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Southern Screams: MACABRE – September 25 – November 7, 2026

Holy City Brewing | 1021 Aragon Ave., North Charleston

Something dark has arrived in North Charleston.

Southern Screams returns for the 2026 Halloween season with “MACABRE,” an all-new immersive haunted house experience at Holy City Brewing. This year, guests are invited beyond the polished plaques and velvet ropes of Museum Macabreo — a twisted collection where cursed relics, forgotten objects and something far more sinister have been brought together.

The story centers around The Curator, whose latest discovery has awakened something that may have been better left forgotten. As guests make their way through the museum, the exhibits begin to feel less like artifacts and more like living nightmares.

Southern Screams runs on select nights from September 25 through November 7, bringing elaborate sets, theatrical characters, special effects and an immersive walk-through experience to the Park Circle area of North Charleston. The attraction covers more than 4,000 square feet and features winding hallways, rooms and outdoor areas designed to keep guests guessing about what comes next.

THE AWAKENING

Before the haunted house opens each night, the creatures of Southern Screams emerge for The Awakening, a free pre-show ritual where monsters invade the crowd outside the attraction. Guests can take photos, interact with characters and experience the chaos before entering the haunted house.

CHOOSE YOUR LEVEL OF FEAR

General Admission provides entry into the haunted house, with advance online tickets starting at $20.99 on non-peak nights.

For those looking to spend less time waiting and more time screaming, R.I.P. Access includes expedited entry, access to an exclusive lounge with photo opportunities and characters, and a 10% merchandise discount.

The Behind the Screams experience goes even further, adding a guided backstage tour, an opportunity to meet the creators, a Q&A, unlimited re-entry that evening and a commemorative Southern Screams T-shirt.

LIGHTS OUT

On November 6 and 7, Southern Screams turns the lights off.

During Lights Out!, guests navigate the haunted house with nothing but a lantern to guide them through the darkness.

HALLOWEEN FOR THE LITTLE GHOULS

Southern Screams is also offering something new for families this year.

On Halloween night, October 31, from 5–6 p.m., Trick-or-Treat Night will feature a lights-on walkthrough, friendly characters, photo opportunities, treat stops and a reusable Halloween tote bag for each trick-or-treater.

BEFORE YOU GO

Southern Screams is designed as an intense haunted-house experience and is not recommended for children under 13. Guests should expect strobe lights, fog, haze, sudden loud noises, air blasts, darkness and other intense effects. Comfortable clothing and closed-toe shoes are recommended because portions of the experience include outdoor areas, grass and gravel.

The attraction is located at Holy City Brewing in North Charleston’s Park Circle neighborhood, where guests can grab food and drinks while waiting in Southern Screams’ virtual queue.

So gather your bravest friends, leave your fear of the dark at home and step inside the museum.

Just remember: at Southern Screams, the exhibits may be watching you.

📍 Holy City Brewing
1021 Aragon Ave.
North Charleston, SC 29405

🎟️ Tickets: Southern Screams Official Website & Tickets⁠

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By Zoe Nicholson, zen@mailbox.sc.edu

When staff from Amsterdam’s Anne Frank House came to Columbia in 2013 to launch an exhibition about the Holocaust at Dent Middle School, then-eighth grader Sam Livoti was recruited to be a tour guide.

She and her fellow docents guided more than 1,000 students through an exhibit about the life and legacy of Anne Frank, a young Jewish girl whose journal documenting her family’s years hiding from Nazis during World War II was published by her father.

Livoti’s experience helping to tell that story set the South Carolinian on a path she’s still on today.

“As a young person, this was one of the first experiences that I had where I felt like my voice mattered,” she says. “I felt empowered because I got to take the lead in front of my peers.”

Livoti now works at the University of South Carolina’s on-campus Anne Frank Center, which is tasked with expanding Holocaust education nationwide — all with the goal of building stronger, more tight-knit communities.

Becoming an Anne Frank educator

While Livoti was as an undergraduate English major at USC, she got an email: The Anne Frank House — created from the dreams of Anne’s father, Otto, to inspire the world to be better — was opening a center on USC’s campus. Would she be interested in volunteering?

“They had found in The State newspaper that I had done this exhibition years ago, and they did the math,” the 2023 USC alumna says, “and the young people from my middle school class should have been in college by then.”

Livoti came on board as a volunteer even before the center opened in 2021.

When she graduated two years later, she took a full-time staff position at the center, which is the only affiliated operation in North America to the Amsterdam-based Anne Frank House.

“I had plans to go to law school, but the work here has had such an impact on me,” Livoti explains. “And now I get the opportunity to give other young people the same empowerment, confidence and leadership skills that were given to me.”

As the center’s education specialist, Livoti manages the on-site museum, but her passion lies in her other role: leading the fast-growing Anne Frank Youth Network, a volunteer organization for people age 16 to 26 to prepare them to lead civic programming in their community — all inspired by Anne Frank’s story.

Taking Holocaust education beyond USC’s campus

The network is just one way the center has extended its influence beyond campus. In addition to hosting historians and educational scholars, training K-12 educators and serving thousands of students through tours each year, the center has done programming in 44 states. And more on- and off-campus exhibits are in the pipeline, including an unveiling of the center’s renovated gardens.

It’s all building to 2029. Anne Frank’s 100th birthday.

The Anne Frank House has charged USC’s center with having a presence in all 50 states by the time the centennial rolls around, according to Doyle Stevick, center director.

And while the charge is ambitious, so, too, are the goals of the organization: Through meaningful, peer-led conversations, Anne Frank’s story can help develop tight-knit communities filled with people more willing to stand up for one another and for what is right.

“This history is so powerful and important, we believe it’s a powerful means to achieve those elusive goals, which is, ‘How do we build community?’” Stevick explains. “‘How do we create relationships and understanding between people?’”

Growing a network of young community leaders

As North American coordinator for the Youth Network, Livoti has helped grow the Anne Frank House’s presence in communities across the U.S. She works with young people who — just like she did back in middle school — have worked as student docents for the center’s travelling exhibitions.

The network mirrors the Anne Frank Center’s mission of generating peer-led, civic discussion about hard topics, namely antisemitism and discrimination.

“We bring young people together across the United States where we are collaborating on projects that have a positive impact on the community,” Livoti says. “We are committed to fostering a world that is rooted in tolerance, inclusivity and human rights.”

The youth network exists in 22 countries. Livoti was first exposed to the international community in 2024, when she attended a conference for the group in Amsterdam. That experience was enhanced by a two-month staff exchange the Anne Frank House sponsored, which laid the groundwork to expand the network’s impact across the U.S.

She gathered 20 youths in Chicago this summer — where a replica of the Franks’ hiding place is on display — to discuss the community projects each student conducted, as well as facilitate trainings. The goal is for the students to go back home and train future tour guides and youth network members, creating a ripple effect of civic action.

The projects are aimed at community betterment, as well as encouraging conversations between students — with or without a teacher present. Stevick calls it the “positive side of peer pressure.”  

For example, one student organized an assembly at her school for Holocaust Remembrance Day. Another project involved students facilitating a workshop about refugee protections through the lens of Aristotle’s Golden Mean. 

“We help students recognize that they can help bring the best out in one another,” Stevick says.

Having students lead these projects — just like they lead the center’s tours across the country — takes a lot of training and a lot of staff support, Stevick explains. The center partners with museums and freelancers nationwide to activate students, who then go on to educate their peers.

“It’s a deeper commitment,” he says, “but that’s where the deep learning happens.”

Source: University of South Carolina

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The College of Charleston is hosting its bi-annual Unplug Week  Sept. 28 through Oct. 3., a campus-wide digital wellness initiative designed to give students, faculty and staff intentional opportunities to step away from their screens and reconnect with the people, activities and physical world around them.

Unplug Week will incorporate tech-free and tech-light classes, outdoor and hands-on activities, meditation, cooking classes, game nights, improv and other analog programming across campus. Faculty and staff are also encouraged to hold device-free meetings throughout the week.

“Unplugging isn’t about pretending technology doesn’t have a place in our lives,” said Kelley Cours Anderson, a College of Charleston marketing professor and creator of Unplug Week. “It’s about being more intentional about when we use technology and when we choose not to. We want to give our campus community opportunities to experience what happens when we create space for conversation, creativity, movement and connection without a screen.”

Anderson, who also serves as an advisor for the Global Day of Unplugging, said the lessons from that research extend beyond social media professionals to the broader challenge of establishing boundaries in a culture where being constantly connected has become the norm.

Unplug Week will also bring the conversation about technology and attention to the big screen on Thursday, Oct. 8, when Boston-based filmmaker Sara Robin will visit the College to screen her new documentary, Your Attention Please, followed by a conversation and Q&A with students and attendees. The documentary examines the growing pushback against the attention economy and explores the effects of social media and technology on childhood, mental health and human connection. The screening is co-sponsored by the College’s Civility Initiative and is free and open to the public.

The College’s Unplug Week initiative is part of a broader effort to make digital wellness an ongoing part of campus life rather than a one-time conversation. By encouraging faculty, staff and students to experiment with tech-free and tech-light experiences, the College aims to explore practical ways to build greater intentionality around technology while maintaining the benefits it provides.

For the complete schedule, visit the Unplug Week website. 

Founded in 1770, the College of Charleston’s mission is to provide students with a world-class education in the arts and sciences, business and technology, engineering and health sciences. Students have more than 150 majors and minors from which to choose — and they often choose to combine several—and complement their academic courses with overseas study, undergraduate research and internships for a truly customized education.

Nearly 12,000 students choose the college for its unique urban, mid-sized university feel. The College, home to undergraduates from across the country and around the globe, provides a creative and intellectually stimulating environment where students are challenged and guided by a committed and caring faculty of distinguished teacher-scholars. The city of Charleston serves as a living and learning laboratory for student experiences and opportunities for career development. The university bridges the old with the new in a setting that is truly extraordinary — where historic character and forward-looking innovation come together to shape a distinctive and inspiring environment for learning. A College of Charleston education focuses on discovery and personal growth, as well as preparation for life, work, and service to our society.

Photo Credit: College of Charleston

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COLUMBIA, S.C. – Gov. Henry McMaster today announced the completion of South Carolina’s submission of recommended Opportunity Zone census tracts to the U.S. Department of the Treasury. This announcement follows a statewide process led by the South Carolina Department of Commerce to gather input from local governments, economic development organizations, community leaders and the public.


Gov. McMaster submitted South Carolina’s Opportunity Zone nominations to the U.S. Treasury on September 23, 2026. The submission represents the next step in the redesignation of South Carolina’s Opportunity Zones under changes to the federal program enacted through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA).


“South Carolina has seen the value of Opportunity Zones in bringing investment and new opportunities to communities across our state,” said Gov. McMaster. “With the program now permanent, we can build on what has worked, focus on the communities with the greatest opportunities for investment, and continue strengthening South Carolina’s position for future economic development.”


The OBBBA, signed into law on July 4, 2025, made the Opportunity Zone program permanent and established a new redesignation process. Under the updated law, Opportunity Zones will be redesignated every 10 years.


Each governor may nominate up to 25 percent of a state’s eligible census tracts for designation as Opportunity Zones. Beginning July 1, 2026, governors were able to submit their nominations to the U.S. Treasury.


The U.S. Treasury will review South Carolina’s nominations before the new Opportunity Zones take effect on January 1, 2027.


A list of South Carolina’s submitted Opportunity Zone nominations and additional information about the nomination process can be found on the South Carolina Department of Commerce’s Opportunity Zone webpage.


As South Carolina waits for the next Opportunity Zones to take effect, Gov. McMaster is also calling on the General Assembly to prioritize conforming South Carolina’s tax code to the new federal Opportunity Zone provisions established by the OBBBA. 


A copy of the Governor’s letter can be found here. 

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$400 million investment will create 105 new jobs

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The Okonite Company (Okonite), a cable and wire manufacturer, today announced it is expanding its operations in Orangeburg County. The company’s $400 million investment will create 105 new jobs.

Founded in 1878, Okonite is one of the oldest insulators of electrical wire and cable in the U.S., supporting a variety of industries including electric utility, oil and gas, railroad, and chemical. The company operates 34 locations nationwide, including two production facilities in Orangeburg County.

Okonite will build a new, approximately 552,000-square-foot manufacturing plant on its existing property, located at 2276 Rowesville Road in Orangeburg, to meet growing demand for the company’s high-voltage electric cable products.

The beginning phases of construction will start in the fourth quarter of 2026, and the project will take approximately two to three years to complete. Individuals interested in joining the Okonite team should visit the company’s careers page.

The Coordinating Council for Economic Development approved job development credits related to the project. The council also awarded a $1.5 million Rural Infrastructure Fund grant to Orangeburg County to assist with the costs of site preparation and building construction.

QUOTES

“We thank the South Carolina Department of Commerce, the Orangeburg County Development Commission and the city of Orangeburg for their invaluable help and prompt actions in making our expansion possible.” -Okonite CEO and Board Chairman David J. Sokira

“Okonite’s expansion in Orangeburg County is a testament to the economic opportunities and skilled workforce available here in the Palmetto State. We are pleased to see the company continue to invest in South Carolina and create 105 new jobs in Orangeburg County.” -Gov. Henry McMaster

“With an investment of $400 million, Okonite’s expanded manufacturing operations will be an exciting economic advantage for Orangeburg County. We congratulate the company on its decision to deepen its roots in South Carolina and strengthen our state’s industrial capacity.” -Secretary of Commerce Harry M. Lightsey III

“We are truly grateful for Okonite and the commitment they have shown to Orangeburg County over the years. An investment of more than $400 million and 105 new jobs means more opportunities for our citizens and more quality jobs right here at home. We thank them for continuing to invest in our people and for remaining an important part of the fabric of Orangeburg County.” -Orangeburg County Council Chairman Johnnie Wright

FIVE FAST FACTS


• The Okonite Company (Okonite) is expanding its operations in Orangeburg County.
• The company’s $400 million investment will create 105 new jobs.
• Okonite is a cable and wire manufacturer.
• The company is located at 2276 Rowesville Road in Orangeburg, S.C.
• Individuals interested in joining the Okonite team should visit the company’s careers page. 

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By Mark A Leon

For more than 130 years, a small wood-frame chapel stood at 52 Cooper Street on Charleston’s Eastside.

Known as the Emma Abbott Memorial Chapel and later home to the Mt. Sinai Holiness Church of Deliverance, the building was constructed in 1892 as a mission church serving the Eastside community. Its connection to opera singer Emma Abbott, its distinctive architecture and its long association with Charleston’s African American history made the building more than simply an old structure. 

This week, it was demolished.

What happened in between is now the subject of a City of Charleston review.

The timeline

1890–1892: The chapel is born

In 1890, Citadel Square Baptist Church purchased property at Cooper and America streets for a mission church intended to serve Charleston’s Eastside.

The church later received a $5,000 bequest from the estate of opera singer Emma Abbott, who had attended Citadel Square Baptist Church during visits to Charleston.

Architect S.H. Foulk designed the Romanesque Revival-style building, and construction was completed in December 1892. 

1977: Mt. Sinai Holiness Church takes over

After its years as a Baptist mission church, the building became home to the Mt. Sinai Holiness Church of Deliverance, which occupied the property beginning in 1977. 

For generations, the building became part of the Eastside’s religious and community landscape.

Around 2021: A preservation-minded redevelopment plan

Approximately five years ago, the property came before Charleston’s Board of Architectural Review with a proposal to rehabilitate the historic church.

The plan called for converting the existing structure into six residential units, while preserving the historic exterior. Two additional townhomes were also proposed for the property.

At the time, preservationists viewed the project as an opportunity to give the historic building a new life. 

2021–2026: The building deteriorates

The rehabilitation did not occur as originally envisioned.

According to preservationists, the building remained exposed to the elements, including water intrusion through portions of the roof.

The Preservation Society of Charleston has argued that basic stabilization and weather protection could have slowed or prevented the deterioration.

That point is now part of the larger debate: Was the building’s eventual condition inevitable, or did years of inadequate stabilization contribute to the crisis?

That is an important distinction to make in the article because the preservationists’ position is an allegation/argument, not an established finding.

August 12, 2026: Engineering report raises alarm

An engineering report dated August 12 found extensive deterioration associated with prolonged water intrusion.

According to the City, portions of the roof, structural beams and columns had deteriorated significantly, with signs of potential failure.

The assessment concluded that stabilization could not safely be undertaken without substantial risk to workers. 

August 21, 2026: Demolition permit issued

The city issued a demolition permit on August 21.

This is where the controversy escalated.

Preservationists say they did not discover the permit through a public notification process. Instead, they found it while reviewing the city’s online permit system.

They argued that the public—and particularly the surrounding Eastside community—should have had an opportunity to understand what was happening before demolition became imminent. 

September 21: Demolition is suddenly put on hold

News of the impending demolition became public.

Community members and preservation advocates raised concerns about the loss of the historic structure.

Charleston officials then paused demolition and sought an independent assessment of the building’s condition.

City Councilmember Aaron Polkey said the community should have a voice because of the church’s importance to the Eastside and Charleston’s African American history. 

September 22: Preservationists make a last-minute appeal

The Preservation Society of Charleston met with representatives connected to the development.

Preservationists urged that, if demolition could not be avoided, historic materials should at least be carefully salvaged rather than simply discarded.

There were discussions about preserving and potentially reincorporating architectural elements into the redevelopment.

The proposed future project was designed to retain elements of the original building’s architectural character. 

September 23: The chapel comes down

Despite the temporary pause and calls for additional review, the historic structure was demolished.

The city subsequently acknowledged the significance of what had happened.

In a statement, Charleston officials called the building’s loss “a loss” and described it as a sacred place connected to generations of Eastside families and Charleston’s African American history. 

September 23: The City acknowledges problems with its process

Perhaps the most significant development came after the demolition.

The City of Charleston said it is conducting a full review of what happened, including whether the conditions attached to the demolition permit were followed.

The city also acknowledged:

“What is already clear is that our own process has gaps, and those are ours to fix.” 

The city says it intends to:

• Guarantee meaningful public notice before future historic demolitions
• Conduct a funded survey of downtown historic buildings
• Add cultural significance to the factors considered in these decisions
• Review the circumstances surrounding the 52 Cooper Street demolition 

The question Charleston is now left with

The central question isn’t simply “Why was the church demolished?”

The city says there were serious structural concerns and an imminent safety threat.

The more complicated question is:

How did a historic building that had once been the subject of a preservation-oriented redevelopment plan reach a point where demolition became the city’s only safe option?

And perhaps even more importantly:

Could something have been done years earlier to prevent it from reaching that point?

Preservationists say yes.

City officials are now acknowledging that the process itself needs examination.

And the building that prompted those questions is no longer standing.

For 134 years, Emma Abbott Memorial Chapel occupied this corner of Charleston’s Eastside. On September 23, 2026, it disappeared.

What remains is the history—and a much larger conversation about how Charleston protects historic buildings before they reach the point of no return.

The city says it intends to examine what happened at 52 Cooper Street and change the process going forward.

But for the families and community members who considered the chapel part of their history, there is an unavoidable reality:

A process can be changed. A building can be restored. But once a historic structure is gone, it cannot be brought back.

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Photo Credit: Brandon Coffey – https://www.instagram.com/itsbrandoyo

Columbia, S.C. (September 23, 2026) – The South Carolina Department of Transportation opened new travel lanes on I-26 in both directions in Berkeley County on Wednesday, September 23. Drivers will now have access to three lanes on I-26 westbound and eastbound between mile markers 187 and 194.  “The opening of these lanes marks a major milestone in the I-26 corridor widening project,” said SCDOT Secretary Justin Powell. “It also brings us closer to the goal of expanding the entirety of I-26 between Charleston and Columbia.” SCDOT contractors will still be conducting single-lane closures as they finalize construction on the new lanes. The construction will be done before the end of October.  SCDOT asks that drivers slow down and pay attention when driving near the work zone.

About SCDOTThe South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) is the state agency with oversight of South Carolina’s network of highways and bridges, including responsibilities such as planning, design, construction, financing, and roadway safety. To ensure the nation’s fourth-largest highway system is prepared to serve the needs of South Carolina’s growing economy and population, SCDOT has developed Strategic 10-Year Plan that addresses improvements to the state’s highway and bridge systems. Learn more at scdot.org.

Saturday, October 24, 2026 | 1–5 p.m.
Tommy Condon’s Irish Pub & Restaurant
160 Church Street, Charleston, SC 29401

Get ready for an afternoon where Guinness, oysters and live music come together in the heart of downtown Charleston.

Tommy Condon’s Irish Pub & Restaurant will host its Inaugural Guinness & Oyster Fest on Saturday, October 24, from 1–5 p.m., inviting guests to settle in for buckets of oysters, perfectly poured Guinness and live music throughout the afternoon.

The event offers two ticket options:

🦪 Click HERE for Oyster Bucket Package — $10
Includes one bucket of oysters.

🦪🍺 Click HERE for Guinness Oyster Package — $15
Includes one bucket of oysters plus one Guinness.

There’s also an added incentive for the first 40 guests who purchase the Guinness Oyster Package: an engraved Guinness glass personalized with their name.

Guests are encouraged to come early, grab their oysters and a Guinness, and stay for the afternoon of live music.

An Afternoon at a Charleston Institution

Tommy Condon’s has been part of Charleston’s downtown dining scene since 1984, when Tommy Condon opened the Irish pub and restaurant. The longtime Church Street destination combines Irish pub traditions with Lowcountry favorites, including shrimp and grits, fish and chips, shepherd’s pie and other comfort-food classics.

The pub is also known for its Irish atmosphere, extensive collection of authentic Irish memorabilia and live entertainment, with Irish music featured Wednesday through Sunday evenings.

The Guinness & Oyster Fest adds a distinctly Lowcountry twist to the pub’s Irish roots — pairing one of Ireland’s most recognizable beers with one of Charleston’s favorite local foods.

Event Details

What: Tommy Condon’s 1st Annual Guinness & Oyster Fest
When: Saturday, October 24, 2026
Time: 1–5 p.m.
Where: Tommy Condon’s Irish Pub & Restaurant
Address: 160 Church Street, Charleston, SC 29401
Tickets: $10 Oyster Bucket Package; $15 Guinness Oyster Package
Entertainment: Live music throughout the afternoon

Tickets are valid for the October 24 event only. Additional food and beverages will be available for purchase. Personalized Guinness glasses are limited to the first 40 qualifying Guinness Oyster Package purchasers.

For tickets and additional information, visit Tommy Condon’s official event page⁠.

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By Mark A Leon

For Charleston, 1919 was supposed to be a year of transition. World War I had ended, thousands of servicemen were returning home, and the city’s population and economy were changing. Instead, on the night of May 10, Charleston became the scene of one of the most serious episodes of racial violence in its history.

The Charleston riot of 1919 occurred during the period now known as the Red Summer, when racial violence erupted in communities across the United States. In Charleston, the violence was concentrated in the downtown area and involved white U.S. Navy sailors, local white civilians and Black Charlestonians. 

A City Under Pressure

Charleston in 1919 was a deeply segregated city, but it was also a city undergoing significant demographic and economic change. During World War I, the Charleston Navy Yard expanded dramatically, bringing large numbers of sailors and military personnel into the region. At the same time, African Americans throughout the South were increasingly asserting their rights and seeking greater economic and social independence.

The return of Black servicemen from World War I was particularly significant. These men had served their country overseas and returned with expectations of greater dignity and citizenship. Across the nation, however, the postwar period brought heightened racial tensions rather than immediate equality. South Carolina was no exception. 

The Night of May 10

The precise spark for the Charleston violence has never been established with complete certainty. Contemporary accounts offered conflicting explanations, including rumors of a fight at a pool hall and claims that a Black man had shot a white sailor.

A later U.S. Navy investigation concluded that the most likely beginning was a confrontation between two white sailors and a Black man near Beaufain and Archdale Streets. The encounter escalated, and rumors quickly spread among sailors that a Black man had attacked or shot a sailor. 

Those rumors proved devastating.

White sailors began moving through the surrounding streets, attacking Black residents. Some raided shooting galleries and took rifles, pistols and ammunition. Armed groups then moved through portions of downtown Charleston, targeting Black people and Black-owned businesses.

The violence spread along King Street and into surrounding neighborhoods. A Black barber shop was destroyed. Black passengers were pulled from streetcars and beaten. Black pedestrians were attacked seemingly at random. In one particularly disturbing episode, a Black man was dragged from a streetcar and shot. 

The Charleston County Public Library’s historical account notes that the disturbance eventually involved a large crowd of sailors, with some civilians participating as well. The attacks were not confined to one location but spread across much of the downtown commercial district. 

Three Deaths and Dozens Injured

The human toll was severe.

Among those killed was Isaiah Doctor, a 22-year-old Black laborer who was shot during the early stages of the violence. James Tolbert, 23, was also fatally wounded. William Brown, 20, was shot while attempting to return home and died several days later. Historical records identify numerous additional Black Charlestonians who suffered gunshot wounds, beatings and other injuries. 

The violence overwhelmed the city’s police force.

As the situation deteriorated, Navy authorities sent additional military police and Marines into downtown Charleston. Armed Marines moved through the streets, ordering sailors and civilians to disperse and returning sailors to the Navy Yard. By the early morning hours of May 11, the violence had largely subsided. 

What Happened Afterward

In the aftermath, the Navy suspended liberty for many sailors and conducted its own investigation. Two sailors, Jacob Cohen and George Holliday, were tried in connection with the shooting of Isaiah Doctor. They were acquitted of manslaughter but convicted of rioting and received one-year sentences in a naval brig. 

The newly established Charleston branch of the NAACP also pressed city and federal authorities to respond. Its demands included protection for Black residents, compensation for damaged businesses, greater accountability for the sailors involved and the hiring of Black police officers. Mayor Tristram Hyde agreed to several requests, although he rejected the proposal to hire Black policemen. 

The events of May 10–11 were more than an isolated night of violence. They reflected the broader racial tensions of postwar America and the collision between an increasingly assertive Black population and a white society determined to preserve the existing racial order.

Today, the Charleston Riot of 1919 remains a difficult but important part of the city’s history. It reminds us that Charleston’s past is not only one of beautiful architecture, commerce and cultural traditions, but also one shaped by segregation, racial violence and the long struggle for equal citizenship.

Remembering May 10, 1919 does not diminish Charleston’s history. It makes that history more complete.

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FOLLY BEACH, S.C. — The City of Folly Beach, Folly Beach Historical Society, and the Folly Beach TVPC board will unveil a new historical marker at the Porgy House, recognizing the home’s important place in the literary and cultural history of the Lowcountry.

The unveiling will take place this Friday, September 25, at 10:30 a.m. in front of the home at 712 West Ashley Avenue. Speakers will include Folly Beach Mayor Chris Bizzell; James Ward of the College of Building Arts; Mae Holmes of the Exchange Club; Nancy Moore of the Folly Beach TVPC; Anne Hughes of the Folly Beach Historical Society; Cubby Wilder, representing the community; and a member of the Smalls family. Samuel Smalls is the man who inspired the character of Porgy.

Built in 1933, the Porgy House was the summer retreat of author DuBose Heyward and his wife, Dorothy. During the summer of 1934, George Gershwin collaborated with Heyward on the renowned opera Porgy and Bess, based on Heyward’s novel Porgy. During his time on Folly Beach, Gershwin drew inspiration from the Gullah culture and sounds of the Lowcountry.

The two-story home features its original wood interiors, three bedrooms, and a writer’s booth, which was built later and used by the Heywards and Gershwin as a place to work. The home has been carefully preserved and is recognized as a unique cultural landmark. The Folly Beach Historical Society’s exhibit, The Porgy House: A Cottage on an Island in a Culture, can also be viewed at the Folly Beach Community Center/Library.

Members of the media are invited to attend and cover this special unveiling. If you cannot make the unveiling and would like to schedule another time to interview or take pictures, please reply to this email so we can make arrangements.

Location of Home: 712 West Ashley Avenue, Folly Beach, SC

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