Memories of Cain Simmons, nephew of Master Iron smith Philip Simmons, are now part of the Cainhoy Collective Oral History Collection…A DIHS project pursued win partnership with the College of Charleston and others.
We also want to thank Carolina One for providing a conference room where intern/researcher Riley Conover could record Mr. Simmons’ reminiscences.
Here are a few of the memories Cain Simmons shared with Riley: “Born in 1948, He is the youngest of 13 kids. He attended Slinger elementary school and later Cainhoy elementary and high. His mom grew up right off Clements ferry road, and his Dad grew up on Daniel Island, and worked on the fertilizer mill.
Growing up he would go swimming in the creek for fun, play baseball, and play with his cousins. As the baseball game would play on Sunday he has fond memories of getting a Pepsi cola and peanuts to watch the game — that was a treat.
Christmas & 4th of July were the two main holidays he remembers the most. Christmas was his favorite because all of his cousins and aunts and uncles would gather together, and he too remembers going around to houses to collect cake, nuts, and soda from neighbors.
His uncle had 8 or 9 kids that lived nearby, so they would have family picnics in the summer.
He left the area to go to NY when he was 19 because all of his friends and his older siblings would leave after finishing high school. After NY, he joined the Marine corps and later returned back to SC in 1980 because he missed the warmer climate. He worked at the Berkeley county sheriff department for a little and then sold cars before a spinal cord injury forced him to retire.”
Please join us! For more information in the meantime
THE CAINHOY COLLECTIVE: ORAL HISTORIES OF LIFE ON THE CAINHOY PENINSULA
We’ve also received coverage from local newspapers…..