Scanlonville

Was Scanlonville always its name? No. In 1868, a freed slave named Robert Scanlon, a skilled carpenter, purchased the vast 614-acre Remley Plantation. This land, bordering Charleston Harbor and the Wando River, became the heart of Scanlonville. Scanlon, a visionary, established the Charleston Land Company. This company offered other formerly enslaved men a chance to own land. They could buy shares for $10, a significant sum at the time, granting them access to large tracts of land. By 1870, Scanlonville blossomed. Former slaves acquired farm lots or town lots, building a thriving community rooted in hard work and the promise of a new beginning. Scanlonville wasn’t just a place to live; it was a symbol of self-sufficiency and resilience. A store, a church, and a school served the community’s needs. Early homes, often simple 20-foot square wooden structures with dirt floors, reflected the residents’ humble beginnings. Cotton fields, worked entirely by hand due to the cost of mules and plows, stretched across the farm lots. This community, built from nothing, stood as a testament to the spirit of its people. The kinship network within Scanlonville was strong. Neighbors helped each other build homes, sharing resources and knowledge. Teachers, coaches, and counselors guided the younger generation. Shared books and magazines became valuable educational tools. Even fences were rare, existing mainly to contain livestock. A simple greeting was expected when crossing a neighbor’s yard, a sign of respect and community. The story of Scanlonville is also the story of Riverside Beach. This “Blacks only” beach offered recreation for Scanlonville residents and city dwellers alike. Featuring a bathhouse, boardwalk, playground, and a dance pavilion, it hosted musical legends like Count Basie, Duke Ellington, and Louis Armstrong. The vibrant music scene even spilled over into Scanlonville, giving rise to juke joints and the White’s Paradise Hotel, frequented by James Brown himself. Scanlonville also holds Remley Point Cemetery, a sacred place where generations are buried. Unmarked graves, adorned with natural markers like bushes, trees, shells, and pottery, hold stories of lives lived and legacies remembered. Scanlonville stands today as a living testament to its founders’ vision. From a former plantation, it grew into a vibrant, self-reliant community. A place where freedom took root and blossomed in the soil of hope. This is Scanlonville, a story etched in resilience, community, and the enduring pursuit of a better life.