At the Saluda Train Tales at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 16, Alex Salley will recall for the audience what it was like growing up in Saluda. 

Salley will describe for the audience “how things were done” in Saluda in the late ‘30s, during World War II and through the ‘40s. He will take the audience back in time and tell the story of the day the post office safe was blown up and contents stolen, telling how it was done and how the criminals were never caught.

Salley was born in Saluda in 1932 to Dr. and Mrs. E M Salley, and entered Saluda School in 1939.

He entered Clemson College in 1951. He transferred to Alabama Polytechnic Institute in 1953, graduating in civil engineering in 1955 and mechanical engineering 1956. 

After serving in the U.S. Navy from 1957-1977, he completed a Master of Civil Engineering at North Carolina State in 1979 and was employed by the largest family owned engineering and construction company in the U. S. from 1980-1998.  

Salley returned to Saluda in the fall of 1998.

Salley grew up in a time when families sat on their front porches, boys hunted rabbits and grouse whenever they could, walked everywhere on foot, and an observant teenager pretty much knew what was happening around town when their parents were too busy trying to make a living to notice. And Salley has an excellent memory, organizers said.

Alex’s father was a doctor in Saluda for 25 years, serving Southern Railroad for 50 years.

Saluda Train Tales is a free monthly event to educate the community of the importance of Saluda’s heritage, railroad history and the Saluda Grade. These events are at the Saluda Historic Depot, 32 W. Main St., Saluda. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. 

The events are free, though voluntary donations are accepted.

– Submitted by Cathy Jackson