WARD – The Town of Ward has decided to try something different this year—a Mini-Festival—instead of the sometimes two-day Clinton Ward Festival it has held in the past.

“Our little town has been so bombarded with sadness and sickness this year that it has impacted all our workers,” said Pam Long, longtime organizer of the festival. “So instead of letting this get us completely down, we thought it might be nice to scale down and have something where people can come together in a friendly, fun atmosphere.”

The Clinton Ward Festival (also known as the Ward Summer Bash) was begun 18 years ago by then mayor Eric Berry and the town council. It was named for the town’s founder Clinton Ward, who gave his name to the little town located three miles from Ridge Spring and four miles from Johnston.

Ward was born Nov. 13, 1828, the second child of Feraby Bush Ward and Richard Ward from Repton, England. He attended the old field schools of that time. When he was 17 years old, he was elected captain of the Militia Company of his section during the Civil War.

After finishing school, he pursued some of his interests which included farming and handling a stagecoach from Hamburg to Charlotte, which was later replaced by the CCA Railroad (Columbia, Charlotte, Augusta) whose depot he donated to the town of Ward.

He was a mail contractor and served as trial justice during the term of Gov. Scott. He represented Edgefield District for two terms in the State Legislature for two terms, 1880-1884, and also served as director of the State Penitentiary in the early 1880s.  He married Martha Lott on July 2, 1850 and they had only one child, Josephine Vass Ward, who died when she was six years old from scarlet fever. Ward and his wife educated six orphan children. They also showered Ward’s niece, Helen Clark, with attention.

Clinton Ward gave the land for the town of Ward and also marked the named streets. He donated money to establish Spann Methodist Church and gave money to build Ward Baptist Church. He decided he wanted to put his own statue in the Spann Church Cemetery, so that after his death he would still be standing in the town he loved so well. He went to Augusta to see the sculptor, a German named Kohirus, to do the work. He had a white linen suit made for the occasion. He let the sculptor pour plaster onto his face to make an exact mold of his features.

Ward died on Nov. 14, 1905, one day after his 77th birthday, with gangrene from a leg injury. After his death, the town of Ward still received property from him and he willed money for the Ward Institute to be built, which stood in the town until the Ward School was later built.

Long said the festival this year will begin Saturday at 4 p.m. with a cruise-in, featuring cars, trucks, tractors and motorcycles. As usual, it will be held at the Community Walking Track at the corner of Ward Avenue and Long Avenue. The old stand-by Bingo, which is always a favorite, will begin at 5 p.m. and Long said there are some nice prizes offered this year.

“The Steele Justice Band will take the stage at 7 p.m. for your listening and dancing pleasure,” said Long. “We will be revealing a brand new song by Robbie Cockrell, soon to be released. Be one of the first to say you heard it in Ward.”

At 10, the fireworks will start and afterwards, everyone will have his or her chance at fame during karaoke.

“We hope this will be a way of helping bring friends and families closer together,” said Long. “There will be lots of fun and food for everyone. Bring your lawn chairs and have a relaxing time. There will be something for all ages.”

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

4 p.m. – Cruise-In

5 p.m. – Bingo

7 p.m. – Steele Justice Band

10 p.m. – Fireworks

Karaoke will follow fireworks.