Faison Market Day Saturday
By News-Argus Staff
Published in News on September 13, 2007 1:50 PM
FAISON - The town of Faison will celebrate its farming heritage Saturday with its annual Market Day celebration.
The event will pay tribute to the late Bryant Martin, who was the first manager of the town's produce market and who contributed greatly to the success of vegetable and strawberry farming in the area.
Martin's daughter-in-law, Margaret Martin, will be the grand marshal of the event's parade, which will start at 11 a.m.
The market was originally built in the early part of the century to accommodate the sale of local farmers' produce that would end up on the tables of northern residents. Atlantic Coast Line railroad executives, interested in the trade, helped build the long wooden platform behind the old train station. The platform was covered and was placed next to the railroad tracks so that produce could be stacked there and then easily transferred to train cars which would transport it northbound.
By the early 1920s, more crops, including potatoes, peppers and cucumbers, as well as melons were in demand and a new market shed was built in the middle of Main Street, now Highway 403, where farmers could sell their produce.
On Saturday, there will be food, music, vendors, crafts, a cake walk and more. A 5-kilometer road run will be held at 8 a.m.
Featured events include an opening ceremony at noon, an auction at 12:45 p.m., and performances by keyboardist Larry Jones at 1:30, the community choir at 2, Rhonda Jackson at 2:30, Jimmy Tyndall at 3, Randy Cashwell at 3:30 and the Champion Dancers at 3:45. Cowboy Earl will entertain at the children's stage at 1:30.