West Ashley Wanderer — West Ashley Neighbors in Action
Volunteers are the heart of a community I hear joyful noise from the Charleston Miracle League from my house on a weekend morning. When I pop out of a trail at Charles Towne Landing hot and sweaty, a volunteer pulls up in a golf cart to offer me a ride. A reassuring...
MORE COMMUNITY
West Ashley Flashback — Pieces of The Parish
Part 3 Revisiting some tidbits of history from the early days of St. Andrew’s Parish Part 3 of this who-knows-how-many-part series where I’m having to start at the beginning of the journals/milk crates/digital information and shared random small tidbits entered over...
West Ashley Flashback — Pieces of The Parish
Part 2 Revisiting some tidbits of history from the early days of St. Andrew’s Parish Last month, I wrote about how many first sentences have developed into stories from St. Andrew’s Parish. Elements of these stories fill five journals, two milk crates, and over 10 GB...
Good Enough Parenting
I Love You — A Mother’s Valentine Some version of feeling benevolent, enamored with or attached to another person is generally at the heart of defining what it means to LOVE. Yet, when I think of what loving can feel like as a parent I must confess that it’s often not...
West Ashley Flashback
Where to Begin? There are many first sentences that have developed into stories from St. Andrew’s Parish. Some are short and sweet and to the point. Others are long threads that weave through the time, place, and fabric of the Parish. Elements of stories fill five...
Guest Homes Were the Precursor To Short-Term Rentals
Tourism has been an important part of this area’s economy since boats started to set anchor in Charleston Harbor. This did not go unnoticed to the entrepreneurs in St. Andrew’s Parish; especially after the bridge connection was reestablished with the peninsula of...
The River Between Us
Remembering the time a ship crashed into the Ashley River Bridge in 1955 "It seemed to me it was going to be a pretty dull day as far as getting any news pictures was concerned. I didn’t have a single assignment for the day when I reported for work,” said Richard...
Revisiting the Underground Railroad
Perspectives in Freedom Conference held at Magnolia Plantation & Gardens Special to West Of Free Press Scholars, living historians, and enslaved descendants will gather in West Ashley at Magnolia Plantation and Gardens to show that the Underground Railroad was...
A Pleasurable Place For Picnics
Photo: The Santos sister gather at Pleasure Grove. From left to right: Dolly Santos Reynolds, Mamie Santos Harrison (Joe Harrison’s second wife) Inez Santos Grayson and Irene Santos Burk. (Photograph courtesy of Barbara Burk deWitt and Ruth Burk Gay) In 1916 Rene...
Pedalling Back in Time
Photograph of bicycle ignites memories of a West Ashley aren’t familiar with I think that is my bicycle in front of the Avondale Pharmacy in that picture in your paper.” That was the message left at the West Of Free Press office by Bobby Owens. The referenced...
Know Your History
West Ashley History Series kicks off this month at Hurd/St. Andrew’s Regional Library Last year local historian and author Donna Jacobs was invited to do a lecture at the Cynthia Hurd/St. Andrew’s Regional Library in West Ashley. She was then approached about the...
