Charleston Daily Seeking all the beauty that is Charleston, South Carolina

By Mark A Leon

There are photographs of Charleston that capture what the city looks like—and then there are photographs that capture what Charleston feels like. For local photographer Amanda Vargo, the difference is in the details: the changing light over the water, the shifting colors of a Lowcountry sky, the quiet beauty of a familiar landscape and the unexpected character found around a downtown corner.

Through AV Photography, Vargo has spent nearly a decade documenting the landscapes and visual personality of Charleston and the surrounding Lowcountry. Her work moves naturally between coastal scenes, sweeping landscapes and urban environments, creating a portfolio that feels distinctly Charleston while still revealing new perspectives on places many locals know well. 

Vargo is a self-taught photographer whose connection to the camera began when she was young. Her grandfather introduced her to photographing wildlife and landscapes in parks, planting the seeds for an artistic journey that would eventually lead her to the South Carolina coast.

That journey took an unexpected turn in 2015, when Vargo was injured in the historic flooding that struck downtown Charleston. After surgery and physical therapy, she ultimately left her career as a commercial truck driver and began searching for a new direction.

Photography provided the answer.

A sunrise shoot on Folly Beach became an important turning point. While photographing the morning light and reflections along the beach, Vargo captured an image that caught the attention of another photographer. That encounter eventually led to an opportunity selling photography at the Charleston City Market—and, not long afterward, the beginning of AV Photography. 

Today, the coast remains central to Vargo’s creative vision.

There is a particular magic in her coastal photography: water meeting sky, silhouettes appearing in the distance and sunlight transforming an ordinary stretch of beach into something almost cinematic. She has developed a special appreciation for the moments when the sky changes color, making sunrise and sunset more than simply times of day—they become part of the story.

Her work also demonstrates how much visual variety exists within the Charleston area. Beaches and marshes provide wide-open horizons, while historic streets, architecture and city details offer a completely different kind of composition. Charleston’s ability to shift from centuries-old buildings to tidal creeks, live oaks and oceanfront landscapes within minutes gives photographers an almost endless supply of inspiration.

For Vargo, finding those different perspectives is part of the fun.

Her photography has earned recognition well beyond the Lowcountry. In 2019, three of her photographs were exhibited at Grand Central Station in New York City as part of a Fujifilm global exposition. She has also had multiple photographs featured in the Folly Beach Civic Club calendar over several years. 

Yet some of her most meaningful work remains close to home. Vargo has volunteered her photography for Surfer’s Healing Folly Beach, an organization that gives children with autism the opportunity to experience surfing and the ocean. She has also incorporated reclaimed wood from the former Folly Beach Pier into some of her framed artwork, connecting her photographs not only to the landscape but to the history of the place itself. 

What makes Amanda Vargo’s photography especially compelling is her ability to make familiar places feel worth stopping for.

A sunrise. A wave. A lighthouse. A street corner. A dramatic sky.

Through her lens, Charleston becomes less a postcard and more a living landscape—one constantly changing with the tide, the weather, the light and the people who call it home.

Follow Amanda Vargo and see Charleston through her eyes: www.instagram.com/avphotographysc

Ypu can find her local work at Look Up Charleston – 128 Meeting Street (upstairs) or at the Charleston Night Market on most weekends.

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SPARTANBURG COUNTY, S.C.- A layoff at an Upstate solutions facility will affect over 200 employees.

According to a SC WARN report, DP World on GSP Logistic Parkway in Spartanburg County will permanently lay off 205 employees.

The layoffs are scheduled for Oct. 31.

The South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce was notified of the layoffs on Sept. 1.

DP World issued the following statement:

“DP World confirms that approximately 205 employees at our Spartanburg, South Carolina, operation have received notice that their employment with DP World will end effective October 31, following the conclusion of our customer contract at this location.

We understand that many of these employees may have opportunities to continue working at the site with the incoming service provider, which we welcome. DP World is committed to supporting our employees through this transition and is working with state and local resources to help ensure appropriate support is available.

We remain focused on ensuring a safe and orderly transition of operations while continuing to deliver for our customer through the conclusion of our contract.”

Source: Fox Carolina

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By Mark A Leon

Park Circle is turning the page on one of its longtime neighborhood hangouts.

DIG in the Park, the popular sports bar and restaurant at 1049 E. Montague Ave., has been sold and has officially been replaced by a new concept: Rocko’s. The new restaurant opened in late August, bringing a refreshed look and a noticeably different personality to the familiar Park Circle space. 

For more than a decade, DIG was part of the fabric of Park Circle. The restaurant opened in 2011 in the former Zocalo space, transforming the location into a sports-focused neighborhood bar with burgers, wings, sandwiches, tacos, a large collection of TVs and a sizable outdoor patio. 

DIG eventually became known as much for its patio and casual atmosphere as it was for watching games. The restaurant was even recognized as one of Charleston’s popular North Charleston happy-hour destinations in the Charleston City Paper’s Best of Charleston awards. 

Now, however, the familiar DIG signs are gone.

Rocko’s is positioning itself as a neighborhood bar and restaurant built around good food, cold drinks, sports and a more relaxed atmosphere. Its website now lists the restaurant as open, while current listings show the same 1049 E. Montague Avenue address. 

The menu remains firmly in the approachable bar-and-grill category, with items including burgers, wings and other familiar favorites. The restaurant is also emphasizing its beverage program, with current hiring information describing cocktails, wine, craft beer and specialty drinks as part of the experience. 

But perhaps the biggest change is the atmosphere.

Rocko’s is bringing a country-Western influence to the space, along with sports and outdoor hangout areas. The change has already generated plenty of conversation among Park Circle residents, with some longtime DIG customers welcoming the renovations and others wondering how the new concept will fit into an already evolving neighborhood. 

That conversation is part of a much larger story happening in Park Circle.

North Charleston’s neighborhood has evolved into one of the Lowcountry’s most active dining and entertainment districts, with restaurants, breweries, bars, coffee shops and other businesses continuing to reshape East Montague Avenue and the surrounding streets. 

For Rocko’s, the challenge—and opportunity—is to take over a space with a built-in history while creating something distinctly its own.

DIG may be gone, but the corner isn’t going anywhere.

For Park Circle, it’s simply another sign that the neighborhood continues to change, one restaurant, bar and gathering place at a time.

Visit Rocko’s⁠

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By Mark A. Leon

South Carolina is putting millions of additional dollars into local communities following Gov. Henry McMaster’s signing of H. 3305, a supplemental appropriations bill that directs one-time state funding toward infrastructure, public safety, health care, tourism, recreation and community projects across the state.

Signed September 1, 2026, the legislation—now Act 261—uses residual nonrecurring funds from the previous fiscal year to support a wide range of locally designated projects. The money is not part of the state’s recurring operating budget, but instead represents one-time funding that can be used for specific capital and community needs.

For Charleston and the surrounding Lowcountry, the legislation provides funding for projects that touch some of the region’s most pressing issues, including emergency services, drainage, tourism, homelessness, public safety and community infrastructure.

Among the most notable Charleston allocations is $1 million for the Charleston County EMS Headquarters. The investment comes as emergency medical services continue to play an increasingly important role in a region experiencing significant population growth.

The City of Charleston is also receiving $650,000 for infrastructure and community projects, while another $100,000 is designated for Brockman Drive drainage improvements. Drainage and stormwater management have become increasingly important throughout the Charleston area as development, population growth and major rainfall events place additional pressure on existing infrastructure.

The bill also recognizes Charleston’s role as one of South Carolina’s largest tourism and cultural destinations. The International African American Museum is receiving $500,000 for marketing, providing additional resources to promote one of the city’s newest and most significant cultural attractions.

Another $100,000 is designated for the City of Charleston’s homeless initiative, addressing a challenge that has become increasingly visible as housing costs and demand for social services continue to rise.

Public safety is also included, with $100,000 going to The Citadel for cadet parking lot safety and access improvements.

But the impact of H. 3305 extends well beyond the Charleston city limits.

In Berkeley County, the legislation provides $3.5 million for the Live Oak Complex and $1 million for wastewater infrastructure in Saint Stephen. Dorchester County receives $2 million for Dorchester County Fire Rescue, while the Town of Summerville receives $1.2 million for a new Public Safety Campus.

Colleton County is receiving $1.5 million for self-contained breathing apparatus equipment, supporting firefighters and emergency responders.

Several coastal communities are also receiving funding. The City of Isle of Palms receives $250,000 for beach-access improvements, $150,000 for public greenspace at the marina and $1 million for stormwater and drainage infrastructure.

Edisto Island receives $1 million for youth recreation, while the Town of Edisto Beach receives another $300,000 for drainage improvements. James Island is receiving $500,000 for Bay Front drainage improvements.

Further up the coast, Georgetown County receives $1.5 million for the replacement of the Murrells Inlet Landing Ramp and $130,000 for parking and ADA improvements at the Wacca Wache boat landing.

Taken together, the allocations highlight a broader trend across the Lowcountry: communities are attempting to keep pace with growth while maintaining the infrastructure and quality of life that make the region attractive to residents, businesses and visitors.

The bill also provides a glimpse into the state’s broader priorities. Funding is directed toward career and technical education, workforce development, health care, EMS facilities, fire departments, water and wastewater systems, transportation, parks, recreation, tourism and economic development.

For Charleston, the combination is particularly notable.

The state is simultaneously investing in the infrastructure needed to support a growing population and in the cultural, recreational and tourism assets that help drive the region’s economy. At the same time, money is being directed toward public safety, emergency response, drainage and homelessness—areas where population growth can create additional pressure on local governments.

The timing is also significant. H. 3305 was originally filed in late 2024 and spent nearly two years moving through the legislative process before receiving final approval in August 2026. The House concurred with Senate changes on August 25, and McMaster signed the bill September 1.

The legislation directs the State Treasurer to distribute the appropriations by September 30, 2026.

H. 3305 is not a new recurring spending program or tax increase. Instead, it represents the state’s decision to put remaining one-time funds toward projects identified by lawmakers and local communities.

For the Charleston region, however, the impact is very real.

From EMS headquarters and drainage projects to museum marketing, beach access, fire rescue and public safety, millions of dollars in state funding are now headed toward projects throughout the Lowcountry.

And perhaps more importantly, the spending provides a snapshot of the challenges facing one of the fastest-growing regions in South Carolina—and where state leaders believe additional investment is needed most.

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COLUMBIA, S.C. – Governor Henry McMaster today issued Executive Order 2026-19 providing Charleston County School District Board of Trustees member Darlene Dunmeyer-Roberson notice of charges and an opportunity to be heard pursuant to S.C. Code § 59-19-60.

On January 15, 2026, Governor McMaster requested that the State Inspector General investigate the conduct of one or more members of the Charleston County School District Board of Trustees. The Inspector General submitted a report to the Governor on August 27, 2026.

Based on the Inspector General’s report, the Executive Order provides Dunmeyer-Roberson notice of charges involving the disclosure of executive session material, unauthorized disclosure of confidential information, and a conflict of interest.

Under the Executive Order, Dunmeyer-Roberson must notify the Governor by September 10, 2026, whether she intends to exercise her right to be heard. A three-member hearing panel will consider her response and the evidence and submit a recommendation to the Governor by October 5, 2026, regarding whether she should be removed from the Charleston County School District Board of Trustees.

A copy of the Executive Order can be found here.

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By Mark A Leon

A new nightlife destination is officially making its debut in Summerville, bringing together R&B, food, DJs, happy hour specials and a late-night lounge atmosphere under one roof.

Live Wire Lounge has opened at 9730 Dorchester Road, Suite 207, taking over the former City Vibes space and giving the location a fresh identity and a new direction. The concept appears designed for those looking for something a little different from the traditional bar or club experience — a place where music, food and socializing are all part of the evening.

The opening comes with a strong introduction to what Live Wire Lounge hopes to become in the Summerville nightlife scene.

The venue is kicking things off with its 1st Friday R&B Steak Night, featuring music from DJ Shad Ike. As the name suggests, R&B is at the center of the experience, creating a soundtrack built around the soulful sounds of the genre while guests enjoy a steak-focused menu and lounge atmosphere.

For those looking to start the evening early, happy hour runs from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., giving guests an opportunity to grab drinks and settle in before the night picks up. The opening promotion also advertises hookahs and drink specials, adding another element to the lounge experience.

And then there is the steak.

The promotional imagery for Live Wire Lounge puts the food front and center, showcasing a beautifully prepared steak alongside a cocktail — signaling that the new venue wants to be more than simply a place to hear music. The concept combines dining and nightlife in a setting intended for an evening out with friends.

The transformation is particularly notable for anyone familiar with the former City Vibes space. While the address may be familiar, Live Wire Lounge is clearly looking to establish its own personality.

Its branding leans heavily into a sophisticated black-and-gold aesthetic, with the venue’s signature lightning-bolt logo and the name Live Wire suggesting energy, electricity and an atmosphere that doesn’t necessarily wind down early.

For Summerville, which continues to see its dining, entertainment and nightlife options expand, the arrival adds another option for adults looking for an evening closer to home.

The opening also reflects the changing character of the Dorchester Road corridor, where established businesses continue to be joined by new restaurants, entertainment concepts and gathering places.

Whether you’re coming for the R&B, the steak, the DJ, happy hour or simply curious to see what’s taken over the old City Vibes location, Live Wire Lounge is officially on the Summerville nightlife map.

📍 Live Wire Lounge
9730 Dorchester Road, Suite 207
Summerville, SC

The wire is plugged in. Now, Summerville gets to see what happens when the lights go on. ⚡

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by Mark A Leon

Something wonderfully unexpected is taking shape along the rivers of Cayce, South Carolina.

The city is moving forward with plans to bring a larger-than-life troll sculpture by internationally acclaimed Danish artist Thomas Dambo to the Cayce Riverwalk — a project that will become the first Thomas Dambo troll installation in South Carolina. Construction is expected to take place in 2027, with the finished sculpture becoming a permanent public attraction along the riverfront. 

And if you’ve never encountered one of Dambo’s trolls, prepare to be fascinated.

Dambo is known around the world for creating enormous, whimsical human-like creatures from reclaimed and recycled materials, often placing them in forests, parks and other natural environments. Rather than simply dropping a sculpture into a landscape, his installations are designed to feel as though they belong there — as if the giant creatures have been quietly hiding among the trees all along.

That’s precisely the vision Cayce is pursuing.

During a recent visit to the city, Dambo explored Cayce firsthand, getting to know its riverfront, history and community while looking for inspiration for the sculpture. He reportedly found what he described as a place with “so much magic” — a fitting sentiment for an artist whose work is all about encouraging people to look at familiar places differently. 

The final troll hasn’t been designed yet.

That’s an important part of the story.

This won’t simply be one of Dambo’s existing sculptures transported to South Carolina. The installation will be created specifically for Cayce, drawing inspiration from the city’s natural surroundings, history, culture and identity. 

And the setting couldn’t be more appropriate.

The sculpture is planned for the Cayce Riverwalk, part of the Three Rivers Greenway — a network of trails and natural spaces that follows the Congaree, Saluda and Broad rivers. City officials see the troll as more than a piece of public art. They see it as a way to transform an already beautiful but largely undevelopable riverfront into a destination people intentionally travel to experience. 

But the troll has already sparked a conversation.

The project hasn’t been without controversy.

Cayce officials estimate the total investment at roughly $400,000 or more, with the project being funded primarily through hospitality and accommodations tax revenues that are legally designated for tourism-related purposes. The city is also pursuing grants, sponsorships, donations and other outside support. 

Supporters believe the sculpture could become a tourism magnet, bringing new visitors who will eat at local restaurants, shop at local businesses, explore the Riverwalk and discover other attractions throughout the Columbia region.

Critics, meanwhile, have questioned whether the city should spend that amount on a sculpture and whether Cayce has enough infrastructure to capture the economic benefits that tourism could bring. Those concerns have been part of the public discussion surrounding the project. 

Still, the project is moving ahead.

The current timeline calls for the design to take shape in late 2026, with fabrication and installation beginning in 2027. The city anticipates unveiling the completed troll in May 2027, according to the project’s official timeline. 

And perhaps one of the most interesting parts is that the community will have a role in bringing it to life. Dambo’s projects frequently incorporate locally sourced reclaimed materials, and Cayce expects opportunities for residents, businesses and volunteers to participate as the project progresses. 

In a state filled with palmetto trees, historic towns, beaches, gardens and centuries-old landmarks, South Carolina is about to get something entirely different:

a giant troll in the woods.

And maybe that’s exactly the point.

The best public art doesn’t simply give us something to look at. It gives us a reason to go somewhere. It creates a story. It gives families a destination, photographers something to chase, children something to believe in and visitors a reason to turn off the highway and see what a community has created.

Cayce is betting that this giant wooden creature will do exactly that.

By sometime in 2027, visitors may be wandering along the river, following the trail through the trees, when suddenly — there he’ll be.

A giant troll, waiting quietly among the Carolina woods.

And South Carolina will have its first.

Learn more about the Cayce Troll project⁠

Sources: City of Cayce, Cayce Troll project, WIS-TV, WCIV

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By Mark A. Leon

Charleston is increasingly becoming a place where people aren’t just coming to live—they’re coming to build careers.

Charleston has earned another spot on a national list, but this one has less to do with beaches, restaurants or historic homes and more to do with something increasingly important to the region’s future: jobs and talent.

LinkedIn has named the Charleston metropolitan area the No. 6 U.S. “City on the Rise” for 2026, placing the region among the nation’s fastest-growing emerging markets for jobs and new talent.

The annual LinkedIn ranking identifies smaller and midsized metropolitan areas where the labor market is gaining momentum. Rather than simply ranking the largest employment centers, LinkedIn looks at where professionals are being hired, where jobs are being posted and where new talent is moving.

For a region that has spent years building its reputation as one of America’s most desirable places to live, the ranking offers another important distinction: Charleston is increasingly becoming a place where people can build a career as well as a lifestyle.

Charleston ranks behind five emerging markets

Charleston came in at No. 6 nationally, behind Augusta, Georgia; Richmond, Virginia; Reno, Nevada; North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, Florida; and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

The rest of LinkedIn’s Top 25 includes Pensacola, Austin, Portland, Maine, Tulsa, Colorado Springs, Jacksonville, Huntsville, Knoxville, Nashville, Greenville, South Carolina, and several other emerging markets.

LinkedIn says its ranking is based on anonymized and aggregated data from millions of U.S. member profiles and job postings. The analysis examined data from March 2024 through February 2026. To qualify, metro areas had to show strong performance in hiring, job growth and professional migration, while also having positive net migration. Markets with more than 2.5 million LinkedIn members were excluded to focus the analysis on smaller and midsized metros.

That methodology is important.

Charleston isn’t being recognized simply because its population is growing. LinkedIn is identifying momentum in the region’s labor market.

A different kind of Charleston economy

For decades, Charleston’s economic identity was closely associated with tourism, hospitality, the military and the Port of Charleston.

Those industries remain important, but the regional economy has become considerably more diverse.

Advanced manufacturing, aerospace, automotive production, logistics, health care, technology, professional services and other industries have become increasingly important parts of the Charleston-area economy.

LinkedIn specifically points to Charleston’s thriving port economy, advanced manufacturing and expanding workforce as factors contributing to its position on the list.

That combination may be one of the region’s greatest economic advantages.

Charleston has the infrastructure and industrial base to create jobs while also offering something that many traditional employment centers struggle to provide: a lifestyle capable of attracting workers from outside the region.

The talent equation

Perhaps the most significant part of LinkedIn’s ranking isn’t the number six.

It’s the fact that talent is moving toward opportunity.

LinkedIn’s Cities on the Rise analysis measures professional migration along with hiring and job-posting growth. That means Charleston’s recognition reflects more than employers adding positions. It indicates that professionals are increasingly choosing emerging markets like Charleston as places to develop their careers.

For local employers, however, that growth creates a challenge.

More companies competing for a growing but finite pool of skilled workers can make recruiting increasingly competitive. The same economic momentum that attracts new businesses and professionals can also create pressure on employers to offer better opportunities, compensation, flexibility and career paths.

In other words, Charleston’s success creates its own talent competition.

Charleston’s biggest advantage may be the combination

There are plenty of American cities with strong job markets.

There are also plenty of cities known for quality of life.

Charleston’s appeal comes from combining the two.

A professional can potentially find opportunities in advanced manufacturing, health care, technology, logistics or professional services while living within minutes of beaches, historic neighborhoods, restaurants and one of the country’s most recognizable coastal destinations.

That combination is becoming increasingly valuable as workers reconsider where they want to live and work.

LinkedIn’s 2026 Cities on the Rise list reflects that broader shift. The strongest emerging markets aren’t necessarily the traditional centers of American business. They are places where employment opportunities, population growth and quality of life intersect.

Charleston is increasingly one of those places.

The No. 6 ranking doesn’t mean Charleston has become the next New York, San Francisco or Atlanta—and that’s not really the point.

It suggests something more interesting.

Charleston is developing an economic identity of its own: a growing coastal market where people can pursue professional opportunity without giving up the quality of life that brought so many of them here in the first place.

And as more companies compete for talent and more professionals look beyond America’s traditional business hubs, that could become one of Charleston’s most valuable competitive advantages.

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Data Source: LinkedIn

Inaugural Lowcountry Pulse poll provides insight into voter views on growth, infrastructure and affordability.  Charleston, SC – Lowcountry voters want to manage the impacts of growth, not simply stop it, according findings from the inaugural Lowcountry Pulse poll released today by the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce. The new regional polling initiative measures the opinions of high-propensity voters across Charleston, Berkeley and Dorchester counties on issues impacting the business community, economy and quality of life.  The inaugural poll found that voters favor investing in solutions to the challenges affecting their quality of life over limiting growth, and they want economic growth to help pay for those investments rather than relying on higher taxes.  “Lowcountry Pulse allows us to hear directly from voters and understand what they really think, beyond the most visible voices,” said Kevin Sheilley. “What we found tells a different story. Voters want to manage the impacts of growth through targeted investments that protect and improve their quality of life.”VOTERS STRONGLY SUPPORT INVESTMENT AS THE WAY TO MANAGE GROWTHWhen asked about the best way to manage growth, 59% said investing in infrastructure, compared with 36.5% who favor limiting growth. More than three-quarters, 75.8%, say infrastructure investment is very important to managing growth and 79.7% say investments in drainage and flood resilience are very important.  Voters also expressed strong support for transit, with 71.7% supporting Lowcountry Rapid Transit.  VOTERS WANT ECONOMIC GROWTH TO HELP PAY FOR THE REGION’S NEEDS 70.7% of voters prefer attracting new jobs and business to help fund public services and infrastructure, compared with just 9.7% who favor raising taxes.  At the same time, 86.1% support clear, predictable timelines for permitting and development review. More than half, 55.3% agree growth is creating good jobs for people who already live here, compared with 36.8% who disagree. Three-quarters of voters are also open to creating new revenue streams by legalizing and taxing activities such as gambling.  AFFORDABILITY IS PUTTING PRESSURE ON THE REGION’S WORKFORCE Housing ranks as voters’ top affordability concern, with the pressure particularly pronounced among younger voters. 48.3% of voters ages 18 to 34 rank housing as their main affordability concern.  Childcare and access to good-paying jobs are also part of the affordability picture. 72% support government policies to expand access to affordable, high-quality childcare, while 38.6% say good job opportunities exist in their communities, but more are needed.  “Together, these findings show a clear demand for targeted investments that address our region’s quality-of-life and affordability challenges, with economic growth helping to pay for them,” said Sheilley. “Lowcountry Pulse provides a new way to understand what voters are experiencing and bring their perspectives into conversations about our region’s future.” Lowcountry Pulse will provide ongoing public opinion data on issues affecting the Lowcountry’s business community and economy, giving the Chamber, business leaders and policymakers greater insight into how voters across the region view the challenges and opportunities facing their communities.  ABOUT THE LOWCOUNTRY PULSE The inaugural Lowcountry Pulse poll was conducted for the Charleston Metro Chamber by First Tuesday Strategies. The survey reached 800 likely general election voters across Charleston, Dorchester and Berkeley counties through peer-to-peer text-to-web outreach. Results were weighted to reflect the demographic and policatical composition of the likely general election voter population in the three counties, including age, gender and race. The margin of sampling error is approximately plus or minus 3.46 percentage points at the 95% confidence level.

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By Michael Easler

Rumpty Rattles is dead…

October 25, 1927

The day had been unseasonably warm, even for this late stretch of Fall.  Pushing into the mid 80’s, the heat settled into the city, turning every building into an oversized oven brick – a reminderthat October in Charleston is a fickle visitor.

It was 1:00 A.M. as Frank “Rumpty Rattles” Hogan, local “strong arm” and bootlegger made his way along Market St.  And though the coolness of the early morning hour was trying to take back the day, the lingering swelter must have emanated from every storefront and the very pavement beneath the soles of his shoes. Hogan did not notice.  He was in the grip of a different heat broiling under his collar.  A fever.  It was something personal.  Something dark and violent.  It was business. Tonight, someone was going to pay.  

Perhaps he paused in the glow of a streetlamp, scanning the landscape for movement, lighting a cigarette.  His big hands checking the pistol in his pocket.  A dozen yards ahead, his destination, the Peking Chop Suey restaurant where he will meet his girlfriend, Myrtle Carter, an 18-year-old waitress.  Their afterhours date will have no drinks and romantic conversation.  It will be cut short with gunfire and blood. Frank “RumptyRattles” Hogan is on a rendezvous with Charleston folklore and Eternity.  

The path that led him to his demise was not as straight and orderly as old Market St.  It was a twisted road of hard knuckles with the intersection of shadowy politics and the dangerous pecking order of the illegal liquor machine.   A world of flourish or perish.

Frank started life in Charleston’s 9^th Ward: north of Mary St., west of Nassau St, running through Amherst, Hanover, Boundary and King St. –  a tough, hardscrabble realm known as “Little Mexico.” It was a few blocks away from Charleston’s elite but closer to the stench of the city dump.  It was here he got the nickname “Rumpty Rattles.”  There’s no bedrock intel of its origin or meaning.  Maybe a crib endearment from his mother, maybe a sobriquet from the street.

Frank grew into a formidable figure.  Big, broad, square jawed.  Fearless.  There was a mystique building around him – a dangerous one.  Never backing down from a fight; perhaps also looking for one.  

He had a varied work history: stevedore, dock gang foreman, railroad worker. For recreation he enjoyed baseball and boxing. But as the Prohibition Era (1920-1933) turned into a turbulent, nationwide war between the “Drys” and the “Wets”… and “Uncle Sam”, Hogan was moving toward a new opportunity.  A place where his tough persona would be a perfect fit.  Bootleg whiskey was booming.

(A staggering volume of illegal hooch was brewed in Hell Hole Swamp in neighboring Berkeley County.  An inaccessible and inhospitable, 2,000-acre tangle, it was an ideal spot to avoid prying eyes and noses.  The complex of “giggle water” stills there was vast and profitable. The high-octane product out of Hell Hole became famous across the country.  General Francis Marion bedeviled the British within Hell Hole. Bootleggers gave the “revenuers” the same frustration.)

Somewhere along this thorny road, Frank Hogan fell in with Leon Dunlap, another local corn liquor wholesaler/supplier.  Their partnership was stormy and short-lived.  The rancor overthe fallout was so bitter the two hadn’t spoken in years.

Hogan kept his hand in bootlegging, running his own speakeasy, The Mexican Rest and Robbers Inn (it had other monikers: Bucket of Blood and Knock Down and Drag Out.)  It must have galled him to no end that with every drink he poured, Leon Dunlap’s dirty fingers were in his wallet.  To add insult to injury, Leon Dunlap’s right-hand man, David “Country Boy” Riggs was married to Frank’s daughter, Marie. (That must have been awkward at Thanksgiving…) 

“Rumpty Rattles” also maintained his ties to Little Mexico, keeping a small house at 16 Blake St.  And despite his reputation as a hard-nosed brawler, he had a soft spot for the old stomping grounds.  There was always bread and a big pot of soup on the stove for the bums and the hungry of Little Mexico.

Now enter John and Henry Brown. The Brown brothers were the money and brains behind a great wadge of Charleston’s illegal liquor trade.  On October 24^th, the Brown’s drove down from Awendaw to meet with their cadre of suppliers to deliver a business memorandum:  the cost of a gallon of booze was going up by 50 cents.  Since Leon Dunlap was a favored lieutenant, he and Riggs would accompany them on their rounds to break the news along the supply chain.  Frank Hogan’s house was one of their first stops.

Dunlap and Riggs warned their presence was a bad idea.  As a compromise, the Browns would do the talking, Dunlap and Riggs would wait in the back seat of the car.   

Predictably, the conference did not go well.  

Rumpty did a lot of rattling.  He blew a breaker over the price hike and right away saw Dunlap and Riggs.  Frank made it known he had a gun in his pocket then unleashed a string of profanity-laced threats that scorched the pavement of Blake St.  John Brown would later testify that Hogan used words he’d never heard before. 

The gauntlet was thrown down, the fuse was lit.

Fearing Hogan’s melt-down wasn’t dry thunder, Dunlap and Riggs went to a local sporting goods store; Dunlap bought a $55 pump shotgun and buckshot shells.  At evening, the two drove around town, purportedly looking for Hogan.  In the meantime, Frank caught wind of street talk that said Dunlap and Riggs wanted to meet – to shake hands and make peace.  There would be no treaties tonight.

Just after midnight, Leon Dunlap and David Riggs took their own stroll down Market St.  They knew about Myrtle Carter, they knew Rumpty Rattles would be meeting her.   At 141 Market St., across the street from Peking Chop Suey, was a derelict, two-story storefront. Dunlap and Riggs went upstairs, hid in the shadows and waited. 

At 1:05 A.M. Frank Hogan hit the entrance to the restaurant.  In his own court account, Leon Dunlap called out to him, “Mind Hogan, you got your gun?”  What happened next has been debated with only one documented retelling of a living eyewitness available – Leon Dunlap:

“I saw him and at the same time he saw me.  His gun came up and I shot him.”

The blast drove Frank Hogan through the doorway of 146 Market St., half in, half out.  What has never been questioned were Frank’s last words, “Oh Lord have mercy.”

Police foot patrolmen were at the scene in a blink.  Dunlap and Riggs were waiting for them.  Dunlap surrendered the shotgunand in various recounts offered to the effect, “I killed him and I’m glad I did.”

The murder trial was an intense sensation.  It seemed on the surface an obvious act of bad blood eliminating bad blood.  Dunlap and Riggs claimed self-defense.  There were weeks of heated accusations and testimony from an army of witnesses.  At 12:02 A.M., Christmas Eve morning, 1927 the verdict came down.  “Not Guilty.”

When interviewed post-verdict, Frank’s estranged widow and his daughter’s remarks were short. “He was bad.”

The marriage between David Riggs and Marie fell apart. “Country Boy” left town, slipping into obscurity.  Leon Dunlap found himself in and out of prison, dying in 1945.  Hogan and Dunlap are both buried at historic Magnolia Cemetery, a few yards from each other.

99 years, Rumpty – 99 bottles of illegal booze on the wall.  So, we raise a glass and toast to your coming out party.  Welcome to the Hidden City.

Research courtesy of:

* Shannon Duffy, Historic Charleston Foundation

* Thomas R. Waring, Jr., “Self Defense from Ambush”

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