During the Great Depression, Julius B and Maude Hamby Thrift gave birth to identical twins, Thomas Edison and Samuel Ford on November 12, 1930. The home was already overflowing with six older children but Maude and JB loved their large family. Thomas and Samuel were born at home as most births were in Long Creek, South Carolina. Also amazing in the community was the surprise of twins, so tiny that they were placed in shoe boxes for their beds. Only weighing two pounds each, Sam and Tom survived their miracle births with love and nurturing from a devoted mother and older sisters who helped care for them. Tom and Sam soon had a younger brother on the way totaling a family of six boys and three girls. Maude and JB were proud of their family and taught them all the lessons of life with God given love and hard work as the two most necessities to survive in this generation. The "Greatest Generation".

Learning to drive steer and oxen at the age of 7, Tom and Sam kept up that work ethic from pulling logs from the woods, grading forest roads, and helping with as many chores as possible while attending Long Creek Academy. At the age of 19, they were drafted into the US Army and were stationed in Japan, cleaning up a devastated region from the bombing of Hiroshima. The army provided the twins with the opportunity to learn heavy equipment operations and engineering of large earthmoving projects while using this skill to serve their country through hard times.

The work ethic JB and Maude instilled in Tom and Sam not only carried over into their performance with the US Army but they returned home motivated to use their drive, skills and determination to help form one of the most successful businesses in the Carolinas. All six brothers formed a series of businesses such as lumber, pulpwood, and hardware stores, road construction, and building development. Tom and Sam remained together, working diligently to provide "hands on" labors of love as general contractors, building hundreds of miles of roads and interstates across South Carolina. They helped bring many industries, shopping centers, plants and warehouses to the region.

In addition, the twins invested their hard work and love of communities into development areas such as Pebble Creek Village with the help of dedicated employees. We hope that you will come and experience the beauty of each season with us in mountains of western North Carolina. May you always enjoy your dreams through your labors of love.

Sam and Tom

Thrift Brothers, Inc.