What do ghost windows and hand dug wells have in Common?

By Judy Dancy Duncan
Saluda County Historical Society

Members of The Saluda County Historical Society and guests spent a delightful evening at the home of Betty Ann and D. S. Cone, Jr. Their home was built in downtown Ridge Spring in the 1880s and moved to its new country home in 1985. The couple shared stories and Joe Cal Watson added remembrances of his grandmother, who built the home, such as: ambrosia on the counter in the Butler’s pantry on Christmas Morning and his Grandmother sitting in her favorite chair beside the fireplace in the Front Parlor.

After D.S Cone mentioned the Ghost Windows, which appear to disappear into the window sashes in the Parlor and Music Room, one Saluda County Historical Society member asked was there a ghost in the house.

Betty Ann answered no, but there was an unusual happening with the well. When the house was located on Main Street, Ridge Spring, the back porch of the house was built over a hand dug well; remember the house was built in the middle 1880s. Having a well inside and not out in the yard would have been the height of convenience. But, when the house was moved to a pasture in 1985 the hand dug well had to be left behind.

Joe Cal Watson, Betty Ann and D.S. Cone, Jr.

Betty Ann remarked that one day they began hearing water dripping under the back porch! Upon checking the dripping water sound, another well was found directly underneath the house in the same area as the well in town. Unknown to the Cones, the well was previously used for a tenant house, which was torn down before the Cone’s home was relocated. This was not a ghost well, the 240 ton House was to have been moved about 12 feet further up the hill in the pasture, but bogged down and just would not go any further. My opinion, maybe the house wanted its well!

What did two brides 80 years apart have in common? Betty Ann and D. S.’s daughter, Mildred, ascended the twenty two step stairway and threw her bouquet to her bridesmaids below, just as the first bride in the house, Sallie Lou Watson, daughter of the original owner, did when she married in 1905.

The Saluda County Historical Society members were served tasty cake, fruit, and a variety of summer goodies in the beautiful dining room under the glow of a grand chandelier which was purchased from the Ocean Forest Hotel in Myrtle Beach before the hotel was torn down.

Each member was presented a book on the Joseph Calhoun Watson, Sr. and Elizabeth Nicholson Watson Home which had been prepared by Converse Cone. Converse did an excellent job combining a history of the house and the Cone’s relationship to the house. Watson genealogy, pictures and maps were included in the book.