Charleston’s Old Navy Yard: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

 

An early December drive to MOMO restaurant at the old Navy Yard in North Charleston got my photography and research juices flowing. 

So we went back a few days ago to explore some more and for me to do photography for this blog post and social media possibly.  

The shipyard and U.S. Navy base (now officially called Navy Yard Charleston) date back to 1901. They played important roles in both world wars, the Korean and Vietnam wars as well. See this history link.

Peak employment surpassed 25,000 late in World War II. New vessel construction, around 200 in all, included destroyers, destroyer tenders and escorts, and landing ships. The base also repaired and retooled Navy ships (and subs). For a listing of all the ships built here see this. 

I have lived here long enough to remember occasionally seeing Navy submarines streaming in and out of local waters near the old Cooper River Bridge.

But in the 1990s the Charleston Navy Base was among the eventual 122 military installations across the country that were shut down in the post-Cold War era. 

Three decades later, much of the former base's 1,575 acres can be seen by car or foot- before you would have to go through a military checkpoint. Here are some of my images and impressions: the good, bad and ugly. 

Note: In late January 2023, the Post and Courier published this in-depth article about big plans underway here!

Time to Sign at Terrace Oaks Antiques Mall

 

With my table surrounded by old clocks, it was my time to shine and sign books. 

Many thanks to Terrace Oaks Antiques Mall owner Camille Wish (pictured) for the opportunity. 

I am also thankful to Camille for inviting me to speak on Dec. 1 to her Rotary Club of St. Andrews. 

Terrace Oaks Antiques Event Saturday, Dec. 10

 My upcoming book signing at Terrace Oaks Antiques Mall, 2037 Maybank Hwy. in Charleston, has me even more excited after seeing this large advertisement in yesterday’s Post and Courier newspaper. 

Thank you Terrace Oaks owner Camille Wish for doing this. I’m quite honored and flattered and I am sure the publicity will bring extra good sales to us on Saturday! I also have Camille to thank for my speaking event to her Rotary Club last month. I met her several years ago at Bethel United Methodist Church when she gave a talk to my College of Charleston “Beyond the Grave” class.  The below photo by Hannah Sills was taken in March 2019. 

The Post and Courier ad ran below a story about former Vice President Mike Pence visiting South Carolina. I couldn’t resist touching up the article a tad…

Terrace Oaks prides itself on being the Lowcountry’s first antiques mall. It is large and spacious with ample free parking. 

The phone number at Terrace Oaks Antiques is (843) 795-9689. 

My signing Saturday will be from 10 a.m.- 2 p.m. who knows, you may just run into Mike Pence there lol! 

St. Mary of the Annunciation a Shining Signing Success!

 

Alesia and I met so many nice people at yesterday’s Sunday book signing at this beautiful old church on Hasell Street downtown. 

St. Mary of the Annunciation Catholic Church dates to the 1830s and is the oldest Catholic church in America south of Virginia. 

The church recently received an exterior paint job. Inside, there are scaffolds behind the altar for work inside. 

“In the Arms of Angels” Magnolia Cemetery Book Delivery!

 

This day after Thanksgiving UPS delivery was a welcome sight (and placed inside my garage at that- glad the garage door happened to open on a rainy day).

 just in time for the holidays- 50 hot off the press copies of my 2014 book, “In the Arms of Angels: Magnolia Cemetery- Charleston’s Treasure of History, Mystery and Artistry.” 

I remain so proud of this book that pays tribute to Charleston’s premier Victorian necropolis that opened in 1850. Today Magnolia Cemetery is the final resting place of more than 30,000 souls. 

“In the Arms of Angels” can be ordered directly from me or through my Amazon author site. Either way, I will happily sign your copy. 

My email is birdseyeviewspublications@gmail.com. 

Many thanks to Charleston-based Palmetto Publishing and the company that printed my book, Integrated Book Tech in Dulles, Va., which is part of Books International. 

My books are always proudly Made in America! 

For more information on this book click here. 

My newest book, "Stories from the Underground: The Churchyards of Charleston," was released in September 2022. Click here for more information on this book that explores Charleston's rich, interesting and diverse history through the prism of its religious burial grounds. 

VCU Recognition

 

As a proud mass communication graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University I am pleased to see a mention of my new book in the new issue of the school’s flagship magazine.

Here it is in the class notes section. 

This image may be a little easier to read. I heard from a long ago classmate and fellow VCU alum who sent me a photo of the blurb. 

Whenever in Richmond, I always like to stop by campus and look around. It was a pivotal time of my life here after transferring from Radford University. 

This photo is from the summer of 2017. 

Fine Fossil Find!

 

A Sunday afternoon bicycle ride was highlighted not by the frappuccinos at Starbucks but by a tiny treasure found on the way back home. 

Alesia suggested we stop and walk around a new construction site near the clubhouse and driving range at the Wescott Golf Course off Dorchester Road in North Charleston. 

We parked our bikes and walked around the small pond you see behind me. After 10-15 minutes, I spotted a shark’s tooth. It was flat on the ground and I knew right away what it was. 

Alesia snapped a couple nice photos. Click on this image to see the jagged edges of a fossil that may be, what, thousands of years old. 

I put the tooth in a small clear bag to tell it apart from the others in our collection. Most of these shark’s teeth and vertebrae were found by my sons and me years ago when we moved to Coosaw Creek. We were early settlers in this beautiful neighborhood and would go to the back of the property where new roads were being created. 

Finding fossils is fun and challenging. Sunday’s discover makes me want to get out and look for some more…soon! 

Update: November 24- Thanksgiving Day

Alesia and I returned to the Wescott site for a little pre-dinner exercise. We spotted another fossil hunter named Nathan who had been out here for about an hour. 

Wow, he found more than two dozen pieces, mostly shark’s teeth and some vertebrae parts. 

Nathan let me see what he had in his baggie. Click on the image for a better look! 

This was his biggest find so far today. Nathan told me how he and his father are experienced fossil finders, saying they have a “mini museum” of fossils. 

He found a tiny white tooth while I walked with him. 

This encounter encourages me to return to this site even though we struck out today. 

Big Book Signing Weekend!

 

Saturday was a fun one at my neighborhood’s annual fall arts and crafts fair. I had a table to peddle my books and am so appreciative of my Coosaw Creek neighbors’ interest and support. 

Jack, a retired U.S. Army general, purchased my new “Churchyards of Charleston” book. He grew up in Charleston so I know he will appreciate the Holy City tribute. 

I’m a sucker for holiday decorations. From Eloise, I bought this really cute little sled as well as a charming Christmas sleigh shown next. 

Association of Gravestone Studies Endorses New Book

It is nice to see this attention to my new “Churchyards of Charleston” book in the October 2022 newsletter of the Association for Gravestone Studies.

The Association for Gravestone Studies (AGS) is an international organization of people like me, taphophiles, who are into researching and appreciating all things cemeteries and graveyards. AGS’s goals are four pronged: interpretation, conservation, preservation, education. AGS has approximately 1,000 members, including yours truly. It is headquartered in Greenfiield, Mass. 

A new book order came in today from Pittsburgh, Pa. More sales to come hopefully! 

Booked Weekend!

 

Alesia and I had a busy weekend that was booked with book signing events.

Yesterday we were in Orangeburg at Broughton Street Cafe and Ice Cream. That’s owner Greg Bennett in the background. 

Professor Tom Cassidy, a colleague from SC State University, stopped by and purchased a copy of my new “Churchyards of Charleston” book as a holiday gift for his wife- maybe I shouldn’t have revealed that!

I bring my older books to my signings. I realized at this one that I can adequately show all five of my books on a small table I have. 

The day before on Saturday in Charleston I used a long table from Second Presbyterian Church for a signing event there.