Michael Gaffney Day Celebration to be held Sept. 27

The City of Gaffney's annual Michael Gaffney Day Celebration honoring the City's founding father, Michael Gaffney, will held on Saturday, September 27, from 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. at the Michael Gaffney Log Home on North Limestone Street in Historic Downtown Gaffney.

Shirley and Joe Randolph will have the Michael Gaffney Log Home decorated for autumn, and will be on hand to conduct tours and talk with visitors about the home's furnishings. Shirley and Joe always decorate the log home with beautiful, natural materials, in keeping with the era in which the original home was built. They have also enlarged the gardens on the cabin's grounds, and have added several authentic and unique pieces to the home's furnishings.

Music, arts and crafts, oldfashioned games such as checkers, marbles, dominoes, hopscotch and jacks, and food will be available for the enjoyment of both adults and children. 16 South, a four-piece bluegrass band sponsored by Duke Energy, will provide music from 10:00 am until 12:00 noon. Bernadette Swayngim, a native of Gaffney, will perform from 12:00 noon to 1:00 pm. Bernadette is a songwriter as well as a bluegrass singer, and has performed with Jeff Gates and several local bands. Music by Bernadette Swayngim is sponsored by the City of Gaffney.

This year, the food will be prepared and sold by members of Gaffney Little Theatre, with proceeds going to help fund Gaffney Little Theatre performances, special projects and other theatre needs. Hamburgers, hot dogs, cookies, cider, and other beverages will be available for purchase.

This year, in addition to the arts and crafts demonstrations and sales, bluegrass and country music, old-fashioned games, and food, the City of Gaffney is pleased to announce that Duke Energy Corporation will be celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the Gaston Shoals (Dravo) Hydro Electric Plant, and will participate in the Michael Gaffney Day Celebration by having a tent with displays that trace the history of the Gaston Shoals Hydro Electric Plant. They will also have directions available to the Gaston Shoals (Dravo) Plant for those who would like to tour the 100 year-old facility on Saturday, September 27. Tours begin at 10:00 am. Congratulations are given to Duke Energy and the Gaston Shoals (Dravo) Hydro Electric Plant on this, their 100th Anniversary.

Following the morning and early afternoon celebrations, the Cherokee County History and Art Museum will open at 2:00 pm for a new exhibit featuring additional historical information and artifacts regarding the Duke Energy Gaston Shoals Hydro Electric Plant. There will also be an expanded exhibit on the history of Michael Gaffney and his descendants. At 2:30 pm, the Cherokee County History and Arts Museum will host Kudzu Kollege, everything you ever wanted to know about the plant that ate South Carolina. Admission to Kudzu Kollege is free with regular admission to the Museum.

The City of Gaffney is pleased to have the participation of Duke Energy, Cherokee County History and Arts Museum, Gaffney Little Theatre, Cherokee County Alliance of Visual Artists, Limestone College, Shirley and Joe Randolph, and other members of the community in planning and implementing these special activities in honor the memory of our founding father, Michael Gaffney, the history of our city, and the 100th Anniversary of the Duke Energy Gaston Shoals (Dravo) Plant.

A special invitation is issued to all descendants of Michael Gaffney to attend the day's activities.