The Journal-Record - Bicentennial Edition Thursday, July 1, 1976 Section A, Page 4 BYRD COMMUNITY WAS NAMED AFTER MAN WHO DONATED LANDS FOR FIRST SCHOOL BYRD Community was named after Mr. W. A. BYRD who gave the land for the first BYRD School grounds. Early settlers in the community were the CANTRELLS, REALS, RIGGSES, WATSONS, NORTHINGTONS, RUDICELLS, WHITEHEADS and SCOGGINS. Some of these early settlers came from Georgia and South Carolina. Many descendants of these early settlers live in the present-day BYRD Community. The roads throughout the Community have been grealty(sic) improved in the last few years. Highway 17, a modern paved road, runs through the center of the community. Other farm to market roads are also paved. Transportation is by privately owned cars and trucks. An early wool carding factory, operated by water power, was in operation for ten or fifteen years. Two hands handled the factory work. For the carding, the operators received wool or money toll. The wool was put in bales and later sold. Today as formerly, agriculture is the principal occupation of the citizens of BYRD Community. Cotton and corn are the two main crops. Many farmers are supplementing their farm incomes by raising beef cattle and hogs. Some are engaged in dairying. Two mil routes run through the Community each day picking up the milk and carrying it to market. Some farmers are raising broilers for the market. Some men and many women are employed in the garment factories located in Detroit and Hamilton. There are four Churches in the Community, Rudicell, Ballard, Cooper, and Mount Joy. Other churches are located just outside of the community boundary lines. All of these serve to meet the religious needs of the people. The BYRD Community today is one of the most progresssive(sic) rural Communities in the state. In 1948, a Community Improvement Club was organized, and it has done much to improve living conditions and appearanc.e(sic) The club sponsored such projects as: 1. Keeping Cemeteries Clean 2. Painting Church houses and putting out shrubbery 3. Erecting signs for churches and boundary lines 4. Improving and lettering mailboxes 5. Build a Club House 6. Established roadside parks and picnic areas. 7. Contributed to the Red Cross. 8. Distributed baskets to underprivileged children.