Charleston Time Machine

Latest Episodes:

Episode 29: The Omnibus Revolution(s) - Charleston Time Machine Aug 22, 2017

Show notes

Let’s roll back the hands of time to talk about a nineteenth-century transportation phenomenon that few people remember, but one that revolutionized the concept of mobility in the Charleston area and continues to impact our community in the twenty-first century. I’m talking about the omnibus.

Episode 28: What (and Where) is Bee’s Ferry? Aug 15, 2017

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Bees Ferry Road began as a path through the wildness more than three centuries ago, leading to an important crossing point over the Ashley River. Behind the well-known name is the forgotten story of a once-thriving gathering place and the generations of men and women who operated the slow-moving ferry for nearly 160 years.

Episode 27: The “South Carolina Hymn” of 1807 - Charleston Time Machine Aug 08, 2017

Show notes

Let’s travel back in Lowcountry music history to talk about South Carolina’s first state anthem, or at least the state’s first unofficial anthem. I’m talking about a piece of music called “the South Carolina Hymn,” which was written in the summer of 1807 and first performed in Charleston on August 22nd of that year.

Episode 26: The Fall of the Urban Vultures - Charleston Time Machine Aug 02, 2017

Show notes

From the opening of the new Centre Market in Market Street in August 1807, black vultures earned a level of government protection because they provided an important public service: the birds ate all of the animal scraps and leftovers cast aside by the butchers who plied their trade in the city’s busy food market.

Episode 25: The Rise of the Urban Vultures - Charleston Time Machine Jul 26, 2017

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Charleston, podcast, library, education, South Carolina, archives, history

Episode 24: Huzzah For Bastille Day? - Charleston Time Machine Jul 19, 2017

Show notes

Today we’re going to travel back in Lowcountry history to talk about Bastille Day, which is celebrated on the 14th of July by Francophiles around the world. I wrote an essay about this topic a couple of years ago, before I launched this radio series, so I’d like to revisit the topic for the benefit of those who might not have seen the original post.

Episode 23: How Longitude Lane Got Its Name - Charleston Time Machine Jul 12, 2017

Show notes

Longitude Lane is a short, narrow alley in urban Charleston that has captured the imagination of countless tourists and residents alike. Measuring approximately 540 feet long and just over ten feet wide, Longitude Lane is parallel to and approximately 150 feet south of Tradd Street. Like Tradd Street, it intersects with East Bay Street at a right angle. It offers one of the most picturesque views in the city, giving pedestrians a glimpse back in time to what Charleston must have looked like before the modern age of transportation.

Episode 22: Lord Adam Gordon’s description of Charleston, 1765 - Charleston Time Machine Jun 28, 2017

Show notes

Adam Gordon was born around the year 1726, the fourth son of Alexander, second Duke of Gordon. A native of Scotland, Lord Adam entered the British military at an early age, and in 1763 he was promoted to colonel of the 66th Regiment of Foot, a position he held until 1775. I n the early 1760s he was stationed briefly in the West Indies. Before returning home, 38-year-old Lord Adam sailed to Florida and began a long, slow northward tour through the other American colonies.

Episode 21: Carolina Day: A Primer for Newcomers - Charleston Time Machine Jun 21, 2017

Show notes

Today we’re going to travel back in Lowcountry history to explore the genesis and legacy of a public holiday called “Carolina Day.” Carolina Day is celebrated on the 28th of June every year, and that’s been the case since 1777. The day commemorates an important battle that took place on Sullivan’s Island, an action that could rightfully be called the first significant American military victory in the early days of our war for independence from Great Britain.

Episode 20: Vendue Range: A Brief History - Charleston Time Machine Jun 07, 2017

Show notes

Today we’re going to travel back in Lowcountry history to explore the roots of a site in urban Charleston called Vendue Range. Almost everybody who’s been to Charleston in the past twenty-odd years has probably visited Vendue Range, but the small site may not have made much of an impression besides serving as the path to the popular splash fountain in Waterfront Park. Most visitors are a bit confused by the street’s odd name, and I’ll bet very few locals know much about the origins of this Charleston landmark.

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