Choose Charleston

      The relationship between the colonists and England deteriorated quickly. As a result, Charleston’s roll in the American Revolution was particularly important.

     Protesting the Tea Act of 1773, this personified the concept of taxation without representation; Charlestonians confiscated tea and stored it in the Exchange and Custom House. Soon after, representatives from the colony came to the Exchange to elect delegates to the Continental Congress. The Continental Congress was responsible for drafting the Declaration of Independence and on the steps of the Exchange declared independence from the crown.

     On June 28, 1776 General Henry Clinton with around 2000 men tried to seize Charleston. Ultimately, it was a failed attempt as the Continental Army, specifically the 2nd South Carolina regiment fought off the attacks with success. The fleet fired cannon balls, but the explosives failed to penetrate Fort Moultrie’s thick palmetto log walls. Clinton returned in 1780 with14,000 soldiers and poised for success. American General Benjamin Lincoln had to surrender his 5,400 troops after a long night’s battle. This night would be known the “Siege of Charleston”, which was the greatest American defeat of the war. Eventually, Clinton decided to return to New York. This presented an opportunity to Charles Cornwallis to lead his 8000 Redcoats to rally loyalist and demand oaths of allegiance to the King. The British would retain control of the city until 1782. As the British left in1783, the city’s name was officially Charleston.

Want to know more about the history of Charleston, South Carolina?  If you are in the area, I strongly suggest visitng the Charleston Museum.  If you are just looking for information on the web, then read our other posts under “History” or visit Charleston History.

              In 1663, Charles II had his eight faithful friends, known as the Lords Proprietor.  After seven years of planning, the Lords finally arranged the settlement, which was named Charles Town. Charles Town was established in 1670 on the banks of the beautiful Ashley River. One of the Lord’s Proprietors, Anthony Ashley-Cooper picked the location on the promise that Charles Town would become a “great porte town”.  As the settlement grew in population, the need to move to new location forced a move to the peninsula that Charleston is currently located. 

              Not everyone was thrilled with the success of the young settlement. France and Spain attacked Charles Town routinely as they contested claim of the land.  In addition to France and Spain, Native American’s also resisted the growing community which took over the land the Native American’s once hunted and lived. In fear, Charles Town colonists put up a huge wall around the entire colony to survive the attacks from sea (Pirates) and land. The modern day Charleston features only two buildings left from the protected colony, the Pink House which was a tavern that hosted community gatherings, and the Powder Magazine, a building that stored the city’s gunpowder.

 In 16800, the Grand Modell, laid out a plan to build a “regular town” and build Charleston into the future.  Deciding the need for a Civic Square, land was set aside where Meeting and Broad Streets met which later become known as the Four Corners of Law.  St. Michael’s Episcopal Church was built on the corner in 1752 and is known as Charleston’s oldest and most famous church.  In addition to the church, the capitol of the colony was built in 1753. It was said that provincial court met on the first floor, while Royal Governor’s Council and the Commons House of Assembly met on the second floor. 

If you would like to go deeper into Charleston’s history, then visit Charleston History. Planning a vacaton to Charleston? Then I would suggest going to the Charleston Musuem!

It’s here!

The 25th annual Friends of the Library book sale “BookFest 2007” is at the Gaillard Auditorium this weekend. The event kicked off with a catered pre-sale on Thursday and continues through 3 pm on Sunday.

This is the chance to browse through tens of thousands of books donated to support the Charleston County Public Library.

Whether you forgot to pick up the latest thriller when it was on the shelf last summer or are looking for an elusive art catalog, rubbing shoulders with fellow local book lovers at this family-friendly event always makes for a good time.

In the rainy seasons, flooding is never far from the minds of ladies and gentlemen of the South Carolina Lowcountry.

Because, of course, Lowcountry means low country, and coastal low country to boot.

Every a heavy day of rain, you can watch cars and trucks bravely attempting to slip through hood-high waters in especially low-lying areas of the peninsula. Quite often, they fail in the attempt and sit, steaming and in need of towing, in the slow rolling wake of other vehicles.

Sandbags in the storeroom. Stocking up on gallon jugs of fresh water, flashlights, batteries, and emergency food items.

All part of living in the potential path of tropical storms.

Now that the hot, dry winds of summer are settling back a bit, the October scares are starting to settle into place.

Creative Spark Center for the Arts, the National Park Service at Fort Moultrie, and Poe’s Tavern are working hand in claw to produce a creepy thrill in the catacombs this Halloween season. Poe: Back from the Grave will feature live actors from PURE Theatre and Cabaret Kiki. Saturday, October 13. 7, 7:30, 8, and 8:30 PM. $25. For more information, call Creative Spark (843) 881-3780.

And don’t forget the ghosts of Charleston proper.

 Charleston Lore & Legends Ghost Theatre is debuting a brand new show for the season. Check them out one block south of the Market, at 161 Church Street, Monday through Saturday, 10 AM to 10 PM, and Sunday, 12 PM to 8 PM, if you dare. Shows every hour and a half. Adults $9, Children 4-12, $6, and children 3 and under, Free. For more information, call (843) 937-0916.

You know you’re in Charleston in August when skipping the weekly lawnmowing chores leaves the backyard a wilderness gone wild, grasses grown long enough to hide a herd of antelope.

That ’s what happens when the deadlines line up back to back.

But once I saw a sliver of opportunity to fire up the lawnmower, it was back to the salt mines, a return to manual labor for the writer, time to push through the shag.

We acknowledge, of course, that push through the shag would have another meaning altogether on Folly Beach, to say nothing of the U.K.

The lawnmower, self-propelled, takes a good bit of the manual out of the labor. It complained a few times as I walked it through the thickest stands of grass but it did the job.

Autumn, can’t you come on home a little quicker? I’m ready for pumpkins, color tours of the leaves in the foothills, cooler days, chilly evenings, and starry skies at night.

Music fans yearning for some soulful songs about the South Carolina Lowcountry can skip on over to Morgan Creek Grill tonight on the Isle of Palms. Carroll Brown and Clay Rice will be on the upstairs deck (enclosed) starting at 7 p.m.

Seafood, ribs, and songs over the water. That ought to do you for a Friday night.

I stopped by the John Ancrum SPCA off of Leeds Avenue today to browse around. There are oodles of adoptable cats, kittens, dogs, puppies, bunnies, and even a guinea pig available.

Today, I was looking for a kitten, male, robust enough to handle himself around our two older male cats. Sure there will be a bit of hissing in the beginning - territory and dominance establishing behavior, all that good stuff - but the hope is that within a few weeks they will all be buddies.

I noticed while I was there that the SPCA is having a benefit on August 24, 6-9 p.m. “A Furry Affair” art show and auction, packed with appearances by local celebrities, at the City Gallery.

Cool! Sounds like it will be an evening to remember, the cat’s pajamas even.

Charleston Mayor Joseph P. Riley, Jr. announced yesterday that he will seek a ninth term in the coming election.

I did not personally attend the announcement at Ackerman Park so I can only assume that the gathered crowd kind of looked at him, then at one another, shrugged, and said, “Uh, yeah, Joe… um, well, you ARE the mayor of Charleston.”

Or rather, “…you are THE mayor of Charleston.”

After 32 consecutive years of having him in office, it gets kind of difficult to imagine anyone else doing the job.

The South Carolina Aquarium does a fine job of portraying the natural diversity of the Palmetto State, all the way from the Blue Ridge escarpment upstate to the estuaries, beaches, and ocean way down here in the Lowcountry.

Through August, the aquarium might be your best bet for schlepping around to see some brownwater swamp. The building is air conditioned and harbors far fewer mosquitoes than the great outdoors, after all.

Of course, there being nothing like the real thing, the miles and miles of beaches between the Lowcountry and the Grand Strand are active as all get out as of late.

For beating the heat, beaches, barrier islands to kayak toward, and boating excursions all do the job well.