Reflecting on West Ashley Flashback

The beginning of a New Year is a time to pause for reflection. It’s somewhat required in our society. In December of 2011, the first West Ashley Flashback ran in West Of. It was born out of an interview done for the release of “West Ashley,” part of Arcadia Publishing’s Images of America series. The community had generously responded with pictures and stories about life, community building, and growing up in St. Andrew’s Parish, West of the Ashley during the early part of the 20th century for publication in the West Ashley book.
It was difficult to choose, from the many photographs shared, exactly which ones to place on each page of the book. In addition, there were the stories. With a word limitation, there was no way to tell all of the fun, silly, grand, community-minded, neighborly, and school-related stories that were recounted. Thus West Ashley Flashback. And even though close to 100 of these (82 to be exact) are in print, stories still come. Sometimes the stories are short and the picture tells it all. Sometimes the story is told in a scrapbook. Sometimes the story is told by a map. Sometimes the photograph has no story but is very intriguing. Sometimes the story takes some digging to turn it from an urban legend to the real deal. Sometimes the story is incomplete and patience is the only option. Nevertheless, the storytelling is the key, the listening an important act, and the recording a must.
Therefore, I have a New Year request for the readers of West Ashley Flashback: keep those e-mails and phone calls coming. I love hearing from you and listening to your stories. I just might get serious about that book I have been promising.
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.