Summerville History
June 2, 2021
The first settlers of the area were a group of Congregationalists from Dorchester, Massachusetts. They sailed on the schooner Friendship with their minister, Reverend Joseph Lord, down the Ashley River. They arrived to the area in 1696 and named their new settlement after their home township, Dorchester. Old White Meeting […]
April 27, 2021
Epicenter is in Summerville It is called the Charleston Earthquake of 1886, but did you know the epicenter was in Summerville? The reason it is called the Charleston Earthquake is because of all the damage that occurred in downtown Charleston. Summerville in 1886 was considered rural with far fewer buildings […]
January 21, 2021
The Pine Forest Inn The Pine Forest Inn is a lost treasure in Summerville. It sat on sixty acres and welcomed its first guests in 1891. The internationally renowned hotel had four floors, elevators, and 150 sleeping apartments. They hosted several famous guests, including U.S. Presidents Theodore Roosevelt and William […]
August 7, 2020
The Dorchester County Library on Old Trolley Road first opened its doors in the 1970s. George H Seago Jr is the man largely responsible for the inception to opening day for Summerville’s first local public library. Access to books for the public prior to that was only through small, private […]
April 2, 2020
Here are some great information on some of the historic homes in Summerville. The Summerville Historic Homes and Flowers Walking Tour is also a great way to spend the afternoon. Check out the map or download the brochure. You can park at Azalea Park near the tennis courts and start […]
March 27, 2020
Who What and Where Coastal Produce is a long-time icon in Summerville and a great place to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables. It’s located on the corner of West 4th North St and North Cedar St and has been since they opened in 1991. The father/son team of CB and […]
March 5, 2020
Every one in Summerville knows the Berlin G Myers Parkway, but do you know about Mr Berlin G Myers? He is an excellent example of someone from “The Greatest Generation”. The common characteristics of Greatest Generation members are that they lived through and experienced the hardships of the Great Depression […]
February 13, 2020
Public Works Art Center Building A welcome addition to downtown Summerville is the Public Works Art Center. It is in the old Post Office at 135 West Richardson St. Originally built in the 1930s, the building served as the town post office until the 1980’s. The Summerville Commissioners of Public […]
January 24, 2020
Guest Blog Post by Patricia Sturbaum Guerin’s Pharmacy on Hutchinson Square is an excellent example of warm, southern hospitality. Guerin’s is the oldest operating pharmacy in South Carolina. It was established in 1871 and since 1876 there has only been two families who owned the business, the Guerin’s and the […]