In the 1930s, a group of Summerville women who then called themselves the Civic League, raised money to purchase the land now used for Azalea Park. This group was the precursor to the Flowertown Garden Club, and the park was eventually deeded to the Town of Summerville.

Many plants were given to the park by resident George Segelken. Segelken even planted most of the azaleas himself and was an expert on the plant, and helped make Summerville well known for its beautiful Azalea bushes.

SCIWAY thanks Linda C. Shaw of Summerville for this information and picture taken in March 2012. Linda tells us that “whether you’re feeding the turtles, enjoying the shade of the tall LobLollies, or sharing the joy of a picnic with friends, you will be sure to enjoy yourself at Azalea Park!”

The story of Guerin’s pharmacy begins with Dr. Schwettman, who moved to Summerville during the Civil War to open a drugstore. He sold his business in 1871 to Dr. Henry Charles Guerin, who later sold it the Dunning family. Today Dr. Barbara Dunning runs the pharmacy while her semi-retired father, Charles Dunning, works here part time.

While waiting for your prescription to be filled you can have a hot dog, sip on a fountain soda, or enjoy an ice cream milk shake. History comes alive inside the shop where wooden glass cabinets hang on the back wall, colored medicine bottles line the window ledges, and decorative tin art covers the ceiling. This is a place that will take you back in time.

SCIWAY gives a very special thanks to Linda C. Shaw of Summerville for this great description and picture taken in November 2011.

Dorchester was founded in the late 1690s by a group of Congregationalist settlers from Massachusetts. Located on the banks of the Ashley River, Dorchester flourished as a trading village and by the mid 1700s had become the third largest town in South Carolina.

The town’s fear of an impending French invasion in 1757 prompted the construction of a powder magazine and tabby fort. Fort Dorchester saw little activity until the American Revolution, during which it served as an important military depot and strategic point. Many notable South Carolina military leaders, including Francis Marion and Thomas Sumter, were stationed at Fort Dorchester during the war to guard the powder magazine.

Many thanks to Paul Mulkey of Charleston for sharing this photo.

Barred Owls typically inhabit dense, lowland forests and swampy areas such as the ACE Basin. Although not currently threatened or endangered, the Barred Owl is very sensitive to changes in its natural habitat and serves as an indicator species for the state of the ecosystem.

SCIWAY thanks Robert Kemmerlin of Orangeburg for submitting this photo.

The church was named for the area’s prominent Appleby family. In 1862 Capt. Morgan T. Appleby used the churchyard as the muster grounds when he organized local men for a new infantry company. The unit went on to fight throughout the southern states between 1862 – 1865. After the war, Capt. Appleby left his military post to serve in the South Carolina Senate.

The cemetery dates from the late 1800s and contains some slave graves as well as many from local families and church founders. Records indicate that, inside the church, two rows of pews were divided by a center aisle. The northern area was for “gentlemen”, the southern area was for “ladies and courting couples,” and the area closest to the pulpit was the “Amen Corner.”

Special thanks to Ann Helms of Spartanburg for sharing this photo, taken in 2008.

Matt writes: “The town clock was put up by the Farmers and Merchants Bank and looks like many of the other town clocks that had that bank in town.”

This photo was taken on US 176 near Jedburg by William J. Jernigan in September 2005.