Scanlonville Cornerstone

On February 17, 2022, at the request of the Scanlonville community, an archaeological excavation was performed by Cultural Heritage Management International. The excavation successfully relocated a historic monument. This monument, as seen on the original 1870 plat labeled “cornerstone,” was moved to the Charleston Museum. The monument is a hollow cuboid column with a marble plaque inscribed "SCANLONVILLE, FEBRUARY 14TH, 1870”. A replica was made by Roger Major, Jr., a local brick mason, and with the help of local land surveyors, to ensure the accurate placement of the replica in the correct location, preserving the historical significance. The excavation yielded 233 artifacts spanning different historic periods, revealing insights into Colonial British occupation, the Prince family farmstead, and 20th-century uses by the College of Charleston. Despite the absence of Native American artifacts, the site's historical context, dating back to Native American groups, highlights Scanlonville's rich evolution. Scanlonville was one of the first African American communities formed in the Charleston area after the Civil War, designed and platted into half-acre town lots and two-acre farm lots. Established in 1870 by John Louis Scanlan (Scanlon); a former enslaved person and later a Freedman carpenter, along with 62 other Freedmen formed with the Charleston Land Company, and purchased the 614-acre property, formerly known as Remley Plantation. Scanlonville thrived through the 20th century. Some well-known spots in the community included Riverside Beach, White’s Paradise, Hunk’s Store, Chitter Chatter, Ms. Gussy and Jim Plu’s Store, Pinckney Airfield, and the Historic Scanlonville Cemetery. The community has changed with the addition of new subdivisions but has maintained its historic character. The monument's relocation signifies the community's resilience and ongoing commitment to preserving Scanlonville's history for future generations.