Society Hill Mayor praises town’s unity
Society Hill Mayor Dwayne Duke. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Putting the “Unity back in Community” was the motto for the town last year. Thanks to our citizens, Society Hill is continuing in that spirit through some important events and projects. We are still working the “one street at a time” campaing, which has been a positive event every month. We are now receiving donations of water, lunches, or just “high fives and horn honks” from generous neighbors and even gift cards from Nick’s Corner Cupboard.
Thanks to Dick and Diane Baird, in partnership with Christy Beasley of CareSouth, we now have a “Community Garden”. Anyone interested in getting involved is welcome. We are so grateful to the PDRTA for the free transportation for those who use the bus. The bus runs from Society Hill to Hartsville to Darlington and back.
We would like to express our appreciation for our Library and all the activities that are happening there as well. We even have line dancing once a month and its free. Our public spaces are being looked at for upgrading and we encourage people to get out and use our parks. There is no charge for using our park at Town Hall.
We welcomed a new business called “Piece of Work”, which does custom furniture and refurbishing and metal art, to the town. Sean McKenzie Cabinetry has moved his shop to Hartsville, but he is still a vital part of our business community and is still living and working on the restoration of the Coker House. Mrs. Simms is still operating her grocery store on Church St. and still has the best hotdogs around. The Lions Club is still active with meetings once a month.
Something we are very proud of is the unity among our local pastors. They have formed a pastors’ group and get together once a month, if possible. They have also organized a special program for Holy Week, where they will swap pulpits each night of the week from April 2nd-9th.
Society Hill applied for a grant for a ‘Storm Water “ master plan in June, 2022. In Sept of 2022, the grant was awarded. We are now in the process of selecting the engineering firm to perform the surveying which will identify the problem areas and priority projects.
Thanks to the “American Rescue Plan” funds, Society Hill Town Hall has already upgraded its computer system, internet system (complete with website soon to be launched), sound system, cameras and a new digital sign.
Thanks to the assistance of council woman Denise Douglas, the old police car has been auctioned off.
One of our major projects is the renovation of the boat landing. Our boat landing, on the banks of the Great Pee Dee River is one of our major resources and we have every intention of developing it into something even Greater!
Our Police Chief Worden is one of the towns greatest assets. She has always done more than her part in reigniting a spark among our residents to join together in cleaning up our community. She has also initiated several events throughout the year to bring the community together.
We are continuing the traditions of both the Taste of Society Hill, April 22, 2023 and the Catfish Festival, Sept 16th, 2023 in the fall.
-Mayor Dwayne Duke
Society Hill, SC
