Pine Trace Natural Area Ribbon Cutting Ceremony--Join in on the Fun

Nestled in the heart of South Carolina’s Lowcountry, Summerville is a town that seamlessly blends southern charm with progressive community development. Known for its blooming azaleas and historic streets, it's now blossoming in new ways—through a series of thoughtfully designed parks that offer residents and visitors more opportunities to connect with nature, play, and unwind. Summerville is redefining outdoor living one park at a time.

The 306-acre hardwood mixed forest at 303 Chandler Creek Road off of Miles Jamison was purchased in 2011. On March 15, 2021, County Council approved of a master plan for the property. In 2023, The Town of Summerville Design Review Board approved of the plans for Pine Trace Natural Area to be located on the property, and on March 9 of that year, Dorchester County Parks held a groundbreaking event to begin construction. I have followed its progress since with great interest for the past two years in anticipation of finally playing its featured 18-hole disc golf course. Finally, the ribbon cutting ceremony for the park will be on Thursday, August 14 at 9:30 am, and you are invited--admission is free. 

Along with its challenging disc golf course, Pine Trace features an extensive 10-mile trail system, 6-acre fishing pond, observation deck and fishing pier, SUP and kayak launch, picnic shelters, large playground, and dog parks. Facilities include a Guard House at its entrance, spacious Welcome Center, kayak rental and concession stand, and restrooms. Everything will be free--frozen treats, kayak rentals, and golf disc rentals.

Pine Trace Natural Area is another fantastic outdoor recreational space offered by Dorchester County Parks and Recreation and the Town of Summerville. Whether you’re a longtime Lowcountry local or just passing through, it is a fresh breath of adventure and community. Don’t miss the ribbon cutting—come celebrate nature, recreation, and the spirit of Summerville.

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The Summerville Light--A New Argument as the Reason for the Mysterious Lights

Former Sheep Island Road

This article is for all residents of Summerville who remember and experienced the famous Summerville Light of Sheep Island Road—locally dubbed Light Road. Over the years, I’ve written articles about this ghostly phenomenon, and it remains the most popular and beloved ghost story in Summerville’s history. I received over 16,000 responses from readers who recounted their personal experiences with the Light, and a few who were skeptics—though they were overwhelmingly in the minority.

Legend has it the Light is the glow of a lantern guiding the ghost of a woman searching for her decapitated husband along a stretch of railroad tracks that once ran near Sheep Island Road.

Several theories have been proposed as scientific explanations for the Light and its unsettling physical effects—terrorizing motorists by violently shaking cars or inexplicably cutting power to their vehicles. Theories range from swamp gas and ball lightning to headlights reflecting off various road signs.

On Monday morning, July 14, the United States Geological Survey had confirmed reports of an earthquake in the Summerville area. Data from the USGS confirmed that an earthquake of about 2.2 to 2.4 magnitude occurred just before 10 a.m., about a mile east-northeast of the town center of Summerville near Berlin G. Meyers Parkway in Dorchester County. It had a depth of between about 3 and 5 miles, though officials are still working to narrow down the exact measurements of the quake based on the data received from several tools. This is not uncommon occurrence.

At this point, you may be wondering what the Monday earthquake has to do with the Summerville Light. Surprisingly, it may have a connection with another famous Summerville event that occurred in 1886, The Great Charleston Earthquake. A seismologist has offered these natural events as a scientific explanation for the floating orb: a phenomenon called, earthquake lights. Susan Hough of the United States Geological Survey published her earthquake idea in a research article late last month in Seismological Research Letters.

An article in the Smithsonian Magazine explained it this way, "Earthquake lights are mysterious phenomena that have been observed around the world, but scientists still don’t have a clear idea of what causes them. Some have proposed that seismic activity deforms minerals in the Earth, creating an electrical charge that can lead air molecules to glow. Another theory is that they’re related to the release of gases like radon or methane, which can ignite when they're exposed to a spark of static electricity. Hough believes the railroad tracks, in particular, are the key to Summerville’s ghosts."

Hough said in an interview with Post and Courier, "Historically, when rail companies replaced tracks, they didn’t always haul the old track away. So, you’ve got heaps of steel out there. Sparks might be part of the story. That could explain why so many ghost stories—even beyond Summerville—involve lights over railways. When you start looking around, it turns out there's any number of ghosts wandering around railroad tracks with lanterns looking for severed heads. There’s kind of an epidemic of them."

There you have it—mystery solved. Or is it? What say you, Summerville residents of the Summerville Light era?

An Illustration

The unstoppable freight train called progress changed the landscape around the same I-26 real estate, quite possibly closing the chapter on the era of the Summerville Light. The Nexton I-26 connector was constructed. The overpass that once led to the dark, overgrown, wooded hollow is no longer there. Only remnants of the once-haunted stretch of Sheep Island Road remain.

As you enter the Nexton Parkway exit off I-26 heading north, glance quickly to your right. You may catch a glimpse of the remaining tattered pavement. It briefly touches Sigma Drive before crossing Nexton Parkway, extending northward—parallel to the new Del Webb Community—then fading into obscurity.

It is gone, but not forgotten, as a growing Southern town 23 miles outside of Charleston reimagines itself, closing one chapter to open another.

Smithsonian Magazine article 

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Fresh Seafood and More on Charleston's Scenic Waterfront--Fleet Landing Restaurant and Bar

For years a solitary eating establishment located along the Cooper River waterfront of Charleston, it has been fortuitously swept up into a bigger vision called The Cooper, Charleston's first luxury waterfront hotel, which will feature 191 rooms, infinity pool, spa, and event spaces slated to open in October. The hotel property will connect Joe Riley Waterfront Park with a water's edge scenic walkway leading to the Fleet Landing Restaurant and Bar located at its north flank.

Fleet Landing Restaurant is housed in a 6,000 square foot, hurricane proof, 1940s retired naval building. It juts out over the marsh on a reinforced pier and boasts oversized windows that offer an unobstructed view of the Charleston Harbor. Built in 1942 by the US Navy as a debarkation point for sailors, the building lay vacant after World War II until it was acquired by the South Carolina Port Authority in the 1960s and used for storage. The structure fell into disrepair. Despite its condition, it caught the attention of Tradd Newton who predicted, "One day, I'm going to put something in that building," and he did. Newton, with the guiding vision of Charleston architect Reggie Gibson and his wife/business partner Weesie, fulfilled that dream.

Food and Wine Magazine described Fleet Landing Restaurant's interior as "maritime chic." When you step through its doors, your initial impression is unmistakable. The interior is without a doubt very spacious with community tables and a long, running bar on one side. One wall is covered with orange life preservers and another with a glass door display of assorted wines. Beyond its large windows, there is plenty of outdoor dining on picnic style tables with orange umbrellas where you can soak in the harbor atmosphere.

Fleet Landing Restaurant is by and large a seafood destination, and one of the most popular. However, dinner entrees do include a Filet Mignon, Boneless Ribeye Steak and Chicken Piccata, while the lunch menu included an 8 oz Angus Burger, Grilled Chicken Sandwich, and a Fried Green Tomato "BLT". The seafood offerings are plentiful and diverse. It also has a Gluten Free Menu, both lunch and dinner. All menus offer a wide variety of selections.

We were there for lunch. We did not have a reservation, and the wait was about twenty minutes for outdoor seating, which we requested. For a drink, I am partial to pomegranate, so I selected the Pomegranate Mojito made with Don Q Passionfruit Rum and Pomegranate Juice for $13--a pleasing refresher. From the lunch menu, I chose the Fried Flounder Sandwich with pepper jack cheese, lettuce, tomato, and Cajun tartar sauce for $16--fish was fresh with a pleasant coating. Our server was helpful and efficient, visited our table often, and did it all with a cheerful smile.

Fleet Landing Restaurant and Bar is a quality seafood destination with a fantastic location, if you do not mind the pluff mud aroma at low tide, but that is all part of the waterfront experience. It lives up to its motto of having something for everyone. It is suggested you set up a reservation, especially for dinner sittings and beyond into the evening.

HOURS OF OPERATION:

Lunch: Seven Days a Week 11am-3:30pm

Dinner: Seven Days a Week 5pm-10pm

186 Concord Street, Charleston, SC

Phone: (843) 722-8100

Kersey House in Summerville--A historic Gathering Place for Dining and Everything Else

Seems as though French inspired cuisine is becoming a thing in Summerville these days. Two of the many eating establishments recently making their debut in the town feature French classics like Croque Monsieur, Short Rib Bourguignon, and Beef Tartare. One of them is owned and operated by South Carolina resident Nico Romo, who is one of only 66 French master chefs in the country. The name of his magnifique entreprise is Kersey House. Why does a French restaurant have an English name, you may wonder? The original owners of the grand dame of Summerville no doubt would not want it any other way, and Nico agreed. Tributes to the Kersey family are found throughout the stunning estate's rooms.

Kersey House is located in the heart of "the heart of it all." It was built in the early 1900s, shortly after the construction of Summerville's famed railroad station just across the tracks. As you approach the historic property, the pristine white exterior of the house shimmers in the sunlight. Its signature double wrap-around southern porches beckon you to step up as the restaurants unassuming sign directly above states you have arrived at the right place.

Inside, the venue boasts 12-inch baseboards. The four grand parlor rooms feature restored original heart pine floors and beautiful fireplaces; each painted with a color of its own. The main dining space boasts a soaring ceiling adorned with impressive crystal chandeliers, large windows, cheerful yellow walls, and a full bar with plenty of seating. Beyond its rear door, the venue features a sweeping outdoor space, offering quiet al fresco dining. A large courtyard with red stamped concrete pads creates a distinctive contrast to the property's greenery, presenting an intimate, picturesque setting for any occasion. Last but not least, there is a spacious ballroom to dance the night away.

Kersey House promises to offer a comforting and inviting atmosphere where guests can enjoy exceptional meals, genuine hospitality, unforgettable dining experience. With a focus on high-quality ingredients and classic, approachable dishes, the menu is crafted to celebrate the art of simple, elegant dining. As they would say, la prevue sera dans le pudding.

Our reservation was for 6 pm. We were greeted with a smile upon entry and directed to a table in the front room by a window. There was a comfortable space between tables. With plenty of seating available in the beautifully appointed main dining, I wondered why we were not seated there. Turns out, seating arrangement has to do with balancing out server opportunity. They did offer to move us, but we chose to stay. As the evening progressed, I was not overly thrilled with our location, being close to the entrance and check in. There was a lot of activity of people coming and going. It was a nice space, just not ideal.

We perused the menu. Drinks were first. From the cocktail list, I chose the Sweet Magnolia, as did my companion. It was a mix of Firefly vodka, lemon, cinnamon simple, and hibiscus tea for $13. I am partial to Firefly products, so it was an easy choice. The cocktail was a satisfying and refreshing blend. On the menu, I chose from Les Soupes the French Onion with caramelized onion, baguette crouton, and gruyere for $12, and from Les Sandwiches, the Kersey Signature Burger with remoulade, American cheese, romaine, tomato, and pickles with the colorful Dijon salad for $15. My companion chose from Les Petits Plats a La Baguette with parsley butter, espelette honey $6, and from Les Sandwiches, Chicken Cordon Bleu with Dijon honey mayo, lettuce, tomato, pickle, and brioche for $15. Pardon my French, the French Onion Soup was superbe, and the Kersey Signature Burger was excellente, one of the best burgers I've had, neatly stacked.  My companion souscrit.

Kersey House passed the test for high-quality ingredients and classic, approachable dishes, crafted to celebrate the art of simple, elegant dining. As to a comforting and inviting atmosphere, the room we were seated in was beautifully appointed and comfortable, just not ideal due to the traffic--maybe a decorative partition could be considered. The main dining room is a palatial and classy space with plenty of natural atmosphere. As to genuine hospitality, the staff was accommodating, and our server was friendly, courteous, and attentive to our requests. Used dishes were removed and water glasses filled as needed.

Nico Romo's Kersey House is without a doubt a historic gathering place for fine dining. The menu offers plenty of tasteful choices at reasonable prices. However, it is more than a restaurant, it is an everything else space. It is a grand addition to the many eating establishments making Summerville their home. Check it out if you haven't already.

Mon - Sat 11 am - 9 pm

Sun 11 am - 3 pm (Brunch) 

3 pm - 9 pm (Dinner)

Happy Hour - Monday-Friday 4-6 pm

Lunch Special - Monday-Friday 11 am - 3 pm

117 W Luke Ave, Summerville

843-983-1813

Step Back to Charleston's Colonial Days during and after the Revolutionary War--The Heyward-Washington House

The Heyward-Washington House became Charleston's first historic house museum in 1930 after being acquired by the Charleston Museum in 1929. It was recognized as a National Historic Landmark in 1978. Two of the Heyward-Washington House's dramatic features are exclusive to Charleston house tours. It is located far from the madding crowd of tourism just south of Broad Street in a quiet section of the Lower Peninsula on Church Street.

Thomas Heyward Jr was one of four South Carolina signers of the Declaration of Independence and an artillery officer with the South Carolina militia in the Revolutionary War. He built his Georgian-style double house in 1772. However, he was captured by the British in 1780 when they took possession of the city and returned in 1781 by way of an exchange. In May of 1891, the city rented the house for George Washington's use during the President's week-long Charleston stay. Thus, it is recognized as the Heyward-Washington House, even though it was purchased from Heyward by John F. Grimke in 1794.

A black sign bearing its name marks the address. Standing at its large, Colonial-style pediment front door, a note requests you to knock. The host welcomes you to step into its large center hall which leads to the room where you either pay for the tour ($15) or present your pre-paid voucher. The tour is a self-guided audio presentation, and you can begin anywhere you want. The audio tour includes a recognition of the contributions of Lowcountry women and the enslaved.

You will see a superb collection of historic Charleston-made furniture as you leisurely stroll from room to room including the priceless Holmes Bookcase, considered one of the finest examples of American-made colonial furniture. The audio device details how each room had a specific use to the family combined with a story from the life of the Heyward family in that particular room. Recovered artifacts are displayed throughout. No surprise, in one of the rooms, you will see a portrait of its famous guest, George Washington, hanging above its fireplace.

The highlight of the tour, in my opinion, is when you step out the back entrance. It is here you will see the two dramatic features exclusive to Charleston house tours--the only 1740s kitchen building open to the public in Charleston as well as formal gardens featuring plants commonly used in the South Carolina Lowcountry in the late 18th century. The carriage house and kitchen building flanked each side with the spacious, beautifully landscaped garden extending beyond to the estate's farthest edges. I was surprised how far back it went. It was interesting to see the wide variety of utensils used in the kitchens and what meals were prepared for Thomas Heyward and guests. There is still an active archeological dig underway in the gardens.

The Heyward-Washington House offers an interesting and informative step back to Charleston's colonial days during and after the Revolutionary War for $15. However, several options are available for purchase. You can combine this tour with tickets to the Charleston Museum for $22 or combine it with tickets to the Museum and a tour of the Joseph Manigault House for $30. Tickets are valid for one year after purchase date. For the options, go to Charleston Museum.

87 Church St, Charleston, SC

Monday-Saturday: 10 am -5:00 pm (last audio tour at 4:15 pm)

Sunday: 12:00 - 5:00 pm (last audio tour at 4:15 pm)

Summerville's Flowertown Festival 2025

Summerville is at present shimmering in a sea of magnificent multitudinous masses of magenta. It is the annual azalea bloom putting on its best dress for the upcoming Flowertown Festival hosted in Summerville's Azalea Park. In the past few years due to pre-spring warm-ups, the grand show was long gone by the time the festival arrived.

The flowers are the official doorkeepers of spring greeting all to the celebration of warmer days. Drive anywhere on the streets in the town's historic district between Central Ave and S. Main Street and you will be convinced Summerville is rightfully crowned the "Flower Town in the Pines."

Rightfully called the "Flower Town in the Pines" because Summerville is also famous for its pine trees, but unfortunately, the pollen bloom that rains down from their branches when the weather warms is not enthusiastically embraced with happy celebration like the azaleas. With that being said, pine trees and azaleas are a perfect collaboration because azaleas grow well in their shadows.

The varieties of azaleas are as bounteous as its blooms thanks to hybridizing, or crossbreeding. They are native to North America, so it is likely they greeted our arriving ancestors in some form. All North American species are deciduous, meaning they drop their leaves. The evergreen varieties come from Japan, where they can be hundreds of years old.

The azaleas that helped make Summerville famous are most likely the non-native variety. The first hybrids were planted in Charleston, South Carolina. John Grimke Drayton imported the Azalea Indica from Philadelphia where they were grown only in greenhouses by a nurseryman who also had a branch nursery in Charleston and introduced them into the estate gardens of his rice plantation on the Ashley River. Marie Clinton Hastie wrote about the beginnings of her grandfather's garden, "it was somewhere in the mid 1840s that the Azalea Indica was introduced to Magnolia." His garden was the first in America to plant azaleas outdoors. An interesting fact of history: The plantation house was burned during the Civil War. In 1873, John Grimke Drayton had his small, pre-Revolution summer house in Summerville taken apart and moved by barge down the Ashley River, where it was rebuilt on the ruined house's foundation.

Azalea Park visitors in the early days

In 1932, Grange Cuthbert became the mayor of Summerville. He came up with the plan to take some of the land deeded to Summerville by the "Civic League" between Central Avenue and Magnolia Street and turn it into a mid-town paradise. George Segelken, a pioneer in azalea propagation, entered the picture. Thanks to his generosity Summerville became the place to see these prolific plants in all their abundant glory in 1935. People came from all over to view the lush beauty of the town's Azalea Park. Segelken named the salmon pink colored azalea "Pride of Summerville." The park is the predominant venue of the Flowertown Festival.

The Flowertown Festival ranks as one of the largest festivals in the Southeast with an origin that goes back to 1973. The three-day festival also carries the well-deserved distinction as one of the Top 20 events in the Southeast by the Southeast Tourism Society, attracting over 200,000 attendees. One of the main features of this family-oriented festival centers on the promotion of arts and crafts. More than 200 craft artisans and vendors are given the opportunity to showcase their creative wares throughout Azalea Park.

The current festival was predated by a previous event in 1941, when Summerville celebrated the first Azalea Festival--a four-day event that included dances, concerts, a parade, and a formal ball. The festival promoted local business and celebrated the town's community pride, a pride as old as its trees. Summerville's rich history dates all the way back to the late 1600s.

Somes things about the Flowertown Festival seem to never change, such as the many familiar vendors you see every year. However, some things have changed. There was a time when a replica of the Hunley was featured as you entered S. Main Street next to the Townhall.

Also, the 2025 Farmer's Market will begin on Saturday April 5, hours 8am-1pm.

Well, that is Summerville—azaleas and the biggest festival in the Southeast. While visiting for the Flowertown Festival, when you see me walking around town be sure to say, "Hey." I am always interested in making new acquaintances.

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All Roads in Summerville Lead You "Into the Woods"

I only saw brief portions of the movie called Into the Woods. However, anything with Johnny Depp in it is definitely going to have unmistakable weirdness weaved into the characters. So, going into the James F. Dean Theater to see Steven Sondheim's adaptation, I was totally unaware what to expect in the way of a storyline. The live stage production is loosely inspired by the Grimm Brothers' fairy tales including Little Red Riding Hood, Jack and the Beanstalk, Cinderella, and Rapunzel with a witch thrown in to conjure up a little chaos for an unfortunate baker and his wife who want a child. They can undo their bad luck by collecting four objects in three days: the cow as white as milk, the cape as red as blood, the hair as yellow as corn, and the slipper as pure as gold.

The Flowertown Player's presentation of Into the Woods was an empty your bladder and settle into your comfy seat for a three-hour giant rompem' stompem' whopper of a tall tale, including the short intermission. As the play's red-caped little vixen (Mackenzie Comer) skipped between the trees from scene to scene, I inexplicably thought of the lyrics of the song of the same name by Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs, and it was surely looking good. The performance was everything a big bad review could want. So, listen to me.

The stage was set. The props were in place. The production team was intensely focused. Director Nina Kahn had her well prepared cast of 24 ready to hit the lights and hit the heights to kick off their three weekend "bag of magic beans". The musical performers were harmonious as a whole from the opening prologue to the closing finale, when they symbolically blew the roof off the theater. If there were any glitches in prop placement as they moved from scene to scene, I didn't see it. If there were any hick-ups in the casts dialogue as they moved from musical number to musical number, I did not detect any. However, I respectfully have to mention one tiny thing. I sat in row L, which was more than halfway back in the theater. I had to strain a little to hear some of the dialogue due to the music being a tad to dominant when the vocals were in less dynamic ranges, or maybe my hearing isn't what it used to be. I'll leave it to you to decide.

It was not so hard to hear one of the most entertaining singing collaborations of the play between Jonathan Ford and Elisha Black as Cinderella's prince and Rapunzel's prince, when they belted out "Agony" in confidence and stunning harmony. Along the line of upper decibels, there was no escaping the ear popping screams of "hair as yellow as corn" Rapunzel played by Rachel Hiester-Myers.

Other notable renditions were "Witch's Lament" sang by Sarah Daniel, "Moments in the Woods" performed by Liz Perez (the Baker's wife), who also teamed up with Justin Robinson (the Baker) in "It takes Two", "On the Steps of the Palace" executed by Meredith Lane (Cinderella) and singing "I Know Things Now" was Mackenzie Comer (Little Red).

Other cast notables were Bryce Beasley as bad boy giant-killer Jack, beside herself Rachyl Kissling as Jack's Mom, the well-dressed ravenous Wolf played by Zachary Henderson, Vance White II as the Narrator, long-time Flowertown Player Jamie Young, who did double duty as Mysterious Man and Cinderella's Father, Holly Matthew's as Cinderella's Stepmother, Angela Pinkham as Florinda, Julia Sorenson as Lucinda, Krissi Hardy as Cinderella's mother, Graycen Szalwinski as The Steward, and Leighton Winters (Sleeping Beauty), Maddie McCall (Snow White), Zach Rettig (Granny), Susie Hallat (Voice of the Giant), Patti MooPone (Milky White).

Finally, I must give special props to Julie Crist for her adept handling of one of the play's more challenging characters, "the cow as white as milk"--Milky White Puppeteer.

This musical fairy tale is unlike anything you have ever seen before. There is no yellow brick road that takes you to an Emerald City, but the witch is witchier, and who honestly said of herself, "I'm not good, I'm not nice, I'm just right. I'm the witch." And cute, bratty Little Red noted of the baker and his vow breaking wife, "You seem to argue a lot." Cinderella's not so pure, self-adoring prince confessed, "I was raised to be charming, not sincere." I could go on and on, but I will leave the rest for you to see and hear for yourself. 

I encourage you to purchase a ticket, slip on your shoes, and make your way to the little theater on Hutchinson Square to see one of the funniest scenes of the play that has to do with guess what, footwear, and gold ones at that.

The cast skillfully delivers plenty of laughs along their way Into the Woods where you will discover family life isn't always little blue birds chirping happy bird songs, but it can also be downright morally and ethically jaded at times. Nevertheless, there is a happy ending in there somewhere.

Dates: March 7 - 23

Times: Evenings at 7:30 pm, Sundays at 3:00 pm

Tickets for Into the Woods

Photographs by Flowertown Players