Farmers' & Exchange Building

141 East Bay St., Charleston, SC   

The beautiful Farmers' & Exchange Bank building at 141 East Bay St. was almost torn down (my heart be still) around 1970 to make space for a parking lot. It had been Senator Fritz Hollings office for a while and then reincarnated as Saracen restaurant with Charlie's Little Bar upstairs in the back. Sadly it has been empty for years. The last mention I could find of any hope of it reopening was in 2014 in the Charleston City paper. It would be lovely to see it in use again. 

The inside was painted like an ornate jewel-box. This image isn't mine but found on pinterest. More info here. 

She Made Good Gravy

She Made Good Gravy, All Saint, Pawley's Island, SC    

I had been to All Saint's Church near Pawley's Island before but learned later I had missed this tombstone and had to go back. My friend Rosie and I each started at opposite ends of the cemetery and although I spotted a few other interesting ones, she hit the jackpot. This lady was clearly well known for her gravy!

Beyond the Big House

Charleston, SC   

Charleston House tours are well known annual events. Visitors love to tour the beautiful mansions and gardens. Today I participated in a unique tour. We went behind the mansions into the kitchen houses, laundry rooms, stables and back gardens. It was an amazing glimpse into the world of the enslaved population of Charleston. The people living in the back often outnumbered the few in the mansions whose lived they supported. Sadly I wasn't allowed to take pictures on private property so had to make do with a few shots from the street.

Many thanks to everyone who made the Beyond the Big House tour possible including my friends English and Joe. The tour was sold out!

Blossoms in the breeze

Charleston, SC   

One of the most shocking videos of the islands after hurricane Irma show all of the leaves blown off the trees. It was terrible. I can't even imagine. We were so disoriented years ago after hurricane Hugo blew all the Spanish Moss from the oak trees. I have not been back downtown but took these pictures the day before Irma hit. I hope we still have some blossoms.

I feel like I have been in a hurricane time warp of worry and relief. Whew. I had water to my front and back steps but none in the house thank goodness. I have a fan running to dry my shed but I can deal with that. I feel so fortunate compared to so many.

Hurricane snacking

I couldn't resist laughing and sharing between nibbling on my own snacks. 

Hurricanes seem to give general permission to buy and eat all kinds of treats that 

we never normally consume. When my kids were little and a storm ended not as 

severe as feared the gang of children took advantage of the school closing 

to go from home to home eating storm supplies. Stay safe kids! I am carefully 

watching the news from Florida and hoping for the winds to subside. 

Hurricane Irma prep

Charleston, SC    

It's been a roller coaster of a week. Hurricane Irma has had us at her mercy. It initially appeared that Charleston was in the direct path and I have had my house prepped, yard cleared and clothes washed for a quick get-away. As the storm turned west it made less and less sense to leave and looked like most evacuation routes from Charleston could steer us even closer to the eye of the storm.

Now we are predicted to have tropical storm winds and a storm surge beginning tomorrow but nothing like poor Florida is anticipating. I worry so for everyone in it's path and folks who are in their vehicles searching for shelter. I've kept busy with work which has helped and this morning walked the peninsula which was oddly quiet but already windy. Hang in there kids.

Tiny home option

Summerton, SC   

Downsize to a tiny home! Don't mind the neighbors. It's a bit run down and yet something still charming about the blue door, window trim and the curtain drawn back. Not quite move in ready, I admit.

We are all a turmoil stressing about Hurricane Irma. It's hard to know what to plan for on the South Carolina coast so holding tight and hoping for the best for the time being. I need to stay busy and distracted since there isn't really much to be done about it except watch and wait. Meanwhile I have my fingers, toes and eyes crossed. 

Mounds of History

Santee Indian Mound, Clarendon County, SC 

When we pulled into the park to see the Indian Mound at Fort Watson across the bridge from Santee, the first thing I noticed was a small mound of dirt piled to display the historical plaques and I was NOT impressed. What the heck? Happily beyond the trees and field I spotted actual stairs built to climb a very impressive mound over looking Lake Marion.

The interesting thing about this particular mound is that it was used for numerous burials over time and grew higher and higher with the burial of different chiefs of the Santee Indian tribe between 1200 - 1500.

During the Revolutionary War, the British took advantage of the elevation and built Fort Jackson on top adding 30 - 50 feet in height to the mound. Our hero Francis Marion captured the fort by building a tower even higher in the woods in the dead of night and dealing with them from above. It is a beautiful and historic spot, peaceful, lush and green now with no evidence of the Fort.

Santee Indian Mound was part of a mound village complex; it was probably a burial and/or temple mound, likely constructed in some cultural period between 1200-1500 AD. Santee Indian Mound and a probable low earthwork remain intact except for the superposition of eighteenth- century fortifications on top of the mound. The fortification, British Revolutionary War post Fort Watson, was built from 30 to 50 feet high atop the mound. In 1780, Francis Marion and Light Horse Harry Lee decided to capture the fort. Bombardment was out of the question, for the Americans were without artillery, but Colonel Maham, one of Marion’s officers, proposed building a log tower higher than Fort Watson. Hidden by trees, men hewed logs and the tower was erected in a single night. At dawn a shower of lead poured down into the enemy enclosure, effecting a quick victory. Fort Watson was the first fortified British military outpost in South Carolina recaptured by patriot forces after the British occupation of 1780. There are no remains of Fort Watson on the site. Listed in the National Register July 29, 1969.

Church Photo in Lieu of Attendance - St. Mary Catholic Church, Summerton

St. Mary Catholic Church, Summerton, SC   

Our featured church this Sunday is the oldest Catholic Church in Clarendon County and was built in 1914 to serve Lebanese immigrants. I learn something new every day! In 2014 it was relegated to a be mission of St. Mary, Our Lady of Hope, Manning but mass is still held twice a week. What a lovely historic chapel. I did get extra brownie point for finding a Catholic church since my sidekick traveling companion for the day was Sr. Rosie :). 

St. Mary Catholic Church -  In 1913, the Catholic Diocese of Charleston purchased the property where the church was to be located. The Lebanese people from Georgetown, Camden, Kingstree and Greeleyville, along with the Catholic Extension Society, helped the Catholics in Summerton. In 1914, the church was completed and dedicated. Over time, the columned front porch was enclosed to form the vestibule, a stained glass window was added, the sacristy was enlarged, and a rectory was built on the property behind the church. In 1993, the house next door was purchased and renovated as a recreational center with classrooms. It is the only Catholic Church in Clarendon county and provides Mass for travelers.

Swamp Fox Murals - Summerton, SC

Swamp Fox Mural, Summerton, SC    

After Friday night lazing at on the banks of Lake Marion, Summerton was an easy day trip. Summerton is one of the towns on the Swamp Fox mural trail and we spotted quite a few of them in town each telling a part of the American Revolution fought in South Carolina with our hero Francis Marion the Swamp Fox. Please do click on the link for more information and listen to the Swamp Fox song while you do!

Swamp Fox Murals Trail Society in Clarendon County, SC: The Swamp Fox, General Francis 
Marion and his engagements with the British in 1780-81 in St. Mark's Parish,  now Clarendon County,  depicting history on Historic murals in Manning, Paxville, Summerton & Turbeville.  
Every mural tells a story of the events of the American Revolution in South Carolina. 

Color coordination

Smith St., Charleston, SC   

I like it when the house color matches the ride.

Confederate Statue - Kingstree, SC

Kingstree, SC 

Finally a Confederate statue that makes me grin with glee! It is a blooper. In front of the courthouse in Kingstree, SC is a statue honoring Confederate soldiers. There is a tiny discrepancy. The statue is that of a Yankee. The mistake is so delicious I had to get a picture for myself. Meanwhile no one seems to mind and the standard inscription honors Confederate soldiers.

KINGSTREE, SC — Around the turn of the 20th century, as veterans of the Civil War began dying off at a frightful rate, there was a burst of activity, both in South and North, to erect monuments to honor their dead and their veterans.
Williamsburg County was no exception, and May 10, 1910 was the great day of the unveiling of the Confederate soldier’s statue by the Courthouse in Kingstree. The statue was a result of much effort by the United Daughters of the Confederacy, who had raised the funds by holding many ice cream socials and strawberry festivals, and hired a noted Italian sculptor to create the monument.
According to local historian Bessie Swann Britton, there was a gasp of astonishment as the statue was unveiled and the crowd realized that it was the image of a Yankee soldier.As it turns out, the sculptor had mass produced many statues for towns all across the country, and he had switched the Kingstree statue with one intended for a Union memorial in York, Maine.
In York, the error was discovered before the unveiling ceremony, but the frugal New Englanders refused to pay for a second statue, and they went ahead to erect the Confederate statue in the center of town.
At the time, neither town knew where their intended statue had gone. Today, both statues remain in place, perhaps due to the cost of rectification, or maybe as a symbol that it’s time to let bygones be bygones.
The story is told, perhaps apocryphal, of a Confederate veteran who was present at the Kingstree unveiling, but had been imbibing freely ahead of time. When the statue was uncovered and he saw a Yankee soldier on the pedestal, he raised his arms into the air and cried, “Grant, I surrender!” before pitching forward into a ‘shine’ induced slumber.Posted by Brock Townsend at Thursday, February 06, 2014 

A spot of color on Magnolia Rd.

Magnolia Rd., Charleston, SC    

Magnolia Road had been closed to traffic for quite some time but is open now so I did my morning walk that way. This little convenience shop always caught my eye as it has before.

This storm in Texas is horrifying, isn't it? We had 24 inches of rain a few years ago but that was spaced out over a few days. This is unbelievable. They are going to need so much help.

Pancito & Lefty guest chef dinner

My friend English and I were lucky participants in a dinner at a Pancito & Lefty - a relatively new restaurant on upper King St. last night. This was my first visit and it was for a dinner presented by a visiting chef from El Destilado in Oaxaca, Mexico. The temperature was perfect for outside dining, each dish was creative and delicious, our companions all clever and interesting people. What a fun treat. Put it on your list!

El Destilado's Head Chef Julio Aguilera and his team are coming directly from Oaxaca to collaborative with P+L's Robert Berry to present creative reinventions of classic Mexican dishes. The dinner will be preceded by a tasting of rare agave spirits not available in the U.S., hosted by El Destilado's co-founder and mezcal expert, Jason Cox.