Ashley Fetner Fine Art Photography

       “ Some Say Fire”

  Cherry Grove Beach is located along the Grand Stand of Coastal South Carolina between Charleston, South Carolina and Wilmington, North Carolina. It is between the Atlantic Ocean on the east and the Intracoastal Waterway on the west. It is also the home of the Cherry Grove Fishing Pier where some of the best fishing in the Carolinas takes place. In 1964 the 1,780 pound world record tiger shark was caught here. It is still the only all tackle world record ever caught in South Carolina.  In fact Ashley was there on the pier as they were fishing and when they brought the tiger shark in—an experience that he will not forget—to bad he did not have a camera then!
But he did have his camera at the “right place and time” along Lake Drive as the sun was setting behind the town of Cherry Grove-

                                    Kay

 Built in 1929 by the Cox Family, the Sunset Theater was the first movie theater in Asheboro, NC. It was built in a Spanish Colonial style that was very popular in Hollywood in the 1920’s with beamed ceilings, stucco walls and an awning with a tile roof.  It operated as a movie theater from March 6, 1930 till 1969.  It was re-opened in the 1970’s as the Flick.  Over the years it was used for a church and the George Washington Carver Enrichment Center. At present it is owned by the City of Asheboro and is operated by Asheboro Parks & Recreation.  Plays and concerts are held here as well as the monthly Sunset Classic Film Series that showcases classic movies.  Sunset Theater is also home to the Randolph Children’s Theater as well as the RSVP Community Theater both are affiliated with the Randolph Arts Guild.
There are plans in the works for enlarging and renovating the theater—I hope in renovating they will not loose   the character and charm of this eighty year old landmark in downtown Asheboro.
By the way the Sunset Theater is located on (where else) Sunset Avenue –

Kay

 Kanab Utah
   Mountains of pinion and ponderosa pine along the skyline and the wildflowers along the road provided a scenic drive as we followed the signs off US 89 on our way to the state park. In fact we were so taken with the landscape that we did not notice the dunes until they “appeared” before us.
Coral Pink Sand Dunes State park is 3,730 acres of huge sand dunes. It is located in Kane County near Kanab Utah. The name comes from the coral - colored sand that has eroded from the exposed Navajo sandstone. The contrast of the pink sand, the red cliffs and the blue sky is breathtaking. A Hollywood film company thought the Coral Pink Dunes resembled Egypt and so they chose the State Park to film “The Greatest Story Ever Told”.

Kay

 Salt Marshes are transitional areas between land and water occurring along inter-tidal shores of estuaries and sounds and are the most productive ecosystems on earth.  South Carolina has more salt marsh acreage than any other Atlantic Coast state.  Among the 400,000 acres, Beaufort and Charleston Counties has the largest share.
There are a variety of plants, animals, fish, birds and other wildlife that depend on the salt marshes for their survival.  The preservation of these areas are critical not only to the plant and animal life but to our way of life-
Ashley photographed this area of the Cherry Grove Marsh behind Waties Island - the last of the underdeveloped barrier islands along the Atlantic Coast.

Kay

Headin’ Home
Walking along the beach we spotted this trawler just beyond the breakers, nets down with hundreds of seagulls in pursuit.  Six or seven shrimpers had been trawling up and down the shoreline before daybreak -  it was now late afternoon and she was the last of the fleet to head home.
The South Carolina Shrimp Industry began in the mid 1920’s with a small fleet and after the 1950’s many new trawlers were built and the industry expanded.   The Shrimp Industry in South Carolina is primarily a family business of men and women who have a long coastal heritage and love for the sea. I think this would be a hard life being out to sea for weeks or even months at a time to bring in a catch.
 “The fisherman know that the sea is dangerous and the storm terrible, but they have never found these dangers sufficient reason for remaining ashore”    -Vincent van Gogh

Kay

  Natures Palette
 
 Located in the Piedmont area of North Carolina, we are able to enjoy all four seasons.  The landscape around us is rolling hills, river valleys, meadows as well as woodlands. Nature’s beauty surrounds you, even in “you own backyard”!
Ashley photographed this image early in the fall when the leaves were just beginning to turn.
I can never decide which season I like best—it is usually the one that we are in at the time!
 The last of the summer vegetable garden, fall festivals, pumpkin pie, apple cider, pungent odor of leaving burning, warm sweaters and hunting’ dogs are just a few of the things I think of as fall quietly slips in to prepare us for winter.
I think this quote from Albert Camus says it all —-“Autumn is the second spring when every leaf is a flower”—
Kay

Beaufort, South Carolina

 It was early morning as Ashley and I were on our way to Beaufort, SC and we decided to visit and photograph the Old Sheldon Church again.  It is located down a back road between Yemassee and Beaufort, South Carolina and is one of the first Greek Revival Churches in the United States.

It was first built in 1745 and during the Revolutionary War in 1779 the British burned it. It was rebuilt in 1826 and on Sherman’s “March to the Sea” in 1865 it was burned again.  All that remains today is the outside structure and the brick pulpit that stands inside. 

Among the great oaks draped with Spanish moss that surround the church, you will find above ground vaults and tombstones that date from the 1700’s through the 1990’s.  Some of the stones have names and dates-others share bits of history and a glimpse into past lives.

 As I was reading the stones, I was thinking if time travel were possible, I would like to be an observer as history unfolded at Old Sheldon—perhaps even those resting here would share their story with me–

Kay
 

Richmond County North Carolina

In January of 1881 Thomas Benson Ledbetter purchased 100 acres at a public auction and with his nephew, John Steel Ledbetter as a partner, built South Union Mills on Hitchcock Creek in Rockingham, North Carolina.  It was in operation until 1894 when the mill burned due to a lighting strike.  They rebuilt the mill and changed the name to Ledbetter Manufacturing Company.  The company manufactured cotton yarn operating completely on water power till World War ll.  Then a diesel generator was used to supplement the water power until 1950 when the mill was converted to electrical power.  In 1962 a manufacturing journal reported that the mill produced 2,555,000 pounds of yarn.
Through the years many of the mill workers were third and fourth generation employees.  In fact some worked past their eighties which speaks very well of the respect and integrity that the Ledbetter family had from their employees and business associates in managing their company.
In 1979 the mill was sold to Glen Raven Mills and they operated till 1990 when the Parsons Formal Chair Manufacturing purchased the property.
When they relocated the property was purchased by Pete Ussery.  With thirty five years in the construction business he took this historic landmark with its huge exposed beams, columns, large windows and twenty inch exterior walls of handmade brick and renovated it into the present upscale Carolyn’s Mill Condominiums.
The Ledbetter family settled in this area in the early 1700’s and the preservation of this mill will stand as a reminder of their involvement, service and contributions to their community.
Ashley captured this image early one morning on the way to visit his Dad in Hamlet, NC.
Kay

  Ashe County North Carolina
 
This area of the Blue Ridge Mountains is viewed from Mount Jefferson State Park in Ashe County North Carolina. Mount Jefferson rises over 1,600 feet with amazing views of the surrounding countryside below and beyond the mountain.  It is located along the drainage divide between the north and south fork of the New River, one of the oldest rivers in North America and in the world.    
Before the revolution Mount Jefferson was known as “Panther Mountain” due to a legend that was told about a panther attacking and killing a child and through the years the mountain had several other names.  But in 1952 it was given its present name to honor Thomas Jefferson and his father, Peter, who owned land in the area and also surveyed along the North Carolina - Virginia border in 1749.  Due to major efforts on the part of the local residents it became a state park in 1956.
 It is said during the Civil War the caves beneath the mountain ledges were used as hideouts for escaped slaves as they traveled to freedom on the Underground Railway.
This is one of our favorite spots to visit, picnic and hike.  They have two trails that take a little more than an hour –one that takes you to the highest point of the mountain and the other that follows along the ridge of the mountain down the south side.  The views from the overlooks are spectacular, the trees, wildflowers and other plants are beautiful as you make your way through this mountain forest.  In fact the National Park Service designated this area as a natural landmark because of the unusual plant life found here.
If you are traveling on the Blue Ridge Parkway stop at the Mount Jefferson Overlook and you will be able to see the mountain peak from a great distance.  Better yet take the exit to West Jefferson and experience this unique mountain park.
Kay

  Hamlet, North Carolina

I have posted this blog regarding the Boyd House  before but I wanted to share it with you again today–

Ashley and I heard that the house had recently been torn down so we went  to see— as we turned the corner a wave of sadness overtook us as we viewed the vacant lot–the familiar landmark  that had stood 103 years was gone—no evidence that it had ever been— 

On of the interesting places that Ashley has photographed in his hometown of Hamlet, NC is the Boyd House.

In 1907 T. F. Boyd built this three story Victorian Southern Mansion for his family.  Among the many interesting rooms was the ballroom that covered the entire third floor.

Mr. Boyd owned other real estate on the North Carolina Coast.  He was the original owner of the 442 acre tract of land that was purchased for the building of the new high end sub-division in 1912, Sunset Park, which is located in the Historic Downtown of Wilmington, NC.

In 1916 he purchased Smith Island, part of Bald Head Island, and re-named it “Palmetto Island”. He   built a boardwalk, a pavilion and a small hotel with eight rooms.  He sold forty lots and had plans for further development but he lost the island in foreclosure for back taxes in the Great Depression.

At the time this photograph was taken Ashley was also able to photograph the rooms inside.

After 102 years only a shell remains—no sign of the life once lived here—–

Kay