Twelve Old And New Summerville Landmarks You Will Want To Visit And Photograph

Summerville has a highly celebrated historical landscape with plenty to offer the discerning amateur photographer looking for that cherished photo memento. As you stroll the downtown area, surviving remnants from the town’s past are there for you to discover and capture with the click of your camera. Do not hesitate, quick as the shutter blinks, the scene of Summerville is changing, as it has, and as it will. That is the nature of things. Freeze-framing the moments is imperative.

Just imagine, if you dare, even the long-standing Angel Oak will eventually succumb to the powers to be. It will be a sad day when that happens, but for those who have preserved their visit to the oldest living thing east of the Rockies with a photo, remembering its place in time will be just a snapshot away. What will take its place as a popular landmark, only time will tell.

Thick groves of tall pines and old oaks richly grace Summerville. Their cooling touch and healing scent enticed early plantation owners to take up residence on its sandy hills. From those very same trees, they constructed their simple homes. The community grew and declared the trees sacred.

In time, some of the trees bowed to the Pine Forest Inn, and an era of prosperity ushered in. Of the trees still around today, longtime residents nurture fond memories and tell stories of playing below their broad branches. However, people no longer come to Summerville for the health benefits the pines once offered. They come for the charm, for the hospitality, and history.

Eventually, each pine in its time will succumb to the powers to be, as did the majestic Pine Forest Inn and Summerville’s famous railroad station. The scene of Summerville is changing. Like the first settlers and early town planners, may we seize the opportune moments presented to us and take Summerville into another era of prosperity as we commemorate its past.

I have picked twelve old and new places in and around Summerville’s rich-in-history landscape that have become my favorite framed souvenirs. I offer this list suggesting places you may want to check out and photograph on your next visit.

1) Recently, Summerville made a huge step forward in taking the town into the next era of prosperity--the renovation of Hutchinson Square. Inspired by images from its celebrated past, the square was beautifully transformed into a community space for people to gather and soak in the downtown atmosphere. A walkway splitting the square in half with a fountain in the middle, a pavilion with a roofline patterned after the old railroad station, and a nostalgic Summerville archway are all reminiscent of early town history. As visitors cross the railroad tracks into the downtown area, there is no mistaking their arrival to South Carolina's Flower Town in the Pines. If you are at the Square first thing in the morning, stop in Eva's on Main for a breakfast of down home fixings. It has been at that location since 1952. After, check out the James F. Dean Theatre two doors south. Built in the 1930's, it was home to Summerville's movie theater called "The Show." In 1976, it was taken over by a group of actors named Flowertown Players and since, the community theater has been filled with the sound of applause.

2) Old Town Hall stands on Summerville’s oldest avenue. Today’s West Carolina Avenue was called the Great Thoroughfare in the earliest days of what began simply as a summer retreat. It ran through the heart of the old village. The old building at 201 served as the newly formed village’s town hall between 1860 and 1892. The city center was moved and replaced by a new town hall located at the end of what became the town’s square. After serving the town, it became a school, a polling place, a community center, a tearoom, and a residence. Badly damaged by Hurricane Hugo, it was purchased and restored by the Summerville Preservation Society and became their headquarters and archives. A jail and market place once stood on the site.

3) Colonial Dorchester State Park was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1969. From 1697 until the beginning of the Revolutionary War, the Town of Dorchester flourished along the Ashley River, inland from colonial Charleston. Abandoned at the start of the Revolutionary War, it has disappeared, leaving only the remains of a brick bell tower from St. George’s Anglican Church, the foundation outline of a colonial home, and a fort made of an oyster-shell concrete called tabby...More pictures.

4) Julia Drayton Hastie, the heir to Magnolia Plantation on the Ashley, had the house built that became the Linwood Bed and Breakfast on a two-acre Summerville site in 1883. Ancient camellias, azaleas, majestic magnolias, and stately palms dominate the property's landscape. Elevated porches offer a panoramic view of the lush, more formal gardens. It has served as a bed and breakfast for over 13 years, officially opening in 1995 with elegant guest rooms, private baths, secluded sitting areas, a large swimming pool, and wide porches. There are three cottages available: The Guest House, The Bungalow, and The Hay Barn...More pictures.

5) Dr. Henry C. Guerin founded Guerin’s Pharmacy in 1871 after buying out Schwettman Drugstore and moving the business to South Main Street and West Richardson Avenue. The Dunnings later acquired the pharmacy in 1975. When they were remodeling the interior, they discovered a chalked message scrawled on a wall by Joe Guerin in an upstairs office. The message documented the tragic sinking of the Titanic in 1912. It is the oldest operating pharmacy in South Carolina. Today, you can order an ice cream float, milkshake, hot dog, or lemonade from its fountain.

6) The Peake Family built White Gables somewhere between the 1830s and early 1850s at the corner of West Richardson and Palmetto Street. In the early 1900s, Sara Woodruff developed a fondness for the almost 65-year-old house. What happened next gave birth to her distinguished story. Both fascinating and amusing, it is a story unlike any other in Summerville history, a story of restoration.

7) Middleton Place on the Ashley was settled in the late 17th century, with its main family residence constructed in 1705. The estate encompasses America’s oldest landscaped gardens designated “the most important and most interesting garden in America.” Henry Middleton started the Gardens in 1741. In 1952, Middleton Place began welcoming visitors to its gardens year-round. In the spring, from April to May, you can enjoy the gardens and sample old and new world wines at its Wine Strolls every Wednesday... Wine Stroll...More pictures.

8) Arriving and departing guests of the Pine Forest Inn passed through decorative columns for forty years, beginning in 1891. The inn was world renown and visited by many celebrities. It was a showcase among Southern inns. Advertisements for the inn announced it to be “situated on the outskirts of one of the prettiest villages in the Southland.” The columns are the only remaining remnants of the inn. You can view the columns at the crossroads of Linwood Lane and Salisbury Drive...A Visit To The Illustrious Pine Forest Inn Of Summerville--Somewhere In Time

9) When in town for a visit, be sure to stop by the visitor center to get information about its self-guided walking tours. “The Historic House Tour” takes you along the winding roads on a quiet walk through a landscape where the pine trees are the story, the houses are the pictures, and The Flowertown in the Pines is the title of the book with a word count as abundant as the flowers of the spring bloom. “The Sweet Tea Trail Tour” was created for visitors to experience Summerville as the Birthplace of Sweet Tea. On this tour, you will explore the shops, sites, sips, and tastes that make life in Summerville so sweet. You will meet The World’s Largest Sweet Tea named Mason. He is over 15 feet tall and the holder of a Guinness World Record.

10) Summerville’s famous Azalea Park, home of the Flowertown Festival, was started in 1933, and completed in 1935. All the flowers planted in the park, 33,000 in total, came from George Segelken’s Summerville Floral Nursery. Mr. Segelken was a pioneer in the propagation of azaleas. Tourists flocked to the park. Bumper to bumper traffic on a Sunday afternoon was a common sight during the annual bloom. Visitors came because of the park’s beauty, but more so because azaleas were an uncommon sight and relatively unknown in South Carolina, except in Summerville. The park runs along South Main Street.

11) B.I.R.D.S. is a public art initiative instituted to encourage participants to explore the downtown of Summerville. Twenty-two life-size bronze wildlife sculptures overlook the town from balconies, windowsills, shop signs, and rooftops. You follow a poetic series of clues to find each one. In the process, you learn about the native birds and the importance of keeping them healthy and abundant. B.I.R.D.S. encourages an appreciation for public art, enhances the economic vitality of downtown Summerville, and teaches the importance of conserving and restoring natural ecosystems to protect our birds. The project was a partnership between the Audubon Center at Beidler Forest, Sculpture in the South, and Summerville DREAM.

12) Today, it is known as “A Little Museum with Big Stories.” At one time, the Eagle Creek Lumber Company owned the land. Between 1923 and 1928, a 300,000-gallon cistern with a 100-foot steel water tower stood on the property adjacent to a one-story brick building. The brick building was enlarged to two stories. The Summerville Police Department took possession in 1976 with holding cells, offices, a courtroom for the Town Judge, a day room for officers, and a radio room. The Summerville Police Department moved to a new municipal complex in June 1990. The Summerville Dorchester Museum took occupancy in 1992 with renovations to follow and opened in 1993. Its mission is to collect, preserve and exhibit artifacts, and to develop educational programs relating to the cultural and natural history of the Summerville and Dorchester County area of South Carolina. Its location is 100 E Doty Ave.

"Crimes Of The Heart" Now Showing At The James F. Dean Theatre--The Ups And Downs Of The MaGrath Sisters

Beth Henley's trio of the idiosyncratic MaGrath sisters guilty of Crimes of the Heart are now neurotically center stage at the James F. Dean Theatre in Summerville.

The play won the 1981 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Play. The 1986 film adaptation was directed by Bruce Beresford. It garnered three Academy Award nominations and Beth Henley was nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay. In 1986, the play was novelized and released as a book, written by Claudia Reilly. Originally a three act play, the Flowertown Players rendering is done in two acts.

The MaGrath family sisters have suffered tragedy in their young lives. Their father left them and their mother hung herself and their cat, leaving an unresolved question as to why.

Lenny is the oldest of the three. She is a responsible soul who has taken on the task of caring for their Old Granddaddy in Hazelhurst, Mississippi, who is presently in the hospital with "all those blood vessels popping in his brain." She has just turned 30 and believes she has gotten old and is unwanted by any man, "But I have this underdeveloped ovary and I can't have children and my hair is falling out in the comb. So what man can love me?" On top of this, her whimsical younger sister Babe has shot her husband because she didn't like his looks and her 20 year old horse, Billy Boy, was struck by lightning. Making matters even more worse, nobody has remembered it is her birthday. So, she sticks a candle on top of a cookie, lights it, and sings happy birthday to herself. Well, not everyone has forgotten. Her cousin, Chick Boyle, brings her a box of chocolates and a few unwelcome, distasteful tidbits of opinions.

Summoned by Lenny, the second oldest sister, Meg, arrives in Hazelhurst from Los Angeles where her singing career had stalled resulting in her suffering a nervous breakdown. Even though Lenny summoned her, Meg's presence is an annoyance. There are some unresolved, deep-seated hard feelings between them. Lenny ponders "why should Old Grandmama let her sew twelve golden jingle bells on her petticoats and us only three?" Meg has never had a problem attracting men. Chick Boyle describes her as a "low-class tramp." She went to Los Angeles after Hurricane Camille where she left her boyfriend, Doc, who got his leg crushed during the hurricane because she insisted on riding out the storm instead of seeking shelter. He now walks with a limp, is married, and has two kids. And so, the story and stage are set.

Director Allison Brower did an excellent job casting her three main characters. Taylor Fleming (Lenny MaGrath), Jana Weber (Meg MaGrath), and Maddie Latham (Babe Botrelle) are as different as the MaGrath sisters. Taylor looked the part, dressed the part, and portrayed the subdued and doleful personality of Lenny in fine detail, to the point where you were sympathetic to her undeserving lot in life. Quite the opposite, Meg's irresponsible, I don't care what you think swagger was smartly rendered by Jana as she strutted her stuff about the stage. Rounding out the trio, Maddie was captivating as the flighty and impulsive Babe who was one step behind reality. Her confectionery disposition was as compelling as Babe's sugar craving. Maddie craftily made sweet lemonade of some of the plays more humorous dialogue despite its dark overtones. The scene where Babe recounts the incident of her offering lemonade to her husband after shooting him is comedically priceless.

What would a good dark comedy be without an antagonist to make matters worse. Alex Shanko as the gossipy Chick Boyle fit the bill very nicely. And with an attempted murder as part of the story, a good lawyer is needed, especially when the person who was shot is a lawyer also. But there is a little more going on with Barnette Lloyd (Daniel Rich) other than just handling Babe's case. Finishing out the cast was Anthony Parenti as the jilted Doc Porter.

There is no change of scenery in Crimes of the Heart. The whole play takes place in the nicely rendered kitchen of Old Granddaddy's home in Hazelhurst. There are moments where the dialogue moves a little slow, but possibly it was intended that way.

The Flowertown Players presentation of Crimes of the Heart accomplishes what Beth Henley intended. It will leave you wondering whether you should shed a tear in the three sisters behalf or laugh at the sheer madness of it all, and that is due to the plays capable crew and talented cast.

Purchase tickets for Crimes of the Heart.
March 8, 9, 14, 15, and 16, 2019 at 8pm
March 10 and 17, 2019 at 3pm

Summerville's Latest Projects: A Renovated Hutchinson Square And Newly Constructed Ashley River Park

Summerville's new marketing campaign positions its coordinates geographically at the heart of everything in the Lowcountry. As of lately, it certainly has been the center of attention. On March 1st, the town inaugurated its newly completed Hutchinson Square Project with a ribbon cutting and celebratory party. The refreshed historic downtown area was packed with town representatives and residents. The crowning touch to the restoration features a pavilion with a roof line patterned after the old railroad station that once upon a time stood close by and a gateway reminiscent of earlier days in the town's honored history.

Next, the following day, the first ever Ashley River Adventure Race took place during which the new 85 acre recreation park located on the banks of the Ashley River at Bacon Bridge Road was previewed by the participants with a 5K trail run along with an 8.5-mile paddle downriver to the Inn of Middleton Place. Entrants from all across the Lowcountry and beyond were in attendance. The Howard Bridgman River Access was lined with kayaks and paddlebords of varying lengths and colors.

The racers either participated individually or as a relay team where one person ran and the other paddled. Those looking for a more leisurely river experience participated in the Family Fun Float. Instead of entering the river at Bacons Bridge, they started from Jessen Boat Landing and paddled 5 miles to the Inn of Middleton Place.

The weather turned out to be perfect for the event. The race started at 9:30 am with the run. The paddle down the river with the out going tide was a pleasurable experience as we navigated the twists and turns through the heavily wooded upper Ashley to the wide open marshes of the Plantation District. At the after party, food was served and awards were handed out while a band played in the background, all for the benefit of Friends of Dorchester County Parks.

The Howard Bridgman River Access at Bacons Bridge is part of the Ashley River Blue Trail--a 22 mile segment of the river running from Slands Bridge at Highway 17A to south of I-526 at Charles Towne Landing. The river trail contains 26 separate sites listed in the National Register of Historic Places, including Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Middleton Place, Drayton Hall, and Runnymede. Along this 22 mile river corridor, the Ashley River Heritage Trail makes up approximately 5 1/2 river miles in the upper reaches of the Ashley, incorporating a number of shipwrecks and landings visible at low tide.


While kayaking the Ashley River's brackish waters, wildlife you may see along the way include deer and a spectacular variety of birds of prey, such as bald eagle, osprey, and the rare swallow-tailed kite. Long-legged wading birds like egrets and great blue herons hunt the wide-open downstream marshes where spot-tailed bass can be seen tailing on the edges of the tall grass. Endangered sturgeon can also be found making their way upstream to spawn along with striped bass and yes, the cunning alligator cruise these waters on warm, sunny evenings.


Dorchester County purchased the Ashley River sight off of Bacons Bridge Road in 2012 and since planned and constructed the amenity diverse park. Some of the amenities include a zip line, climbing wall, ropes course, playground, fire pit and event lawn with a stage. Some of the natural amenities include a rice field, 5.7 acre fishing pond, wetlands, perennial bed, and acre after acre of stunning views of the meandering Ashley River ecosystem observed from a boardwalk and 3,770 feet of winding trails.

Saturday, March 9, 9 am-1 pm, The Dorchester County Parks and Recreation Commission invites you to walk the trails and submit your ideas for improvements to the 85-acre wonderland. Don't miss this opportunity.

As the ever encroaching urban development along the Lowcountry's tidal rivers advances, it is vitally important to preserve as much of these diverse and beautiful ecosystems that we can. The new Ashley River Park accomplishes this esteemed goal both recreationally and environmentally.

Visit Summerville
Town of Summerville

South Carolina Waters Open Explorer Expedition #3--Lake Moultrie

South Carolina Waters Expedition #3 took us to the shores of Lake Moultrie, particularly the Hatchery Waterfowl Management Area. The weather was on the cool side and the skies were mostly cloudy on this late February day, so wildlife activity for the most part was at a minimal.

Upon arrival at the parking area, the expedition team scouted the area for the best location to set up and deploy the OpenROV Trident. A short hike brought us to the shores of Lake Moultrie where we discovered an intrusive plant growing on the beach and thousands of small clam shells along with evidence of the sad side of human activity and disrespect for the environment, trash was strewn all over the sand and adjacent vegetation.

Intentionally or unintentionally, humans can impact their natural environment in several different ways, but for every action there is a reaction, and the consequences can either turn out for the good or for the bad. The formation of Lake Moultrie in South Carolina is an example of one way. In this case, the goal was to produce electricity for a growing population, which you would consider to be a good thing. Another way is through the introduction of foreign species, whether intentionally or unintentionally, into an ecosystem that offers no checks or balances for the intruder.

We encountered species not native to South Carolina that have found its way into the lake's ecosystem. Two of them producing adverse effects and one with a fascinating appetite, and the most likely culprit, human activity. One is a very intrusive plant, the second has had a destructive effect on the native clam populations, and the third is a mystery as to how it got here. The following video will discuss this in more detail.


While part of the team did some trash pickup, Rick Olson deployed his kayak to scout out a water impoundment adjacent to the beach where the waters appeared clearer than the other areas of the hatchery. As he kayaked the impoundment, he found a dead yellow-bellied turtle and tried to determine what caused its demise. There was no damage to the shell, but the turtle was missing an eye. A microscope was used and pictures were taken, but no conclusive reason could be found. Possibly, someone fishing may have hooked it.

We launched the OpenROV from two different spots and underwater video was taken. The bottom of the water impoundment was thick with seaweed and the props on the ROV had to be cleared several times. This is where Rick and his kayak played the integral role of retrieving and clearing the ROV of the intrusive seaweed, thus saving Dave Eslinger from having to get wet again.


Some of the seaweed was collected and pictures were taken with the microscope. Interestingly, small insects were found clinging to the foliage. Some samples were saved to be studied later. We look forward to viewing the underwater video in detail after it is uploaded for examination to see what was captured on our expedition to Lake Moultrie's Hatchery Waterfowl Management Area.

Following are some additional information about Lake Moultrie's freshwater clams:

Freshwater mussels serve as indicators of a healthy ecosystem. Mussels filter large volumes of water, removing food items such as algae, bacteria, diatoms and fine particulate organic material. It is a clear sign that something is wrong when mussels begin to disappear from a water body.

An invading species, such the Asian clam, competes with the native species for food and habitat resources. The Asian clam has been blamed for the decline and local extinctions of several native freshwater mussel species in the waters it has invaded, including South Carolina.

Native freshwater clam to South Carolina

South Carolina Waters Expedition 2--Four Holes Swamp, Francis Beidler Forest

South Carolina Waters Expedition 2 took the team into the interior of South Carolina to a place called Four Holes Swamp--a dark tannin-stained slow-flowing river swamp known as a blackwater swamp and a tributary to the Edisto River. Thousand-year-old trees and native wildlife abound in this pristine sanctuary. There are over 70 species of reptiles and amphibians and 140 species of birds have been reported. As a bird watching photographer, you can really spread your wings.

Located in the heart of the Lowcountry between Columbia and Charleston, Four Holes Swamp is a 45,000-acre matrix of sloughs and lakes. It contains 18,000 acres of the largest remaining stand of virgin bald cypress and tupelo gum swamp forest remaining anywhere in the world. These wetlands are also home to the dwarf trillium (Trillium pusillum)--a rare flower found only in South Carolina at Four Holes Swamp.

Within Four Holes Swamp is the 15,000 acre National Audubon Society's Francis Beidler Forest where an educational center and a 1.75 mile self-guided boardwalk trail are located. The expedition team rendezvoused at the visitor center where we linked up with Mark Musselman, the Land Manager in Four Holes Swamp. Mark accompanied us on our trek over the boardwalk to Goodson Lake. Along the way, he shared with us his extensive knowledge of the swamp and with a sharp eye, pointed out the unique features of the swamp and its camouflaged wildlife--mostly the serpentine kind.

The launching point for the team's Trident was a two story observation deck deep within the swamp. Dave Eslinger unpacked the ROV and made the necessary connections. It wasn't long before our unusual activity drew the attention of curious visitors to the swamp, one of them being an inquisitive little girl with a boat load of questions, but Dave, a very personable individual, was willing to accommodate, thus fulfilling a primary objective of the team's explorations--to raise public awareness and appreciation for South Carolina's most cherished assets, its waterways and coastal estuaries, especially with the young.

The midday temperature was in the high 50's with only a slight breeze shuffling the branches of the surrounding ancient trees. With the overhead canopy open at this time of year, the sun shined through the upper branches onto the lower vegetation and the countless fallen trees strewn about in the dark waters. Not to far away, a nine foot alligator passively soaked in what sunshine was being made available to it. The ROV was launched into the black tea colored waters and it wasn't long before we were confronted with the complexity of the underwater world of the swamp.

As the Trident cruised along under the water taking some stunning video, the ROV's tether inevitably became entangled around the numerous submerged fallen logs and branches. Unable to get the ROV to surface, the unavoidable now faced the team--someone was going get "swamped today" and enter the 50-some degree water to retrieve the entrapped ROV, and that person was our pertinacious team leader. Stripped down to his undershorts, Dave entered the stimulating 8-foot deep water and after several attempts, successfully rescued the valuable Trident.


Unlike the clear, aqua blue waters of the tropics and coral reefs of the Caribbean, South Carolina's waters offer a greater challenge to operate an ROV in. Each expedition logistically teaches us something new, preparing us for the challenges to come on future expeditions.

Highlight: If you watch the underwater video very carefully you will see the ancient predator fish called a bowfin.


South Carolina Waters
National Geographic Open Explorer
S.E.E. Initiative

Team member Rick Olson kayaking Four Holes Swamp.