06.06.2023

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Today’s Forecast

66º | Heavy thunderstorms | 90% chance of rain
Sunrise 7:30 a.m. | Sunset 5:32 p.m.

🪙 Meet Cola’s Gilded Age muse

Meet the muse behind Gilded Age masterpieces

A historic marker honoring Hettie Anderson was installed in April, 2023 near her birthplace in Columbia, SC. | Photo by COLAtoday

In late April, the City of Columbia installed a historical marker to honor Gilded Age model Harriette “Hettie” Eugenia Anderson, whose history went largely unwritten for nearly 100 years. The marker is located just a block away from the Governor’s Mansion overlooking downtown Columbia from Arsenal Hill.

Who was Hettie?

In the world of Gilded Age art, there were few models as influential as Hettie Anderson. Hettie was an African American model who was praised for her beauty and her patient and steady manner while posing for artists. Sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens called Hettie “the handsomest model I have ever seen of either sex.”

Hettie Anderson was the model who inspired the figure depicted on the Liberty coin. | Photo via Richland Library

Hettie’s image

One of her most famous depictions can be found atop the Sherman Memorial at Grand Army Plaza in Manhattan. As the winged Greek goddess Victory, Hettie strides ahead of General William Tecumseh Sherman’s horse, symbolizing triumph and freedom. Her likeness also graces the Saint-Gaudens double eagle, a $20 gold coin hailed as one of the most beautiful in the world.

Lost to time no more

Despite her influence on early 1900s American Art, Hettie’s story remained largely unknown until the 1990s. Her story wasn’t uncovered until Willow Hagans and her late husband William began their research thanks to her elderly grandmother who mentioned “Cousin Tootie” had been a model.

Today, her story has been told by The New York Times, The National Park Service, and now as a permanent historic marker at her birthplace.

You can pay your respects to Hettie and her legacy by visiting the new marker on Wayne Street or her gravesite located in the Elmwood Memorial Gardens, about one mile from her birthplace.

Mark your calendars, on June 29, Richland Library will host “The Other Side of the Coin,” an event exploring the life and legacy of Hettie Anderson.

Asked

What was the best part of the Joyful Alternative?

It’s been 20 years since its closure and we want to know your favorite memory of the shop.

Let us know

Events

Tuesday, June 6

City of Columbia 2023 Golf Camp | Tuesday, Jun. 6-Thursday, June 8 | 9-11 a.m. | James E. Clyburn Golf Center, 2901 Slighs Ave., Columbia | $60 | Children aged 8-16 years old are invited to learn the basics of the game like putting, chipping, and driving.
Charley Crockett | Tuesday, June 6 | 8 p.m. | The Senate, 1022B Senate St., Columbia | $30 | Texas-born country and blues singer Charley Crockett’s sound falls somewhere between Bill Withers and Hank Williams.
Columbia Fireflies vs. Salem Red Sox | Tuesday, June 6 | 7:05 p.m. | Segra Park, 1640 Freed St., Columbia | $5-$7 | Miller Lite $2 Tuesday ($2 hot dogs, popcorn, fountain sodas & 12oz Miller Lites) // Fort Jackson Night*

Wednesday, June 7

YLS Learning With Leaders: Small Biz, Big Dreams in Five Points | Wednesday, June 7 | 5:30-7:30 p.m. | All Good Books, 734 Harden St., Columbia | $10-$15 |This installment focuses on small business development and entrepreneurship and includes a panel of small business owners from the Five Points area.

Thursday, June 8

Storytime in the Garden | Thursday, June 8 | 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m. | Hampton-Preston Mansion & Gardens, 1615 Blanding St., Columbia | Free | Enjoy stories, songs and activities with Richland Library and Historic Columbia staff.
International Night | Thursday, June 8 | 9 p.m. | Over The Top, 7201 Parklane Rd., Columbia | $25 | Enjoy a fabulous night celebrating cultures across the Caribbean with food, drinks, and live performances.
Meeting Street Artisan Market: Night Edition | Thursday, June 8, Thursday, Jul. 13 | 4-8 p.m. | Interactive Art Park, 425 Meeting St., West Columbia | Free | Enjoy a boutique shopping experience, park, play, eat + explore at the Meeting Street Artisan Market every second Thursday, from 4-8 p.m.*

Friday, June 9

Couples Cooking Italian Class | Friday, June 9 | 6:30-7:30 p.m. | Let’s Cook Culinary Studio, 1305 Assembly St., Columbia | $75 | Learn to cook a three-course meal including a burrata salad, flatbread, gnocchi with shrimp, and a lemon sorbetto.

Calendar events here

Click here to have your event featured.

Drink

Food

Looking for a new happy hour spot?

Presented by a COLAtoday Partner

Boku’s happy hour specials feature discounted handcrafted cocktails, appetizers, and more. | Photo provided by Boku Kitchen & Saloon

Cheers to another week, COLA. Looking for a new happy hour destination? Enter: Boku Kitchen & Saloon, a Pan-Asian restaurant in The Vista serving tasty happy hour sips and yummy bites Monday-Friday from 4-7 p.m.

Here’s the happy hour lineup:

$7 cocktails (We’re loving the Thai Lemongrass Marg.)
$6 glasses of wine
$5 appetizers
$4 sake bombs

Plus, enjoy themed days like:

Maki Monday featuring $7 Sushi Donuts, $5 Temaki Handrolls, and $4 Sake Bombs
Tito’s Tuesday with $5 Tito’s Cocktails
Whiskey Wednesday, where you can enjoy half off all whiskey from all shelves

Ready to plan a trip? Check out the full menu.

We’ll drink to that.*

Reserve a table

News Notes

Opening

Capital Climbing Cayce opens Saturday, June 10 at Parkland Plaza, offering over 2,000-sqft of bouldering and rock climbing space. The gym aims to cater to both experienced climbers and newcomers, providing marked routes and rental climbing shoes. (The Post and Courier)

Sports

Smoking these camels was good for their health. The Gamecocks baseball team advanced to the Super Regionals after defeating the Campbell Camels 16-7 on Sunday. Carolina went undefeated in the regional outscoring its opponents 41-11. Next up, the team will take on Florida this weekend in Gainesville.
Solina Golf Club is the new name of Indian River Golf Club in West Columbia. The course was purchased last winter by Bryan Bros Golf who are renovating the course and now accepting membership applications.

Coming Soon

Chase Bank is set to open two branches in Columbia, marking its entry into the Midlands market. The first branch, located at 10314 Two Notch Rd., is expected to open by year-end, followed by a second branch at 4800 Garners Ferry Rd. in early 2024. (The Post and Courier)

Kids

The Columbia Fireflies will host three Baseball Skills Camps for kids ages 8-14 on select dates in late June and July. Camps include training from Fireflies players and coaches, lunch, and a ticket to a Fireflies game. Book now or contact Aydan Fields at 803-888-3014.

Soda Citizen

Congratulations to our former Editorial Intern Kelly Hughes who recently graduated from USC and is starting her career as the Marketing and Communications Manager at The Capital City/Lake Murray Country Regional Tourism Board. We wish Kelly well as she continues to share her love of the Midlands with locals and visitors alike.

Health

Facial paralysis is one of the most complex areas of reconstructive surgery due to the wide variety of functional and cosmetic deficits. Here’s how the experts at MUSC Health are working on the future of facial reanimation.*

Travel

It’s time to plan that last summer hurrah for Labor Day weekend. May we suggest a coastal getaway to the Outer Banks? Or maybe your dream destination is a rustic treehouse in the Adirondack Mountains. Wanna splurge? This modern farmhouse in Napa Valley is sure to be unforgettable.*

Outdoors

🌸 Grow big, grow home

Become an expert on native flowers

Black-eyed susans are similar to Europe-native daisies. | Photo via Wikimedia Commons

You love local food, music, business, and art — so while you’re planning your garden, why not choose local plants, too?

Native plants are naturally adapted to the local climate, provide sustenance to native wildlife, and save water by thriving on normal rainfall. Plus, they’re more visually diverse than, say, lawn grass.

Consider planting some South Carolina flora before summer arrives. We’ll get you started.

Black-eyed Susan

Rudbeckia hirta

Water needs: Moist, Dry
Light needs: Sun
Bloom time: March-November

Growing tips: Black-eyed susan can become aggressive without competition, so consider planting it alongside other plants on this list.

Attracts: Birds, butterflies (Bordered Patch + Gorgone Checkerspot)

Carolina Jessamine

Gelsemium sempervirens

Water needs: Moist
Light needs: Sun, part-shade
Bloom time: March-May; may bloom again in early fall and December

Growing tips: Make sure your soil is never completely dry. Use elastic stretch ties and prune Jessamine early in its blooming season to train and maintain your desired shape.

Attracts: Hummingbirds, butterflies (Spicebush Swallowtail)

Three more local blooms

The Wrap

David Stringer wearing a dark button-down shirt

Today’s edition by:
David

From the editor

As you read yesterday, Jessalin is my co-editor for the week while Sam is on vacation. So, I’m sending her out on assignment in New York City. Tomorrow she’ll head to Central Park and offer us a glimpse of Hettie’s statue at the Central Park entrance at Fifth Avenue and 59th Street. Here, she’s the Greek goddess Victory leading General Sherman on his horse. It’s all fitting given Sherman’s history with Cola.

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