Cotesworth Pinckney Means was a man of grand pedigree. His ancestors played important roles in shaping not only the history of Charleston but of the nation. This heritage must have influenced Means, for he was known in the Greater Charleston community as “the father of the State Ports Authority.”
During Means’ tenure as state senator (1935-1943), he sponsored a survey of the Port of Charleston. This survey resulted in the establishment of the South Carolina State Ports Authority. Means served as an original member, chairman, and its first general manager. Shipping and world trade were life long passions and he poured them into Charleston’s port.
In addition, Means might be what one would call a “Renaissance Man” for his interests ranged from handball to politics to choir vocals.
His career and accomplishments at the Ports Authority are well documented. What’s not so well documented is Means’ involvement with early developments in St. Andrew’s Parish. According to a 1984 News and Courier article on Avondale, the West Charleston Corporation, owned by Means and I.D. Peek, purchased farmland from Henry H. Ficken in 1939. The land was subdivided for single-family residents and in 1940 advertisements began running for lots in “Avondale on the Ashley.” The story is told that the name Avondale was chosen by Means to reflect his admiration for Shakespeare whose home was located at Stratford-on-Avon.
World War II hindered the build out of Avondale, for construction materials were at a premium unless homes had been designated as war housing. However, the war presented a different opportunity for Means. According to family history he “donated” land that he owned along the Ashley River to the Army for the purpose of housing prisoners of war with the understanding that the land would return to him upon the war’s end. The camp was established on land that is now accessed by Colony Drive. Today a chimney remains from the “club house” as a testament to this period of St. Andrew’s Parish’s history.
In February-March of 1952, Hilliard B. Good (Registered Engineer & Land Surveyor SC#868) performed a survey of a tract of land along the west bank of the Ashley River for Means. On the plat, Good described the land as “the highland portion of a tract of land, the former prisoner of war ‘camp’ situated on S.C. Rt 61 in St. Andrew’s Parish, Charleston County, SC, the property of the West Charleston Corporation.”
The plat clearly outlines the details of the highland including the few remaining structures from the time when it served as a P.O.W. camp. By now Means’ interest had shifted to the Port of Charleston, but he was thinking about development on land that he used as a retreat from the hustle and bustle of the peninsula.
Colony Court was designed on this tract of land with 700 feet of business frontage along SC 61. A brochure advertising the development described the property as the site of the former Weimar plantation. It included a plat of the development, photographs of the high bluff decorated with massive oak trees, homes typical of the development, and the business frontage, which included the Shell service station, and an enticing description of the conveniences of the area. The suburban development of St. Andrew’s Parish was in full swing.
 
Stories? Memories? Contact Donna at westashleybook@gmail.com

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