Mount Pleasant Magazine Sept/Oct 2016

15 / 178

Many local residents are talking about
annoying traffic, growing population and new commercial
and residential buildings – and everything else that goes along
Mount Pleasant’s stature as the fastest-growing municipality
east of the Mississippi. And when people discuss this whirl-
wind of growth, they tend to disagree about how our town got to where it is
today. When exactly did the East Cooper boom begin?
Let’s take a closer look at that question. The John P. Grace Memorial Bridge
linked Charleston with Mount Pleasant long before the Silas N. Pearman and
the Arthur Ravenel bridges arrived on the scene. Construction on the Grace got
underway on Feb. 7, 1928, and people
started driving their cars across the Coo-
per River on Aug. 8, 1929. Until then,
ferries were the only option if you wanted
to reach Mount Pleasant from the Holy
City. As a result, there was little opportu-
nity for East Cooper to grow.
Two bridges and 87 years later,
Mount Pleasant is among the fastest-
growing towns in the country. It’s
certainly large enough to have its own
business magazine, which is one reason
we are launching one this month. The
new publication, MP Business, begins on page 81 of this issue of Mount Pleas-
ant Magazine and online all the time at . Published sev-
eral times a year, we hope to provide you with valuable information and answer
your questions about Mount Pleasant’s past, present and future.
I began my Charleston-area publishing career in 1980, working for the
Moultrie News and later starting my own publishing company. Among the
magazines I produced was East Cooper Magazine. We’ve been telling the story
of Mount Pleasant and the surrounding islands for nearly 30 years, including
an article we published in 1991 about the growth of Mount Pleasant. You can
find this interesting article at After reading it, I’m sure
you will agree that growth has been an issue in Mount Pleasant for a long time.
Today’s engaging conversations are nothing new.
This issue of Mount Pleasant Magazine has a lot to
offer in addition to MP Business. Our foodie magazine,
In Good Taste, the new Calendar of Events and articles
on first-time home buyers and breast cancer survivors
are just a few worthwhile reasons to spend some time
with Mount Pleasant Magazine. Share this issue online
with a friend or family member using this link:
.
Until next issue,
— B i l l M a c c h i o
Publisher
P u B l i s h e r ’ s N ot e
15 | |
The John P. Grace Memorial Bridge was built at a
cost of $6 million. Until 1945, there was a toll of 50
cents per vehicle and driver, with an additional 15-
cent charge for each additional passenger.
Vol. 6, issue 5
september/october 2016
Publisher/Editorial Director
Bill Macchio
Editor
DeNise K. JaMes
Managing Editor
BriaN sherMaN
Art Director
DaNa coleMaN
Graphic Designer
KiM hall
Production Manager
cristiNa YouNg
Webmaster
george coNKliN
Internet Marketing
sherMaN Paggi
Editorial Assistants
AlexAndrA Kent • SAmAnthA SullivAn
alYssa ZaPiNsKi
Writers
dAniel BrocK • PAmelA BrownStein
chArlize BurnS • StAcy domingo
Bill FArley • Anne hASSold hArriS
KAlene mccort • BArBArA m. PAtricK
aNNe toole
Photographers
Jenn cAdy • BrAndon clArK
John Kurc • BriAn ShermAn
cASSAndrA richerSon • ricK wAlo
Independent Media Consultants
BraNDoN clarK
culleN MurraY-KeMP
gAyle wheeler
Bert wood
Margaret BurNs
mAtthew ProSSer
Administration & Bookkeeping
giNger sottile
Distribution
u.s. Post office, PuBlix,
harris teeter, cVs
Mount Pleasant Magazine is published locally by a
team of independent contractors who reside in east
cooper.
Mount Pleasant Magazine is published
six times per year by Media Services, Inc.
1013 Chuck Dawley Blvd., Mount Pleasant, S.C. 29464
copyright © Media services 2016.
all rights reserved. reproduction electronically or in
print format without the expressed written consent of
the publisher is strictly prohibited and a violation of
u.s. copyright laws.
Inquiries to: Mount Pleasant Magazine
P.o. Box 22617, charleston, s.c. 29413
843-881-1481
PROGRESS
MOUNTPLEASANT’STEAMSPORT
COLEMAN
Our Boulevard of Dreams
PLANS FOR LAND
Chattingwith LocalDevelopers
MOUNT PLEASANT BUSINESS ASSOCIATION •MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY
MAGAZINE 2016