What They Don't Want You to Know About Summerville
by Nancyjean Nettles
There are people who don't want to see this article published. Of course, knowing this made my adrenalin start zipping about at double-speed to every cell in my body. It's a writer's job to expose - uncover. Even if - especially if - those in power are apprehensive about it. Therefore, as a journalist dedicated to disclosing the truth, I must reveal that the Town of Summerville is a remarkable and wonderful place to live.
Now, that may not sound too horrifying to you, but to the people who have moved to Summerville and love it just the way it is without inviting the rest of the world to join them, that is a depressing statement. It took more than 100 years after the Town's incorporation in 1847 for the population to double, but in the two decades beginning in the early 1970s, it has doubled twice. "Just tell them it's a sleepy little town," begs the transplants from Ohio and Michigan. "We don't need anybody else here." And yet, these are the very same people who, with clear pride in their voices, invite visitors to discover the unique qualities about Summerville that convinced them to become permanent residents.
Summerville boasts 700 local building on the National Historic Register. Once an escape for plantation-owners fleeing, heat, mosquitoes and a yellow fever epidemic before the Civil War, Summerville has become a different kind of escape - from the world of surliness and impersonal living.
Almost an anachronism, Summerville is the unusual combination of an historic town with its first settlers arriving in the 1600s, blended with up-to-date shopping and dining, and a genuinely welcoming atmosphere. Add the fact that the Summerville school district (Dorchester County II) has the highest overall rating in the Lowcountry and the reasons for families gravitating to the Town become more apparent. But the attraction of Summerville is much more than appropriate demographics and its proximity to downtown Charleston. Hundreds of people in Summerville have described the real community spirit in Summerville as the reason that they have made it "home." It feels different from other places and has been adopted as the hometown many have always wanted, but weren't lucky enough to have. It's a place with an intentionally personal approach, with the Mayor and Town Council voting in 1994 for Summerville to be the Town of Summerville, no matter what its size.
Imagine a town with the "winningest" football coach in America, where the tradition of Friday night football is such that reserved seats for the games are purchased as five-year packages. (The Summerville High School football team the "Green Wave" is consistently one of the best teams in the state lead by coach, John McKissick, to 530 wins, 127 losses, and 13 tie games.) Thousands turn out for the Annual Christmas Tree lighting ceremony, and in steamy heat for the old-fashioned Fourth of July celebration on Town Square. Imagine a community where 50 unique scarecrows, created by school children and businesses, populate Town Square in the fall each year, remaining appreciated and un-vandalized for two weeks before Halloween... where you find the AAA Five Diamond-ranked Woodlands Resort Dining Room and tiny, quaint Guerin's Pharmacy's old-fashioned soda fountain with real malted milkshakes and fresh-squeezed lemonade... where 3,000 volunteers juggled their work schedules to be a part of creating a one-acre community playground that rose from cleared land to finished product in just six days. These "imaginations" are real, and are just a few of the examples indicative of Summerville's unique appeal.
In a town of less than 33,000, it seems amazing to find the range of interests and activities available in Summerville, from a wide selection of area golf courses to the Flowertown Players live theatre productions, now in their 33rd year (flowertownplayers.org). Both sports and arts of all kinds thrive, as witnessed by the Summerville Soccer Club, Sertoma football, girls softball, Dixie Youth baseball, the Summerville Artist Guild, Writers Guild, Music Club and Summerville Community Orchestra. (Don't miss the orchestra's performance at the annual Taste of the Town in November.) The annual springtime Flowertown Festival is an arts and crafts extravaganza, with reports of 200,000 attendees each year. Another popular event, Sculpture in the South is held the weekend in May before Spoleto Festival USA (Charleston), attracts nationally and internationally known sculptors to Summerville. Event proceeds, along with donations from the community, purchase permanent outdoor sculpture for installation on Summerville's public lands. Since 1999, 18 life-size or larger bronzes have been installed in locations to allow and even encourage touching the sculptures, in hopes that exposure to the five children of Follow the Leader, or the very realistic yellow Labrador retriever, Toby beside the park bench, will ignite a latent artistic talent possessed by so few.
So whether it's the historic downtown or the best schools in South Carolina, public art and sculpture, music and cuisine that intrigues you, Summerville is well worth a visit. You'll have little problem finding a small cottage or a $800,000 estate. Residents will eventually forgive you if you decide to make Summerville your home, as long as you let them know you love it as much as they do. Just remember that this is a town that won't let you be "invisible." For that, you'll have to move to Atlanta.
Search for Summerville events and festivals in our events calendar.
Find Charleston area real estate professionals who can help you find and buy a full time Charleston residence, vacation home or condo.
Peninsula Grill has been likened to the cosmopolitan supper clubs of the first half of the 20th century. Haute cuisine and high spirits. Steaks and chops, fish and oysters, champagne and lobster. And proper cocktails, served with style each evening by chef/partner Robert Carter and staff. The atmosphere is sophisticated and clubby, not formal. One of only two Mobil four-star restaurants in the state. At Planters Inn...stay for the night.
Hyman's Seafood is a must. Located in historic Charleston. Fresh local seafood, award winning She Crab Soup, great wine at supermarket prices and fast friendly service. NY Times: "Great Southern cuisine with impeccable service." Travel and Leisure: "One of the more fascinating eating establishments in our trip through the Southeast." Serving Charleston for over 115 years with a fresh oyster bar, fun, casual atmosphere and huge portions.
Tour Charleston Harbor on The Schooner Pride, a classic 84 foot tall ship. Considered one of the top five things to do in Charleston. Escape the crowded streets and heat of downtown Charleston for an exhilarating sails or romantic sunset sail. Take in the Holy City the way it was meant to be seen, from the peaceful waters of Charleston Harbor. Mingle with dolphins, pelicans and gulls. Two hour tours, daily.
There are people who don't want to see this article published. Of course, knowing this made my adrenalin start zipping about at double-speed to every cell in my body. It's a writer's job to expose - uncover. Even if - especially if - those in power are apprehensive about it. Therefore, as a journalist dedicated to disclosing the truth, I must reveal that the Town of Summerville is a remarkable and wonderful place to live. 
have moved to Summerville and love it just the way it is without inviting the rest of the world to join them, that is a depressing statement. It took more than 100 years after the Town's incorporation in 1847 for the population to double, but in the two decades beginning in the early 1970s, it has doubled twice. "Just tell them it's a sleepy little town," begs the transplants from Ohio and Michigan. "We don't need anybody else here." And yet, these are the very same people who, with clear pride in their voices, invite visitors to discover the unique qualities about Summerville that convinced them to become permanent residents. 
Almost an anachronism, Summerville is the unusual combination of an historic town with its first settlers arriving in the 1600s, blended with up-to-date shopping and dining, and a genuinely welcoming atmosphere. Add the fact that the Summerville school district (Dorchester County II) has the highest overall rating in the Lowcountry and the reasons for families gravitating to the Town become more apparent. But the attraction of Summerville is much more than appropriate demographics and its proximity to downtown Charleston. Hundreds of people in Summerville have described the real community spirit in Summerville as the reason that they have made it "home." It feels different from other places and has been adopted as the hometown many have always wanted, but weren't lucky enough to have. It's a place with an intentionally personal approach, with the Mayor and Town Council voting in 1994 for Summerville to be the Town of Summerville, no matter what its size. 
Imagine a town with the "winningest" football coach in America, where the tradition of Friday night football is such that reserved seats for the games are purchased as five-year packages. (The Summerville High School football team the "Green Wave" is consistently one of the best teams in the state lead by coach, John McKissick, to 530 wins, 127 losses, and 13 tie games.) Thousands turn out for the Annual Christmas Tree lighting ceremony, and in steamy heat for the old-fashioned Fourth of July celebration on Town Square. Imagine a community where 50 unique scarecrows, created by school children and businesses, populate Town Square in the fall each year, remaining appreciated and un-vandalized for two weeks before Halloween... where you find the AAA Five Diamond-ranked Woodlands Resort Dining Room and tiny, quaint Guerin's Pharmacy's old-fashioned soda fountain with real malted milkshakes and fresh-squeezed lemonade... where 3,000 volunteers juggled their work schedules to be a part of creating a one-acre community playground that rose from cleared land to finished product in just six days. These "imaginations" are real, and are just a few of the examples indicative of Summerville's unique appeal. 
In a town of less than 33,000, it seems amazing to find the range of interests and activities available in Summerville, from a wide selection of area golf courses to the Flowertown Players live theatre productions, now in their 33rd year (flowertownplayers.org). Both sports and arts of all kinds thrive, as witnessed by the Summerville Soccer Club, Sertoma football, girls softball, Dixie Youth baseball, the Summerville Artist Guild, Writers Guild, Music Club and Summerville Community Orchestra. (Don't miss the orchestra's performance at the annual Taste of the Town in November.) The annual springtime Flowertown Festival is an arts and crafts extravaganza, with reports of 200,000 attendees each year. Another popular event, Sculpture in the South is held the weekend in May before Spoleto Festival USA (Charleston), attracts nationally and internationally known sculptors to Summerville. Event proceeds, along with donations from the community, purchase permanent outdoor sculpture for installation on Summerville's public lands. Since 1999, 18 life-size or larger bronzes have been installed in locations to allow and even encourage touching the sculptures, in hopes that exposure to the five children of Follow the Leader, or the very realistic yellow Labrador retriever, Toby beside the park bench, will ignite a latent artistic talent possessed by so few. 
So whether it's the historic downtown or the best schools in South Carolina, public art and sculpture, music and cuisine that intrigues you, Summerville is well worth a visit. You'll have little problem finding a small cottage or a $800,000 estate. Residents will eventually forgive you if you decide to make Summerville your home, as long as you let them know you love it as much as they do. Just remember that this is a town that won't let you be "invisible." For that, you'll have to move to Atlanta.
Peninsula Grill has been likened to the cosmopolitan supper clubs of the first half of the 20th century. Haute cuisine and high spirits. Steaks and chops, fish and oysters, champagne and lobster. And proper cocktails, served with style each evening by chef/partner Robert Carter and staff. The atmosphere is sophisticated and clubby, not formal. One of only two Mobil four-star restaurants in the state. At Planters Inn...stay for the night.
Hyman's Seafood is a must. Located in historic Charleston. Fresh local seafood, award winning She Crab Soup, great wine at supermarket prices and fast friendly service. NY Times: "Great Southern cuisine with impeccable service." Travel and Leisure: "One of the more fascinating eating establishments in our trip through the Southeast." Serving Charleston for over 115 years with a fresh oyster bar, fun, casual atmosphere and huge portions.
Tour Charleston Harbor on The Schooner Pride, a classic 84 foot tall ship. Considered one of the top five things to do in Charleston. Escape the crowded streets and heat of downtown Charleston for an exhilarating sails or romantic sunset sail. Take in the Holy City the way it was meant to be seen, from the peaceful waters of Charleston Harbor. Mingle with dolphins, pelicans and gulls. Two hour tours, daily.
