Imagine, for a moment, a very different Lowcountry than the one we know. Itās the dead of summer during the Revolutionary War, and the royal assembly and royal representatives were run off last fall. There is a tense state of bitter āpeaceā while things are run by a group of patriots. On June 28, 1776, the worldās most powerful military made its move to capture Charleston, … [Read more...]
Schoolhouse to Cultural Center: Snowden Community Preserves a Historic Landmark
On a particularly scorching day in August, with the heat index stretching to 105, President of the Snowden Community Civic Association Freddie Jenkins and I ride to a significant Mount Pleasant structure now hidden but not forgotten. Diners at the nearby Waffle House on Long Point Road wouldnāt necessarily know that just a stoneās throw away, on a grassy four-acre lot, stands … [Read more...]
The Story of a Hurricane Chaser
Although I didnāt realize it at the time, my longtime relationship with hurricanes started in 1969 when Camille hit the Mississippi Gulf Coast. A Category 5 storm with 190 mph sustained winds, Camille was the most powerful hurricane ever to make landfall in the United States. All the destruction and death caused by this act of Mother Nature happened one day after I left Biloxi, … [Read more...]
The Thieves Marketās Days Are Numbered: Turning the Page
It took five years for Carl Page to find a permanent home for his business, a primitive building in an old lumber yard on a dusty, two-lane road along the route to a couple of small, quiet beach towns. More than half a century later, Pageās Thieves Market is still a Mount Pleasant icon, a place where locals and visitors ā and, now, online shoppers ā can browse for everything … [Read more...]
Preparing for a Potential Earthquake: We Feel the Earth Move Under Our Feet
Itās been over 130 years since a devastating 7.3 earthquake hit Charleston in August 1886, the largest recorded quake in the history of the Southeastern United States. While there hasnāt been one registered at that level since then, the potential for a repeat event in the Lowcountry remains high. Felt as far away as Chicago and Cuba, Charleston was the bullseye for the area … [Read more...]
Old School Knowledge for New School Families: A Refresher Course
Recently, the Charleston County School District sold the old Laing Middle School and its site, located here in Mount Pleasant, to corporate giant Home Depot. The building is still there as I write this article, as Home Depot has yet to tear it down, but I know itāll soon be gone, and Iām trying not to be unhappy about it. While I never actually went inside the building, its … [Read more...]
Veggie Tales: Heath Farms in Mount Pleasant
Once upon a time, the main thoroughfares of Mount Pleasant were not gateways to the beautiful neighborhoods we recognize today but expanses of fertile land where hardworking farmers grew scores of tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and other staples of Southern produce. It was, of course, long before I moved to this area ā even before I was born ā but, as I spoke to Douglas M. Heath … [Read more...]
Surrounded by East Cooper’s Past: Local Cemeteries
What is it about old cemeteries that we find so intriguing? Maybe itās the serenity and natural beauty. Maybe itās the history. Maybe itās thoughts of the hereafter. Regardless, the East Cooper area has more than enough historic graveyards to evoke any of these pondering. Quite a few are in some rather unlikely places. Myrtle Grove is barely noticeable on busy Venning Road, … [Read more...]
The Legacy of Tony Page
This Fatherās Day will be one of the hardest days of my life. My father, Tony Page passed away on March 25. More than 700 people showed up to our family's visitation just to share the love they had for him. Why would so many people take time from their busy lives? I can come up with many reasons, but the best explanation is that he lived his life for his family and … [Read more...]
Snow in 1989 ā Remembering the Fun
Back in 1989, Mount Pleasant was a different place in terms of population, businesses and real estate ā but one thing was just about the same: the community of people who like to have a good time. And a good time was had by all during the great snow of 1989, which, right on the heels of Hurricane Hugo in September, finished that year off with a bang and a White Christmas for … [Read more...]