Socastee Historic District
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The Socastee Historic District, located on the Intracoastal Waterway in Socastee, South Carolina, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2002.
It comprises a metal swing bridge, two houses, one store and a pecan grove and is one of the few remaining intact examples of post Civil War development.
Map:Courtesy of South Carolina Department of Archives and History
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[edit] Samuel S. Sarvis House
Samuel Sarvis built his house in 1881, shortly before he was to be married.
[edit] Thomas B. Cooper House
The Thomas B. Cooper house was built for Mr. Cooper by Robert M. Prince, Jr. in 1908. The exterior has recently been renovated.
[edit] Thomas B. Cooper Store
The store was built in 1905 and closed in 1932.
[edit] Swing Bridge
The Socastee swing bridge was opened 1936. It is 217 feet in length and 24 feet wide. Originally, the bridge had to be turned by hand and the gatekeeper worked from the house at the top of the bridge. The first operator of the bridge boarded at the Thomas B. Cooper house.
Watch a video of Socastee swing bridge.
The Socastee turn bridge from the time of its construction was the only means other than previousely to ferry across the Intra Coastal waterway. Located on Hwy 544,it was to be closed after approval of a new bridge that was being built on the south of the Socastee bridge. Though the new bridge solved much of the traffic problems associated to the tourist season, it did not help the locals, and would have created many problems to the residents of Socastee,whom required access to Forestbrook Rd, which is located approximatelt 0.2 miles on the right off Hwy 544 west of the Socastee turn bridge. Additionally Peach Tree Rd was located just 0.1 miles to the left off Hwy 544 west of the waterway. It is this reasoning as to why the Socastee turn bridge has been listed as a Historical Landmark, not only for its Historical value, but also for the interest of the locals of which still currently travel across the Socastee turn bridge in their daily commutes.
[edit] Pecan Grove
Old pecan grove near the Thomas B. Cooper store.
[edit] Early Residents
[edit] Samuel S. Sarvis (1843 - 1931)
Samuel S. Sarvis was a confederate veteran and served with the SC 26th Infantry. He was a merchant, store owner and a business partner with Dusenbury & Sarvis. Mr. Sarvis was appointed the postmaster of Socastee in 1896. The post office was in his store which was the norm for small towns in that era.
[edit] Thomas B. Cooper (1863 - 1928)
Thomas B. Cooper was the Socastee postmaster in 1908.
[edit] References
1. Complete text of the request form for National Register of Historic Places (pdf)
2. Old photos from the South Carolina Department of Archives and History
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