the heart of the Dutch Fork area, and were eagerly anticipated by everybody in the area. The simple pleasures afforded here along with the community spirit helped maintain the reunion until the eve of WW II.

In 1976, the Town of Little Mountain and the Ruritan Club decided to renew the reunion as a bicentennial project. The idea sparked so much enthusiasm in the project until folks wanted to know how they could help. Because the festival was such a success, the Little Mountain Association was formed and the Little Mountain Reunion again became an annual affair.

Margaret Sease Jayroe