On the way to Georgetown, we slide back in time to McClellanville, SC, a small fishing community dating from the 1800's. McClellanville had a population of 459 at the 2000 census. It is situated on land surrounded by the Francis Marion National Forest and has traditionally derived its livelihood from the sea and coastal marshes by shrimping, fishing, and oystering.
McClellanville village began in the late 1860s when local plantation owners A.J. McClellan and R.T. Morrison sold lots in the vicinity of Jeremy Creek to planters of the Santee Delta, who sought relief from summer fevers. The first store opened soon after the Civil War, and the village became the social and economic center for a wide area that produced timber, rice, cotton, naval stores, and seafood.
Incorporated in 1926, McClellanville township became, and remains, best known for its shrimping fleet and seafood industries.
In 1989 the town was devastated by the full brunt of Hurricane Hugo, which destroyed homes, downed century old oaks, deposited shrimp boats in front yards, and otherwise altered much of the picturesque character of this historic fishing village.
The stronger north side of the eye wall passed directly over the village while a Category 4 hurricane. Residents taking refuge in the local high school, a designated storm shelter, were surprised by a storm surge which threatened to drown the refugees. Helping one another in complete darkness, they managed to crawl into a space above the false ceilings of the building and, fortunately, none were lost.
As we walked along the quiet streets on Easter Sunday, we met the Grahams, descendants of McClellanville's earliest residents, and they shared their stories of the small town values and proud heritage of hard working water men and their families.
It was a perfect day in a perfect place, as we tried to understand the pull on a small town that time has forgotten. The nearest grocery store is 40 minutes away.
How charming! Do they vote too???
ReplyDeleteYes they vote.
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