Charleston Raconteurs

03/02/2025

Seeking a cheaper way to move their goods than using the expensive new Santee Canal, landowners in Goose Creek petitioned the State House on March 2, 1786, to create turnpikes and tolls along the Goose Creek Road that ran from Charleston to Wassamassaw to ensure better maintenance of the land route. (Source: Goose Creek: A Definitive History, Volume II, p. 28.)

To learn more about historic events that have happened in March, visit

Charleston Raconteurs in Charleston offers visitors the opportunity to visit historic sites beyond the popular tourist spots.

03/01/2025

Some things that have happened on March 1 in Charleston's history:

1711 -- Because the congregation of St. Philip's Anglican Church was outgrowing its building at the corner of Broad and Meeting streets, the colonial Assembly passed an "Act for Erecting a New Brick Church" on the east side of Church Street, just above Queen Street. (Source: Charleston, Charleston!, p. 31.)

1770 -- A committee appointed by members of the Charleston Library Society made their report recommending that fundraising should be undertaken for the creation of a school, a predecessor of the College of Charleston. (Source: A History of the College of Charleston, p. 11)

See a short history of St. Philip's at

Charleston Raconteurs in Charleston offers visitors the opportunity to visit historic sites beyond the popular tourist spots.

02/27/2025

Shiitake is wondering why nobody wants him 😔

All of his siblings are going to their new homes this weekend but nobody has snatched this cutie pie up yet! He is 8 weeks old today and full of that irresistible puppy energy.

See videos in the comments!

To apply, head to www.carolinacoonhoundrescue.com/adopt

02/22/2025

Some events of Feb. 22 in years past:

1819 -- The Charleston Courier related details about the arrests of John and Lavinia Fisher and their gang at Six Mile House.

1868 -- John G. Grant of Marlboro District filed a petition of bankruptcy in the District Court of the United States, District of South Carolina, in Charleston. Assignees of his estate were to meet at 59 Broad St. on April 1.

This last one resonates with me as John Grant was my 2nd great-grandfather. Please don't judge him too harshly; it's a long story!

02/16/2025

The story of John and Livinia Fisher is among the best known ghost tales in Charleston. But in truth, they were real people who were tried, convicted and executed in Charleston, and today is part of their story.

On Feb. 16, 1819, a group of vigilantes rode out to the Fishers' Five and Six Mile taverns, looking for a gang of suspected robbers. When they found a group they suspected were at Five Mile House, they ordered the suspects out of the building before setting fire to it. As Five Mile House burned to the ground, its smoke could be seen by those at Six Mile House, who escaped into the woods before the cavalcade’s arrival.

You can find the rest of this true story on our website.

Charleston Raconteurs in Charleston offers visitors the opportunity to visit historic sites beyond the popular tourist spots.

02/16/2025

https://schsonline.charityproud.org/EventRegistration/Index/21161

02/16/2025

1941 photograph titled "Digging out a cemetery to be moved from the Santee-Cooper basin, Near Bonneau, South Carolina."

02/16/2025

02/07/2025

ON THIS DATE IN CHARLESTON HISTORY: FEB. 7

On Feb. 7, 1861, in the days leading up to the Civil War, S.C. Gov. Francis Pickens' Washington envoy, Isaac W. Hayne, replied to a letter he had received the day before from U.S. Secretary of War Joseph Holt, saying: "Are you not aware, that to hold in the territory of a foreign power a fortress against her will, avowedly for the purpose of protecting her citizens, is perhaps the highest insult which one government can offer to another? But Fort Sumter was never garrisoned at all until South Carolina had dissolved her connection with your Government. This garrison entered it in the night with every circumstance of secrecy after spiking the guns and burning the gun carriages and cutting down the flag-staff of an adjacent fort which was then abandoned. South Carolina had not taken Fort Sumter into her own possession only because of her misplaced confidence in a government which deceived her." (Source: Confederate South Carolina, p. 20-21)

https://charlestonraconteurs.com/february.html

Charleston Raconteurs in Charleston offers visitors the opportunity to visit historic sites beyond the popular tourist spots.

02/03/2025

Join me and other Lowcountry authors Feb. 15, 1 p.m., on the Lowcountry Stars Stage at the Summerville Book Festival. I'll have copies of my three books -- Charleston Then & Now, Lost Charleston, and Storied & Scandalous Charleston -- and will be happy to sign copies.

Books will be available for sale with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the Timrod Library. Learn more at https://mainstreetreads.com/summerville-book-festival-2025/