Hurd/St. Andrew’s Library hosts West Ashley History Series this winter
from Staff Reports
History lovers and curious neighbors alike are invited to step back in time with the West Ashley History Series, a free community lecture series hosted by the Charleston County Public Library at the Hurd/St. Andrews Library in West Ashley. Designed for longtime residents and newcomers alike, the series offers an accessible and engaging way to better understand the people, places, and stories that shaped the West Ashley and St. Andrews communities. Each Thursday evening from 6–7 p.m., local historians will share fascinating stories that illuminate how the area grew and changed over the last century, from infrastructure and neighborhoods to cultural identity and resistance.
The series opened on Thursday, Jan. 29, with a presentation on the History of the “New Bridges” Across the Ashley River. Attendees learned about the development of key river crossings connecting West Ashley to the rest of Charleston —from early drawbridges built to accommodate growing traffic to infrastructure that helped shape modern travel and commerce.
On Thursday, Feb. 5, the series continues with Over in St. Andrew’s: A Glimpse of El Dorado, offering a look at local life and community identity in historic St. Andrews. This session promises an engaging look at the people and places that helped define one of West Ashley’s most vibrant neighborhoods.
Thursday, Feb. 12 brings Ashley Forest: An Early Suburban Neighborhood in St. Andrew’s Parish, a talk about one of the region’s earliest suburban developments—where rivers, forests, and early planning intersected with everyday life.
The final talk, on Thursday, Feb. 26, is Running a Thousand Miles for Freedom: The William and Ellen Craft Story, highlighting the remarkable journey of the Crafts, who built a life of courage and resistance during the era of slavery.
All events are free and open to the public at the Hurd/St. Andrews branch of the Charleston County Public Library, located at 1735 N. Woodmere Dr. For more details and to RSVP, visit the library calendar online at www.ccplsc.libcal.com/calendar.
