POWDERSVILLE — Sitting inside his house near the S.C. 81 and S.C. 153 intersection, Pete Elrod talks about some of the changes he’s seen during his lifetime, and recalls the days in which Three Bridges Road was the center of Powdersville, since it had a general store and a blacksmith shop.

“I’ve been right here almost 92 years,” says Elrod, who is at least a fourth-generation Powdersville resident.

As cars drive by S.C. 81 behind him, Elrod points out that the road has always been one of the busiest in Powdersville. It used to be U.S. 29, “the main road to Atlanta,”he says.

“They had bus service up and down the road,” he says. “They stopped by here, on this little road, and pick up on the weekend.”

Elrod once owned as many as 200 acres. He spent about 70 years farming, which was the same occupation his father had.

“This whole country used to be farming,” he says, nostalgically recalling when the Greenville and Easley area was replete with farmers and textiles mills.

“The two things that put South Carolina on the map were the mills and farming,” he says. “They killed mills, and they’re trying to kill farming.”

He also fondly recalls some of his favorite activities when he was still in school — playing horseshoes and going to the “picture show.”

“It was 15 cents to get in, your drink was a dime, and the popcorn was a nickel,” he said.

Today, Powdersville is often described as one of the fastest growing areas in the Upstate. Elrod says the rapid growth began when the community got its own water company.

But for Elrod, some things haven’t changed — he’s still married to his wife Shirley, he still attends Bethesda United Methodist Church, and despite the many changes, he still loves his hometown. He and Shirley have been married for 70 years. They have four children and eight grandchildren.

Name: Pete Elrod

Age: 92

Occupation: Retired farmer, milkman

Years spent farming: 70

Favorite memories: Going to the “picture show when it was only 15 cents,” and playing horseshoes and baseball when Powdersville was still a rural area.

Favorite pastimes: Fellowshipping with others through groups such as the Powdersville Forever Young and Powdersville Leisure Group.

Favorite food: Ham and sausage

Family: Wife Shirley, children: Kay, Sue, Jean and Penny; eight grandchildren.

Residence: Powdersville

Born in: Powdersville

Church: Bethesda United Methodist Church.