Mayberry Days
Mayberry Days
September 25-28, 2014
September 25-28, 2014
Home, Auto and Life Insurance
Mt.Airy
NORTH CAROLINA
Mayberry Days is a festival for the whole family with activities
and events for the fans who long for the days when life was
simple and the sheriff didn't carry a gun. Enjoy a bottle of pop
while playing checkers, relax to music from many local bands
playing the same songs that Andy grew up with and performed
on The Andy Griffith Show.
www.surryarts.org
Rome’s Soap
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going through the roof?
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By: Aaron Shaver
Rome Spence was a native of Hillsville, Virginia. Rome, along
with his wife Christine were long time residents of Lawsonville,
NC. Rome did plaster and drywall work as his official career. He
was a master beekeeper, very respected by many in the beekeeping
community. He was also an organic gardener, basket maker, and
soap maker. Rome was a very humble person that possessed a
wealth of knowledge, but never made anyone feel stupid for asking
questions. He was a great teacher.
I became friends with Rome and Christine through our store,
Briggs Grocery. We quickly became good friends and I enjoyed
talking to Rome and learning from him. I found that I learned
something every time I talked to him. He was always entertaining.
My daughter Addy had a really bad case of eczema and we had
been struggling to find a cure. The doctor’s expensive medicines
seemed to have no effect. Rome suggested we try his homemade tea
tree soap, so we did. The results were incredible. It cured her skin
and no more doctor visits. We were all pleased, especially Rome.
Rome decided that I should learn to make his soap and he wanted
to teach me how. He said with my culinary knowledge and my
knowledge of herbs and flavors, I could make many different scents
that he had never tried. Honestly, soap making had never been on
my list of things to learn, but I was willing to try. We had many
conversations about when our soap making class would take place,
but we could never find the time to get together. Finally, one day we
wrote a date on the calendar for “soap class”.
We never got to have our “soap class”. Rome had a massive heart
attack and died in his driveway while loading his tools for a job. His
death was heart breaking; I lost a good friend and mentor.
Some time passed, and I decided that I still wanted to learn to
make soap. Feeling somewhat hesitant, I called Christine and asked
her if she would teach me to make Rome’s soap. She agreed to teach
me, remarking that if she could teach Rome she could teach me too.
I was surprised to learn that years ago she had been the soap maker,
until moving on to other hobbies. Rome had then taken over the
soap making duties.
I enjoyed learning from Christine and with some practice I
mastered the “Rome’s Soap” recipe. As with most of my endeavors,
I quickly wanted to try new things. I began to research essential oils
and their healing properties, trying new scents or “flavors” as I say.
All of my soaps are based on Rome’s original recipe with the
addition of a variety of essential oils and natural colorants. I also
incorporate things like sand, ground coffee and dried orange peel as
exfoliates. I currently make twenty different types of soap. I think
Rome would be pleased with the soaps I have created.
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Terry Hawks agent/owner: [email protected]
Tyler Vaughn agent: [email protected]
Matt Lowe agent: [email protected]
Phone: 336.786.1234
Fax: 888.412.4601
Office hours: 8:30-5:00 M-F by appointment only on Saturdays
www.hawksins.com
1600 S Andy Griffith Pkwy Suite 3 Mt Airy, NC
Rome Spence was a native of Hillsville, Virginia. Rome, along with
his wife Christine were long time residents of Lawsonville,
I really enjoy making and selling Rome’s Soap. I especially like it
when my soap heals someone’s skin problems. I am also very proud
that it has become a family hobby. My wife and 39daughters help me
wrap and label soap, and are always involved at our booths at The One
Way and The Stokes Stomp. My mom assisted in creating our labels
and delivers soap to Let It Grow Produce in
Winston-Salem.
Rome’s Soap is currently available at Briggs Grocery in Lawsonville
NC, Let It Grow Produce in Winston-Salem, Germanton Mercantile in
Germanton NC, Facebook, and via email.
[email protected]