Isle of Palms Magazine Winter 2016-17

The Isle of Palms as we know it today has only been this way for a small blip in

time. Known first as Hunting Island when English settlers met its friendly Sewee

Indian inhabitants, and then as Long Island in the mid-18th century, the island

slowly grew from a virtually unknown hunting and fishing ground to a backdrop

for small but important roles in the Revolutionary and Civil wars. In the past 120

years – a relatively brief period of time in comparison – the island transformed from

a virtually uninhabited haven to a thriving city of more than 4,000 residents and

many successful businesses, and a magnet for beach-goers from around the world.

he vision, hardwork and

passion of the following influen-

tial people and families helped

shape the island into what it is

today:

1. Dr. Joseph s. Lawrence:

Dr. Lawrence began

building a public amusement park on the island in 1897.

He was president of the Charleston Seashore Railway, which

constructed nearly eight miles of tracks and trestles to the

island, giving visitors the opportunity to board a ferry from

Cumberland Street in Charleston to Mount Pleasant, then

travel by trolley and rail to the new hot spot. The park boast-

ed a popular pavilion, a merry-go-round and a restaurant

serving meals for 50 cents. Later, Lawrence built a luxury

hotel, offering visitors the chance to stay in paradise over-

night and drawing people to Charleston for the sole purpose

of visiting Isle of Palms. His development was a great success

in its time, but Dr. Lawrence’s most lasting and influential

contribution was a clever marketing move: He renamed

Long Island to be Isle of Palms to draw more tourists. And

that it did.

2. The soTTiLe FamiLy:

The Sottile name has thrived

on the island quite literally since modern-day people lived

on it. Nicholas Sottile built the first home on the island

at 807 Ocean Blvd. His brother, James, opened another

amusement park on the island. Its famed dance floor,

The Sottile family.

Dr. Joseph S. Lawrence’s grave site.

Photo courtesy of the Sottile family.

Photo by Denise K. James.