Our Lost Heritage

The year is 1938 and work begins on the Santee-Cooper New Deal-era project which will unify the Santee and Cooper River systems into a single hydrological drainage entity, and generate a long-sought water route from Columbia to Charleston. To this end, up to 16,000 workers will build 42 miles of dams, dikes, and the highest single-lift lock in the world, before flooding the St. John’s Parish to create Lake Moultrie and Lake Marion.

Upon completion, Santee-Cooper first generated electricity on February 17, 1942, and life began to improve for people throughout the area. Today, Santee Cooper is the largest power producer in South Carolina, and its two “Great Lakes” are known nationally as boating, fishing and recreation treasures. Generally speaking, the Santee Cooper Power and Navigation Project is considered to be a great success story!

Now, for the rest of the story . . .

Please join the Daniel Island Historical Society on September 20 as we welcome the eminent field biologist, Dr. Richard Porcher who will share his passionate story of the cultural history of the peoples and plantations of St. John’s Basin, Berkeley County. Porcher’s address will preview his soon to be published seventh book, Our Lost Heritage.

* 6:30 p.m. Reception, DIHS Members and Guest Speaker

Our guest speaker: Dr. Richard Porcher