Colonial Dorchester

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DESTINATION AWAITS: 
Today I ventured up on the Ashley River to colonial Dorchester. This is located on the Ashley River and was a thriving town until the start of war when it all but disappeared. Today we enjoyed the “exploring life in Colonial Dorchester.” Talked to several reinactors from a field doctor to soldiers.



ADDRESS: 
300 State Park Road, Summerville, SC



JUST THE FACTS (BRIEF HISTORY):
*Concrete fort made of oyster-shell that was broken down and turned into lye to create the concrete. Broken shells were also added to the concrete mix.
*Church build in 1719, tower added 1751
*15 miles up stream from Charleston
*Ashley River was its main route for transportation of goods.
*1675 John & Mary Smith came from England and was granted 1800 acres. But after his death his land went back to the state.
*Mary went on to marry Arthur Middletown then Ralph Izard. These are two important families of SC
*1696 a settlement of Massachusetts came down to “settle the gospel”
*Bell Tower and Church was completed in 1719 and tower in 1751. Only the tower remains today
*The town survived but only until the revolutionary war, then it just seem to decline to a ghost town. 
*there are archeological excavations going on today bringing the town. 
*1969 became part of the SC state parks and added to the national register of historic places.



TIPS TO KNOW BEFORE GOING:
*Can't stress it enough, bug spray. Today I tried a new brand from REI called Sawyer. It didn’t smell and it did keep the bugs away. I will say though there were not as many mosquitos as last weekend. But I give it a thumbs up.
*I down loaded the two self-guided tour brochures but at the info wall on the side they have a color copy. But it was nice reading up on the tours before going
*hours daily from 9-6 





WHAT TO DO THERE:
*explore the Brick bell tower of St George's Anglican Church
*at low tide see the log wharf (check out the tide chart for the Ashley River before going)
*view the fort that is made of oyster shell concrete - called Tabby Fort
*watch for wild life… this is a swamp and there are alligators. I will say we didn’t see any but it was an overcast day
*Saw butterflies and this one looks like it didn’t stay in its cocoon long enough to finish its coloring job.



See you at the next bend in the road,
Kelli

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