Remember when... (Charleston, Folly Beach, Bowman: house, movie theater, high schools)

[jetsfan16]

I am not that old, but I remember when the Charleston area was a lot smaller than it is today, and so many people have moved in here from other parts of the country.

I have lots of memories about how different this area was even ten years ago.

Here are some of my memories:

- The only way to get off Johns Island was by drawbridge
- Park West was just a dream in some developer's mind
- Montgomery Ward department store in Charles Towne Square mall (now closed)
- Only a few sit-down restaurants on James Island (Athens, Dragon Gate, a couple others)
- The humongous backup (several miles) that would go up the North Bridge going to the Naval Base (now closed)
- Channel 2 was in an old quonset hut building on Coleman Blvd (that would leak with 1/2 inch of rain, and you could hear water on the roof during the news)
- Channel 2 was ABC, Channel 4 NBC.
- The Earth Fare at South Windermere was a Piggly Wiggly
- Daniel Island was owned by the Guggenheims, and there was a big gate where Bishop England is now
- When the Holiday Festival of Lights was $5/car, and started with 18 displays
- The only hospitals were downtown
- St. John's Island Cafe where the Fat Hen is now
- Glenn McConnell ending at Magwood
- The only way to get to California Dreaming and the marina was down Albemarle Rd.

My family remembers when Mt. Pleasant literally ended after 17 intersected with Bowman Rd, and when there were 2 high schools on James Island, Fort Johnson and James Island (stayed that way through '83)

What do you remember about Charleston years ago?

[SCBeaches]

* Most of Folly Rd. was still wooded and/or farmland

* Atlantic House Restaurant on Folly Beach (best crab-stuffed flounder around)

* Doscher's Grocery Store on Maybank Hwy.

* Koger's Hardware/General Store on River Rd., Johns Island

* The only way on or off Johns Island was by drawbridge...there were times when both were down for repairs or one was broken and the other was closed due to an accident, so we couldn't get off of Johns Island for hours.
(There were 3 of us who taught together, who all lived on Johns Island and, after several times of not being able to get to school due to bridges being open for barges, accidents, or malfunctioning, our principal threatened to get us a boat to come across on, then leave an old car on the other side to transport us to school. We were all for it, but it never happened.)

[Luvsdabeach]

I don't think there is enough room on this board for me to type what I remember.....so many things.

-Pinehaven Shopping Center and the movie theater behind it. (Across from the old Navy hospital)
-The 3 drive-in theaters we used to have.
-Rivers Ave was a booming area.
-The old pool room and Windjammer before hurricane Hugo took them down.
-Old stores....JMFields, Sam Solomans, Kerrisons, & Woolworth.
-I-526 being built. (I drove on it before anyone was allowed. )
-When the Coastal Carolina Fair was held on Dorchester Rd..
-Dance clubs....Streamer's, Xanadu, No Name Cafe, Player's, & Kangaroo.

I'll stop for now.....lol

[SCBeaches]

Aaaaahhhhh, yes, the old Windjammer! Fun times...played many beach volleyball games there.

Myskins and Cafe 99 - my 2 favorite downtown hangouts back in my 20's.

[OleTomCat]

I used to moonlight as a bouncer at some of the strip clubs on Dorchester.

Everyone remembers the Duchman/Duchess before it moved over to sprull ave.

What was the name of that dance club on Montague, it's now a sports bar, I met my first wife there.

Some friends of mine and I used to take our hopped up mustangs over to the MP side of 526 before it was finished and race on the brand new concrete deck, clocked in at 145 up there.

I remember that movie theatre, the cop that moonlighted there was a friend of mine, he is the one that clocked me at 145, and the manager was a big time car buff.

[Luvsdabeach]

I loved playing beach volleyball at the old Windjammer.

Also remember Myskins and Cafe 99.

I remember the "Flying Dutchman". It changed it's name but I can't remember what it changed to.

Hmmm I don't remember a dance club on Montague. Xanadu used to be on the corner of Dorchester and Montague.

So I'm not the only one who had a little fun on 526. lol

[SCBeaches]

Jukebox down by Waterfront Park and.....shoot, what was the name of the huge line dancing/country place on Rivers Ave. (it backed up to 26)? For awhile (90's) that was THE THING to do - line dancing. I don't exactly like country music or line dancing, but used to get talked into going with a group of friends and actually got pretty good at it. Do any of you remember the name of that place...it's right on the tip of my tongue!?

[Luvsdabeach]

Jukebox used to be called No Name Cafe.

Desperato was the country place. It was in the old Sam Solomon building. lol I went there once but I'm not a fan of country music.

[SCBeaches]

Thanks...yes, that's it - Desperado's. I'm not a fan of country music either.

Another memory - There used to be a good French restaurant on King St. called Marianne's...my ex and I used to like going there.

[OleTomCat]

This place is still there it is right there where International meets Montague, I can't remember the name of it, but they got sued for the name and after that it went down hill from there.

It was a small dance club, nothing like DesperateHos, I mean Desperados.