Going Back to the Crossroads

The Oct. 22, 2014 West Ashley Flashback: “Going Down to the Crossroads” described DuPont Crossing as “a hub for community activity in St. Andrew’s Parish.” The article generated an explosion of “e-activity” from local realtor and preservationist Charlie Smith, with e-mails full of information about the Geddes’, DuPont’s, railroad stations, plats, and photos.
Generally the West Ashley Flashback explores the history of St. Andrew’s Parish from the late 19th century to the mid 20th century. But a particular plat that Smith shared takes the meaning of “a hub for community activity in St. Andrew’s Parish” in reference to DuPont Crossing to a whole new level.
The 1850 Geddes Plat was obtained from the RMC office by Smith. The legend on the plat states: “This plat is a compilation of surveys made at different periods by several surveyors and put together to show the boundaries of the four lands which embrace the lands owned by the late Gilbert C. Geddes in St. Andrew’s Parish in the whole being bounded with yellow and Geddes Hall separated from the other (lands (?)– this word is illegible) by red lines.”
Details on the plat include every twist and turn of property boundaries marked by “Post” or “Formerly Water Oak” or “Gum Oaks and Posts” or “Ditch Line” or “Red Oaks” or “Chinquepin Post”. Small ponds and swamps are also indicated. The names of property owners or properties themselves are listed as: “Land of John Wilkes”, “Lands of Dr. George Haig”, “Little Berry or Liberty Hill”, “Lands of Simon Magwood, Esquire”, “Geddes Hall”, “The Motte Tract”, “Edward Sebring”, “Mr. Adams”, “Lands of Judge Frost”, “Track called Tiger Swamp”, “Lands of Alexander H. Brown”. All of which are normal indications on a plat. One little oddity is the location of a “Tar Kiln” on a boundary line between Tiger Swamp and Judge Frost’s land.
The hub of activity is suggested by several dotted lines marked: “Public Road to the Wappoo Causeway”, “Bridge” on the “Wappoo Causeway”, “Public Road to the Charleston Bridge Ferry”, “Avenue to Geddes Hall Settlement”. The dotted line defined as the “Public Road to the Wappoo Causeway” extends across the dotted line defined as the “Public Road to the Charleston Bridge Ferry” and is just named “Public Road”. Most likely this is a very early definition of Wappoo Road from Hwy 61 to Edgewater Park. The intersection of the “Public Road to the Wappoo Causeway” and the “Public Road to the Charleston Bridge Ferry” has no markings or indications at that location. Given the detail of indications elsewhere on the plat this suggests that nothing particular designated this crossroad or was located at this crossroad at the time. The Motte Tract, Mr. Adams, and Tiger Swamp are the names on the land around this intersection.
Fast-forward between 75 and 95 years and the intersection included Whaley’s service station, Bootle’s service station, grocery, and lunchroom, Corbett’s Packaging, Dupont’s Grocery, and The Charleston County Market. Directional signs decorated the signposts. Buses ran in the area. St. Andrew’s Parish High School was just a short walk down Wappoo Road.
Today this intersection is a major one in West Ashley and yet nothing remains to give the community a reference to its historic significance as a crossroads.
Donna Jacobs is the author of “Byrnes Downs” and “West Ashley” and is continuing her research on the transition of St. Andrew’s Parish from an agrarian community to the suburbs of today. She loves to listen to stories; contact her at westashleybook@gmail.com.