History

Photo Credit: charlestondaily.net 2017

Sol Legare Island is an approximately 860 acre island located on the coast of South Carolina on James Island just outside of Charleston. The area took its name from Solomon Legare (1797 – 1878), the antebellum plantation owner. The historic Sol Legare community is a surviving example of a largely African American community in the South Carolina Sea Islands, where most community members are descendants of its African American Freedmen founders.

Seashore Farmer's Lodge No. 767

Google. (n.d.). The Seashore Farmers Lodge: Preserving the past to educate the future - google arts & culture.

The Seashore Farmer’s Lodge No. 767 is located on the corner of Sol Legare and Old Sol Legare Roads, and was a social and economic hub that provided educational, spiritual, and financial opportunities for Sol Legare families in the early twentieth century. This Lodge Hall was very active and helped other Lodges in the Lowcountry provide a variety of services to their community. The Seashore Farmer’s Lodge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2007, and following the listing of the property, the community has worked diligently to restore the lodge, as shown in Figure 2. The Sol Legare Museum is housed within the lodge and curated by Ernest Parks. Each year, the museum presents the history of the 54th Regiment.

Mosquito Beach

Photo credit: charlestoncounty.org/sol-legare-community-plan

Another significant historic community asset is the Mosquito Beach area, located on the southern portion of Sol Legare Road adjacent to Kings Flat Creek. In the early twentieth century, Mosquito Beach was home to an oyster factory; however, the factory closed during the Great Depression. The area quickly transitioned to become a major entertainment and recreational area for African-Americans, as Jim Crow laws prohibited African-Americans from going to “white beaches” and other segregated establishments in the area, and consisted of a beach, hotel, restaurants, and social clubs. The area served as a major to==urist destination throughout the mid-twentieth century.

In September 1989, Hurricane Hugo damaged many of the buildings, resulting in some never re-opening. The businesses in the area have formed the Mosquito Beach Business Association, which is led by Thelma Gilliard, President. Recent efforts led by William “Cubbie” Wilder have begun the process to nominate Mosquito Beach for the National Register of Historic Places, as it has been deemed eligible. Figure 3 exhibits the existing structures in the Mosquito Beach entertainment district area.

Renovated Restaurant Building

Renovated Hotel

Waterfront Cafe

Backman's Seafood

Photo credit: charlestoncounty.org/sol-legare-community-plan

Thomas Backman was the captain of the largest Shrimp trawler in Charleston, SC in 1953. He worked for the Folly River Seafood Company, for which he traveled as far as Mexico. He grew tired of being away from his family for extended periods and decided to venture out on his own. Around 1955 he and his wife Susie purchased their first small trawler and went into business for themselves. By 1960 they had increased their fleet to three. They also decided to build their own dock and market and opened Backman’s Seafoods in 1961. It served the Charleston area with fresh seafood including oysters of which they at one time even sold a large quantity out of the state. Durning this period they became active in the community as the oyster pickers were confronted at gun point while trying to make a living in the rivers around Sol Legare. It required lawsuits to resolve the issues also with Backman’s getting their own leases, making it easier for the men to operate.

Thomas passed on December 25, 1964. Prior to his death he was in negotiation to purchase a boat that was at that time the largest in the Charleston area but not completed. His wife Susie went on to make that purchase and completed the construction of that trawler which traveled as far as Key West Florida to fish. Miss Susie, as she was referred was featured in the November 1965 issue of Ebony magazine (Queen of the Shrimpers). She retired the three small trawlers and went on to purchase more new and larger trawlers with the fleet growing to six boats that traveled the east coast and also traveled as far as Texas. It was at one time the largest and most productive fleet on the east coast that had all black Captains and crew. The business had as many as 30 employees at one point. During this time, she was very active in the politics of the area. The business was very successful throughout the 70’s and 80’s. In the late 80’s the industry started to decline due to reduction in catch, increasing supplies and fuel cost and influx of imported farm raised shrimp. Susie Backman a pillar of the community died on November 8,1990. Her son Thomas continued to operate the business until November 20, 2015, when he passed. The business was closed in 2016. The business still has one remaining trawler, The Backman Enterprises.

Photo credit: charlestoncounty.org/sol-legare-community-plan

Sol-Legare Community Center

The Sol-Legare Community Center, located at 1964 Sol-Legare Road, was once known as Sol-Legare Elementary School, which educated many children in the community from kindergarten to 9th grade. It provided trade and industrialization classes for W. Gresham Meggett High School students who were interested in learning technical skills, as well as providing vocational education. It was also an affordable childcare center for families with low-income.

Sol Legare Community

Credit: Center for Heir's Property Preservation-Documentary

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