The Mayor and Councilmen returned to Salley and made plans for Salley's first Chitlin Strut, to be held on Saturday following Thanksgiving, November 26, 1966.

The first Strut was attended by more than a thousand people, many coming from surrounding states, and they consumed over 600 pounds of "guts" along with bar-b-que pork and chicken.

Enough funds were available to purchase the new decorations in time for Christmas.

The Strut proved such a success, the Mayor and Town Council decided to make the Strut an annual event, to be held each year on the Saturday after Thanksgiving.

In 1967, more than 2500 attended the Second Annual Chitlin Strut. Attendance has grown with each passing year.

Last year, more than 8,500 pounds of Chitlins were "inhaled" along with bar-b-que from 150 hogs and 1500 chickens by some 34,000 visitors.

Salley, the WORLD CHITLIN CAPITAL, has been host to visitors from the four corners of the world since the beginning of the Annual Chitlin Strut. The Strut has been featured in Southern Living and many other major magazines and newspapers, including the International Edition of the Herald Tribune, Paris Edition in 1970.

A parade to officially begin each Annual Chitlin Strut was begun in 1971. The parade begins at 10:00 A.M. each year and has been an overwhelming success. In 1972 an official representative from the White House attended the Strut and rode in a 1901 Oldsmobile in the parade.

Along with "Chitlins" goes country music, so a Country Music Show is held each year. The first Country Music Show got underway at 8:00 P.M. with Lou Wise of Columbia, South Carolina, as the first entertainer and "Friendly" Ben as Master of Ceremonies. Since 1966, the show has grown and many entertainers have performed to overflow crowds. For the past several years, country music entertainers have performed outdoors.

The Town of Salley has realized many improvements from the proceeds of this annual event. We have retired our 1929 Buick fire truck and replaced it with a fully equipped fire truck. The 1929 Buick fire truck is maintained as a cherished keepsake and appears each year in the annual parade.

The old Southern Railway Depot has ben relocated and renovated to become our beautiful Town Hall and Fire Station.

All proceeds derived from the annual event are used for municipal improvements.

It has been said, "It takes a ton of guts to put on a Chitlin Strut." But this is an error - it now takes more than four tons of guts for each Chitlin Strut. Thousands of visitors look forward to this annual occasion of "chitlins," good country music and Southern Hospitality, found no other place but in Salley, South Carolina.

HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SALLEY

(From the 1984 Chitlin Strut Souvenir Program)

During the Winter of 1735 our community was settled by three Swiss German families: John Corbitt, Sr., John Corbitt Jr., John Salley. These three families possessed large al Land Grants from King George II of England. Since the heads of all three of these families were named "John", the settlement became known as "John Town".

These first settlers had to have their land surveyed. The surveyor was a Mr. Dean. In his honor several things still bear his name, such as Dean's Bridge, Dean Swamp, and the Dean Swamp Baptist Church.

When these settlers arrived in their covered wagons, they found the Indians (the Edistos) to be friendly. They traded with, and helped the settlers build their first homes (log cabins) along a creek (now called John Town Creek).

The Indians claimed that the spring nearby contained healing waters, and they came from miles around to drink in order to ward off illness. The spring is still in existence. It is known as Locust Head Spring, and is located at the foot of Toney Hill, near Devil's Elbow.

These early settlers were beginning to prosper when the war came - the American Revolution. In the year 1787 a battle took place at John Town. This battle is known as the Battle of Dean's Bridge. The battle was a victory for the settlers, although Captain Watson lost his life. He was succeeded in command by Captain Butler. Seventeen Tories were killed, and were buried at John Town. (Their common grave is unknown at this time.)

After the Revolutionary War the settlers had to make a fresh start. This time they went into the lumber business by floating logs down the Edisto River to Charleston. This new enterprise was a wise decision, for they prospered greatly, and built commodious mansions around 1795

In the late 1700 and early 1800 other families began moving into this area. Namely: Able, Brodie, Boylston, Cooper, Corley, Courtney, Clark, Caughman, Davis, Douglass, Fanning, Fergerson, Ginyard, Gleaton, Holman, Jordan, Johnson, Jones, Kitchings, Kennerly, Knotts, LeCroy, Milhous, McQueen, Mackey, O'Dowd, Porter, Prothro, Peeples, Riley, Sawyer, Stroman, Tyler, Toole, Vann, Wooley, Whitney and Walker.

Once again tragedy struck our prosperous community with the coming of the War Between The States. Sherman's march from Savannah to Columbia came right through John Town. The John Salley, and the John Corbitt, Jr. mansions were burned to the ground by the Union soldiers. The John Corbitt, Sr. home, then owned by the Boylston family, was not burned. Later is was dismantled by Charlie Boylston. (Marvin Boylston's home is located on the same location now.)

These early settlements organized three churches: Dean Swamp (1802), Rocky Grove (1812), and Sardis (1876). Dean Swamp Church is the oldest, being established in 1802. The Salley Baptist Church was built in 1888, and the Salley Methodist Church, a few years later.

Mr. Dempsey H. Salley was responsible for the railroad coming through this settlement. Being a member of the South Carolina Legislature, he was also responsible for Salley being incorporated. Therefore, on December 19, 1887, the name of the settlement was changed from "John Town" to "Sally" spelled SALLY at first, like the old family name. In 1935 the name of the town was changed to SALLEY to keep it from being confused with a first name. Mr. Dempsey Salley was also responsible for Springfield getting their charter the same day Salley got theirs.

Some will remember the blacksmith shop run by Mr. Boyd Yon, and the Livery Stable run by Mr. D. H. Salley. The Hotel was once popular with the traveling salesmen, who would arrive by train and stay over night until the next day. Even Coca-Cola was once bottled locally, and these old bottles, with the town's name, are collector's items. Most of our residents will remember seeing Salley's movie star, Madelyn Jones, on the screen at the old H.A. Sawyer Theater.