Page 12 - Summerville NCG 2018

History

Summerville Yesterday and Today
K nown as the “Flowertown in the the heat, mosquitos, and disease that plagued the coast.

Pines,” Summerville is a vibrant
Summerville has since blossomed into a town known
community that first bloomed nearly
three centuries ago. Originally, wealthy plantation for its small-town charm, Southern hospitality, delicious
sweet tea, and as the perfect place for you to put
owners used the area as a summertime refuge from down roots.

TIMELINE:
• Summerville transitioned into an official town • Dr. Charles Shepard’s
• To save their greatest natural • An earthquake struck the town, Oolong Tea won first • Lipton Tea • Summerville named
• South Carolina resource, Summerville passed causing extensive destruction • Tourists flock to the town prize in the St. Louis purchased Pinehurst the home of the
inhabitants spent its first law which prohibited A downtown fire destroyed in spring to enjoy millions World’s Fair, which Tea Farm and relocated largest sweet
summers in Summerville the cutting of trees of a most of the buildings of spring blossoms, popularized iced tea the tea plants to tea in the world with
as a respite from the heat certain size without permission surrounding the town square particularly azaleas around the nation Wadmalaw Island 2,524 gallons
1830s 1884 1888 1984

Late 1847 1886 1900s 1904 1960 2016
1700s
• Summerville became a • After two failed attempts • The federal government abandoned tea farming, claiming the climate was not suitable • Mark Flemming and William B. Hall
permanent settlement to grow tea, the federal • Dr. Charles Shepard did not give up on the dream to grow tea. purchased the tea farm from
• The railroad company bought government set up an He acquired 600 acres and established the Pinehurst Tea Farm Lipton and, using the descendants
Downtown Summerville experimental tea farm • The International Congress of Physicians in Paris, France (known as the of the plants from the Pinehurst
• Land was stripped of its in Summerville “Tuberculosis Congress”) named Summerville as one of two best places Tea Farm, established the Charleston
greatest asset and relief during in the world for the treatment and recovery of lung disorders due to the Tea Plantation
the summer months, the pine trees’ turpentine scent. This led to the building of inns and hotels to handle
trees, to build commercial the mass of visitors, who first came for their health, and then stayed for the
centers near the railroad tracks mild climate and hunting season.

8 greatersummerville.org • (843) 873-2931 2019-2020 GREATER SUMMERVILLE / DORCHESTER COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE RELOCATION GUIDE