History of Edisto Electric Cooperative Salkehatchie's birth began similar to Edisto's - Concerned farmers met to determine their future - So on July 27, 1940 the Salkehatchie Electric Cooperative was formed and incorporated. Those incorporators also constituted the first Board of Trustees. They were: R. R. Johnson; E. G. Hay; J. Mims Walker; Monnie Black; W. H. Moody; Ben T. Lott; S. E. Sanders; Charles O. Jones; Mrs. Paul C. Moss. The first president was R. R. Johnson of Elko. The first manager was Walter B. Davis and was later succeeded by Robert D. Bennett. Mr. Bennett later took the job of manager of our Statewide Association in Columbia. Mr. H. C. (Creech) Sanders was then hired as manager until the merger with Edisto wherein he became an associate manager until his retirement. Salkehatchie grew considerably from its beginning. Lines were extended throughout the rural areas. Then it happened. A major setback, the Government purchased a sizable track of land for the Savannah River Site, known to some as the "Bomb Plant". Although this project provided a lot of needed jobs for the surrounding areas, it affected Salkehatchie Co-op. Almost overnight; the Co-op lost about 1/3 of its membership and service area. |