06.19.2023

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Today’s Forecast

A very fishy Lowcountry tale

The tale of Charleston’s 1867 mermaid riot

Mermaid sculpture by local artist Julyan Davis | Photo provided by Julyan Davis

If you haven’t seen the live-action remake of “The Little Mermaid,” consider this your sign to catch a matinee showing at Terrace Theater this week.

While live-action merfolk might not be for everyone, they just so happen to not be so few and far between in the Holy City... or so legend says, according to the infamous mermaid riot of 1867.

Picture this: It’s a Charleston summer day in June of 1867. Suddenly, a terrible storm hits, bringing wind and rain heavy enough to tear down houses and uproot trees. Local papers begin reporting that it is the heaviest rainfall the Lowcountry has seen in 50 years. It won’t stop, and no one knows why.

Now, if you were a mythologist, you may entertain a passing thought that a mermaid could be causing the storm, which they are said to do when provoked. But if you were one of the citizens of Charleston in 1867, you would believe this to be absolutely true.

Time for some backstory. In the spring of 1867, Dr. William G. Trott opened an apothecary inside of the John Lining House at 106 Broad St. Three days after opening, the shop finally had its first customer. Trott inquired as to what competition was out there supposedly stealing his business... and it was not what he was expecting.

The woman told him that, nearby, there was a Gullah Geechee root doctor that practiced HooDoo medicine and root work (think: spells and charms). The Civil War just having ended, Charleston residents sought out her help, which was more affordable than Trott’s remedies.

Trott had to think on his feet to find a way to make his apothecary more appealing. While brainstorming ideas, he found inspiration from P.T. Barnum’s FeeJee Mermaid hoax. (If you are familiar with “The Greatest Showman” film, you can probably picture what this deception must have entailed.) What happened next was that of legends.

To first-ever aquarium tanks to revenge-hurricanes, riots, and mermaids, you won’t want to miss the rest of this twisted tale.

Keep reading

Events

Monday, June 19

Juneteenth | Monday, June 19 | 10 a.m.-4 p.m. | Middleton Place, 4300 Ashley River Rd, Charleston | Learn more about the history of Juneteenth through this local education opportunity.
Wave Therapy | Monday, June 19-Friday, June 30 | Times vary | Lowcountry Artists Gallery, 148 E.Bay St., Charleston | Free | Have a look at calming photographs of waves from a Lowcountry native.
3rd Annual Lowcountry Juneteenth Week 2023 | Monday, June 19 | 11:30 p.m. | Hanahan Amphitheater, 3100 Mabeline Rd, Hanahan | Check out the event opportunities to honor our black community at this week long festival.

Wednesday, June 21

Pollinator Palooza | Wednesday, June 21 | 10 a.m.-2 p.m. | Marsh View Trail, 1619 Rifle Range Rd., Mount Pleasant, SC 29464, Mount Pleasant | Free | In honor of National Pollinator Week get your sneakers into the marsh and get involved at this planting event.
Kid Tours | Wednesday, June 21-Wednesday, July 26 | 3:30-4:30 p.m. | The Charleston Museum, 360 Meeting St, Charleston | Free | Discover the history of the Holy City through these weekly kids friendly tours.

Thursday, June 22

North Charleston Farmers Market | Thursday, June 22-Thursday, Oct. 26 | 3-7 p.m. | Exchange Ball Park, 5025 Lackawanna Blvd, North Charleston | Free | Feast your eyes on locally grown produce and speciality foods in the community.
Blues & BBQ Cruise | Thursday, June 22-Thursday, Nov. 30 | 7-9 p.m. | Charleston Princess departing from the Charleston Maritime Center, 10 Wharfside St., Charleston | $56.95-$66.95 | Join into all things Holy City on this one of a kind boat cruise and BBQ dinner.

Saturday, June 24

Charleston Farmers Market | Saturday, June 24-Saturday, Nov. 25 | 8 a.m.-2 p.m. | Marion Square, 329 Meeting St., Charleston | Free | Shop food offerings, artisan crafts, live local music, and 70 farmers and growers.
Saturday Night Concert Series | Saturday, June 24-Saturday, July 22 | 4-10 p.m. | New Realm Brewing Co., 880 Island Park Dr. , Charleston | Head to New Realm Brewing Co. to enjoy some music and a cold beer.

Calendar events here

Click here to have your event featured.

News Notes

Development

So, what’s going on with Union Pier? According to the most recent update from the South Carolina Ports Authority, it may take another year to find out. The decision to halt the redevelopment until 2024 was made on Friday in response to community feedback. New plans for the pier will be developed in collaboration between SCPA and the Joe Riley Center for Livable Communities at CofC. (The Post and Courier)

Open

Holst + Lee — a jewelry store founded in Brooklyn in 2012 by Creative Director Natalie Holst — has opened its flagship storefront at 17 State Street in downtown Charleston. Did you know? Natalie’s designs have been worn by celebrities and First Ladies, including Melissa McCarthy, Mindy Kaling, Barbara Bush, and Jill Biden.

Community

Residents of Summerville are invited to provide input on the town’s Urban Forest Master Plan — a plan to balance the town’s iconic forestry with new development. Public meetings will be held virtually on June 22 from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. and in-person at Doty Park from 3-7 p.m. (WSCS)

Pets

If there’s one thing Charlestonians love, it’s our four-legged friends. Lowcountry Dog Magazine is looking to you to vote for its August cover pup. Voting takes place through June 30 and raises money for local animal shelters. (Holy City Sinner)

Listen

Goose Creek native Randall Fowler signed a record deal with Nashville-based producer Clay Myers. The singer, hailed by Charleston City Paper’s “Best of Charleston” awards, released his first single from the label on Friday and will be performing at Riverfront Revival in October. (WCBD)

Wellness

In our latest edition of CHStoday Wellness in partnership with Roper St. Francis Healthcare: Tyler Childers, DMB, Train, and Chris Stapleton coming to CHS; three tips to maximize your golf game this summer; “linear-park” connecting Mount Pleasant + more. Subscribe.*

Finance

News flash: Your “high-yield savings” account may not actually be very high-yield at all. This account can grow your money at 11x the national rate without all the hassle. Learn more.*

Outdoors

Travel and Outdoors

Our guide to visiting 7 of the best national parks

Congaree is home to champion trees. | Photo via Wikimedia Commons

Did you know? Congaree National Park has some of the tallest trees in the eastern US and encompasses part of the largest contiguous tract of oldgrowth bottomland hardwood forest.

Getting there

Plug this address into your GPS: 100 National Park Road, Hopkins, SC 29061 — and expect to drive ~2 hours from downtown Charleston.

Hiking

There are ~25 miles of hiking trails in Congaree. But if we had to pick a few trails, here are three you won’t want to miss.

Boardwalk Loop Trail

Difficulty: Easy
Length: 2.6 miles

This trail is wheelchair and stroller accessible. It begins at the Harry Hampton Visitor Center and winds through a hardwood forest lined with trees like bald cypresses, oaks, and maples.

Weston Lake Trail

Difficulty: Moderate
Length: 4.5 miles

If you want views of otters and wading birds at Cedar Creek, this trail is for you.

Ready to get going? Click the button below to read our full guide to Congaree — as well as five more national parks we love.

Explore more

The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Katie Smith

From the editor

Long time no talk, CHS. Katie here — a Managing Editor at 6AM City and a former CHStoday City Editor. It’s been a while since I’ve had the pleasure of writing for the city I love, so I was extremely excited to step in to provide support while our team took some much deserved time off.

I wrote the story of the “mermaid riot” back in 2020 and thought it was so interesting I just had to share it again. Until next time, Charleston.

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