With the immense wealth of history surrounding the Lowcountry, it is not impossible to conceive that every single day we could be looking at, walking on or driving over the sacred land of unmarked burial grounds. That’s because, according to architectural historian Brittany Lavelle Tulla, over the ages, countless gravesites along the coast of South Carolina have been destroyed … [Read more...]
Night of Wind and Water: Hurricane Hugo 35 Years Later
Editor’s Note: The following harrowing tale originally appeared in Hurricane Hugo – The Storm of the Century. For more survival tales about this powerful 1989 storm, visit the digital version of the magazine at www.HugoMagazine.com. I would like to have been somewhere where I could have seen it,” said a Lowcountry resident who lost everything to Hugo. It’s a reaction … [Read more...]
“Freeing of the Toll” on John P. Grace Memorial Bridge, June 1946
In June 1946, Charleston motorists celebrate in the streets and on the roadways "the freeing of the toll," permitting free transit on the John P. Grace Memorial Bridge (Cooper River Bridge). The bridge was the main and only thoroughfare by vehicle for incoming traffic to residents commuting and tourists visiting Mount Pleasant, Isle of Palms and Sullivan's Island. The bridge, … [Read more...]
Voices of Our Ancestors Guide to Lowcountry Plantations
Long before planters arrived in the region East of the Cooper and up the Hammock Coast directly to our north, Native Americans roamed the land. Today, the voices of our ancestors are echoed in the names of Winyah Bay, along with four of the five rivers that flow through Georgetown County: the Waccamaw, Pee Dee, Sampit and Santee; as well as Wampacheone Creek in Mount Pleasant. … [Read more...]
Sown in History: Middleburg Plantation, East Cooper’s Eldest Rice Plantation
For Charlestonians, it’s always been about rice. Red rice. Rice pilau. Hoppin’ John. Rice pudding. If you’re new to the area, hopefully you’ve had the opportunity to eat – or maybe even cook – one of our signature rice dishes. And if you’re a native, you know that no home cooked dinner is complete without one of them. The house at Middleburg Plantation in Huger was built in … [Read more...]
The Ballad of Bill Farley. 1944-2023
An extraordinary life filled with adventure and unique opportunities are just two ways to describe the late William “Bill” Farley, 79, of Mount Pleasant. In honor of his memory, the following is an account of a man who has lived many lives and worn many hats. ACT I Born in New York on July 11, 1944, Farley grew up attending public, private and boarding schools. He earned … [Read more...]
Remembering 9/11: Stories from Ground Zero
This world has seen many tragedies; it’s through remembering our history that we can begin to move the needle towards peace and prosperity for all. Dec. 7, 1941, marked the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor and will forever be embedded in our U.S. History. Similarly, Sept. 11, 2001, will live forever in our minds as a day of infamy in which the world stood still. On 9/11, … [Read more...]
Lifelong lessons learned from Hurricane Hugo
It’s that time of year again. Hurricane season. It’s also the anniversary of what many folks in the Lowcountry consider a day that will live in infamy: September 21, 1989. If you were living anywhere near here at the time, you know exactly what that date signifies. “Where were you during Hugo?” are words that many long-time residents still ask one another. I personally … [Read more...]
A Tribute to Roy Williams III: Man of History
Roy Williams III was an icon on Sullivan’s Island. He knew the island frontwards and backwards, inside and out, top to bottom. Not only had Williams lived on the island longer than just about any other resident, but he also wrote extensively on its history and architecture. He was even known to offer occasional tours of the island by trolley. When the island’s historical … [Read more...]
Down On Main Street: A historic stroll down Coleman Boulevard
Coleman Boulevard is more than just a gateway to the beach. It’s Mount Pleasant’s Main Street, USA. It was where all the action began in the early 20th century and it remains the heart and soul of the town today. Coleman Boulevard was named after Mayor Francis Coleman, who steered the town through the rapid development of the 1950s and its transformation from a farming … [Read more...]