Looking at how some West Ashley streets got their name
Ever wondered how the streets and neighborhoods of St. Andrew’s Parish got their names? The stories behind some of the names are well known, for instance the streets in Byrnes Downs were named for various governors of South Carolina. Colleton (James Colleton 1686-1690), Campbell (Lord William Campbell, 1773-1775), and Sothel (Seth Sothel 1690-1692) are a few examples of the names and their origins. The neighborhood itself was named for James F. Byrnes, a man who played a prominent role not only in South Carolina history but also United States history.
The Crescent’s name was derived from a unique topographical feature of the land on which the neighborhood was laid out. There was a crescent shape created by land along the Wappoo Cut that is no longer discernible. The construction of the Wappoo Cut Bridge modified this landmark.
Air Harbor used to be an airport and the streets now have names like Piper, Boeing and Cessna.
It was recounted to me that Leon Steinberg developed the neighborhood adjacent to the Synagogue Emanu-El Maryville Cemetery on Sycamore Road and thus Anita Drive was named for his wife and Paula Drive was named for his daughter.
Bill Ackerman developed South Windermere and had a fondness for history, thus the streets have names like Lord Ashley, Sheridan and Chadwick.
Harrison Acres was named for Joseph Morgan Harrison who owned and farmed this land before selling it for development. Dolmane Street, in Harrison Acres, was supposed to be Dolmame after his second wife Maime and her sister, Dolly. A slip of the pen and the name was erroneously recorded as Dolmane.
Farmfield was the name of the Ravenel property that would later be developed into the neighborhood bearing the same name.
Coburg Road leads to the property that once housed Coburg Dairy.
“In the Beginning of Northbridge Terrace … Reflections by Betty Parks” is the title of a short history of the Northbridge area prepared by Betty in October of 2000. She recalls that Sharon Avenue was named for Joan and Dick McDonald’s daughter, Weston Avenue was named for Julian Weston, a gentleman who worked for Charleston Public Works, and Somerset, Chelwood, Dumbarton, and Dartmoor Circle were named for golf courses in England.
Raoul Wallenberg Boulevard is the location of the Jewish Community Center that moved to this location from Peninsular Charleston in the early 1960s. The street was originally named Millbrook Drive and was changed in March of 1982 to commemorate Mr. Wallenberg. Mr. Wallenberg, a man of Swedish descent, has been recognized for his humanitarian efforts to rescue thousands of Jews from Nazi-occupied Hungary during World War II.
The story about the Dream Castle or the “House that Radio Built” was the subject of a 2013 West Ashley Flashback. One twist to the story…..according to the October 13, 1940 ad in The News and Courier about the Dream Castle, Linda and Dan (fictitious couple from the radio show that focused on them building their “Dream Castle” home in Avondale) had selected a lot on Live Oak Avenue in the beautiful new development of Avondale on the Ashley for their Dream Castle. Just one problem, there is not a street by that name in Avondale. In November of 1940, WTMA ran a contest with $20 in prizes to name the street running parallel to Avondale Avenue in Avondale on the Ashley. Four winners were named. Miss Mary Eileen Leonard submitted the winning suggestion of Lindondale. The second prize was awarded to the submission suggested “Ashale” (is this a misprint and meant to be Ashdale?). The third prize suggestion was Rosedale. The fourth prize of $5 went to Herman B. Speissegger, Jr. of Wappoo Heights who suggested that all the street names in Avondale end in “dale”. So maybe Live Oak became Oakdale because indeed Lindendale (not Lindondale – maybe another recording error??) parallels Avondale and there are streets named Rosedale and Ashdale in Avondale today.
In addition, the street known as Peek’s Pike (a bit of history humor and wordplay) was named for I D Peek, one of the developers of Avondale.
Maylen Road in Carolina Terrace is named for Mary Allen Boykin Ravenel, the wife of Arthur Ravenel who once owned the land that the homes of Carolina Terrace were built on.
Guillelmine Elizabeth Pinckney Harrison Rogers may have been somewhat of an entrepreneur. She inherited her husband’s land after his death in 1925 and in 1932 she submitted a “Plan of a Portion of Stono Park” to be recorded with the Register of Mesne Conveyance. Interestingly, all the streets were named for extended family members: Pinckney for her family, Pearlott for Pearl and Ott, Opal for her son’s wife, Sally for her daughter, Harrison for her husband, and Randolph Park for her husband.
Savannah Highway, one of the major arteries of West Ashley has gone by several names: The Public Road, Highway 17 South, and Shell Road.
The stretch of S.C. Highway 7 that connects the North Bridge of the Ashley River with US 17 was named for Sam Rittenberg, a local son who had a distinguished career in the SC legislature. His influence on this area will be elaborated on in a future article.
In 1963 the county initiated an effort to eliminate duplicate street names because of the confusion created when responding to emergencies and to improve postal delivery. According to an article in the Jan. 16, 1963 issue of the West Ashley Journal, a local newspaper that published during the early 1960s from an office on Daniel Street, 25 streets in West Ashley would receive new names. Committees in the individual neighborhoods chose some of the names and the residents living on the street submitted some. Wappoo Heights Civic Club recommended their name changes for approval and thus Azalea Drive became Formosa because Formosa is a type of azalea. All the streets in Maryville/Ashleyville received new names except for 5th Avenue, reportedly the oldest named street in the state. East Bay Street along the Ashley River in Maryville became Bender and Seventh Avenue became Gunn Avenue. A resident of Lee Street in South Windermere came up with Notlee Place out of frustration that it was “Not Lee” street any more.
These are just a few of the stories behind street names in West Ashley.
If you have an interesting story about a street or neighborhood name, contact Donna Jacobs at westashleybook@gmail.com.
