Documenting the History of West Ashley

In 1670, the English ship Carolina brought colonists to the west bank of the Ashley River. These settlers and their descendants built a flourishing plantation life in what became St. Andrew’s Parish, which is modern day West Ashley. The Civil War devastated the plantation society, and the glory years of St. Andrew’s Parish waned until 1889, when construction of a new toll bridge improved access to West Ashley. Many of the original families who built homes, churches, schools, and businesses still live in the community today—a testament to the continued vitality and livability of St. Andrew’s Parish, West Ashley.
Author and West Of columnist Donna F. Jacobs moved to Charleston in 1974 to attend the College of Charleston. She has been active in the Byrnes Downs Neighborhood Association since its inception, and through her involvement in the association, she was introduced to the scrapbook produced by the original Garden Club.
West Ashley, part of Arcadia Publishing’s Images of America series, was a natural progression as Jacobs has found that the area’s modern history is rich with stories. She has also published an Images of America book on Byrnes Downs. Additionally, Jacobs writes the bi-weekly West Ashley Flashback column for West Of.
Jacobs will be signing copies of her books this Saturday, June 15 at Costco. In addition to Jacobs, fellow local authors Margie Willis Clary and Kim McDermot will also be on hand to sign copies of their book South Carolina Lighthouses, which is also part of Arcadia’s Images of America Series.
Jacobs will sign copies of her book from noon until 3 p.m. on Saturday, June 15 at Costco is located 3050 Ashley Town Center. For more information visit www.arcadiapublishing.com.