The Polk County Historical Association is continuing it's series of stellar local history programs this summer. On Tuesday, August 10th at 2pm the program will feature train stories and folklore passed down over the years about the railroad up Polk County's Saluda grade. The presentation will be given by local historian and Historical Association board member James Metcalf of Saluda.

Have you heard about the convict labor that laid the rails from Tryon to Saluda or the deadly riot at the church revival? What about the Cooper's Gap man who was largely responsible for the towns of Tryon and Saluda? How about the tragic Saluda mountain train wreck that birthed a life saving invention in an Asheville hospital bed? These and many more stories will be shared at the August program.

Presenter James Metcalf is uniquely qualified to share these history stories with others. Metcalf has been the chief docent at the Polk County Historical Museum for more than a decade and he leads the docent training for the local Historical Association. He is a 25 year veteran radio announcer on WJFJ, WHKP and currently on WWQT. In addition James is the great grandson of George Washington Metcalf, who was a convict prison guard during the construction of the railroad. Metcalf is a descendant of some of Polk's first pioneer families, the Metcalf's, Pace's, Hipp's, Williams, Staton's and Middelton's.

The August 10th program will be held inside the Polk County Historical Museum located at 60 Walker Street in downtown Columbus. There is no charge for the program. The public is invited to attend.