32°46′11″N 79°55′49″W / 32.7698°N 79.9304°W
| White Point Garden | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Location | 2 Murray Blvd. |
| Area | 5.7 acres (2.3 ha) |
| Created | 1800s |
| Operated by | City of Charleston |
White Point Garden is a 5.7 acre public park located in pensular Charleston, South Carolina. It is bounded by East Battery (to the east), Murray Blvd. (to the south), King St. (to the west), and South Battery (to the north).
The southern tip of Charleston's peninsula was originally known as Oyster Point and later White Point because of the piles of sun-bleached oyster shells found at the edge of the water. Later, landfill projects resulted in the sharp-edged terminus of the peninsula.[1]
For more than a century, White Point Garden has been a repository of relics and memorials, with a largely military theme.[2]
At the northeast corner is a marker, erected in 1943, to the Gentleman Pirare Stede Bonnet. He are several other 18th century pirates were executed at White Point Garden and buried at unmarked graves nearby.[2]
Placed at irregular intervals around three sides of the perimeter of White Point Garden are several military relics. Along East Battery is a Keukuk gun (an 11 inch cannon) that fired sheels at Ft. Sumter in 1863 and two Confederate columbiads (large cannons) that were used in the defense of Ft. Sumter. On Murray Blvd. there are several more artilery pieces: a rare 7-inch Brooke rifle (a large cannon) that was found at Ft. Johnson and four 13-inch Union mortars (weighing 17,000 pounds each). On the King St. side are a 1918 World War I Howitzer; a French cannon of Revolutionary War vintage that was found in Camden, South Carolina; and a rapid-fire gun from a Spanish ship during the Spanish-American War.[2]
Among the many cannon on display is one fake. In the early 1900s, a 4-pound British cannon thought to be of the colonial era was lodged halfway into the middle of Longitude Alley, supposedly to prevent dray carriages from using the narrow passage. In 1933, the City decided to unearth the cannon and relocate it in White Point Garden at the intersection of a projected Church Street and Murray Blvd. The residents of Longitude Lane were unhappy at the loss of their relic, and demanded its return, but the City was not moved. Meanwhile, a prankster hired a foundry to create a fake cannon of the same era. He aged the cannon by submerging it in water for six months at his dock and then sold it to an antique store in Beaufort, South Carolina. When it was "discovered" there, it was bought by a visitor from the North and brought to Charleston. The buyer offered it to the residents of Longitude Lane to replace their cannon, but they rejected the offer, instead demanding the original cannon. The City, however, believed the cannon to be genuine and acquired it for display too. The cannon fooled many people, but it suffered a telltale anachronism: Because the foundry did not have the tools to fabricate an actual cannon, the foundary instead poured molten metal around a section of cast iron pipe even though cast iron pipe was not used even in large cities until the 19th century.[3] The Longitude Alley cannon stood across the park at the intersection of Church St. and South Battery; it was removed by the City followed vandalism (possibly an attempted theft) and then either lost or stolen. It has not been seen since.[4]
Located across from Meeting Street in the center of the park, a bandstand, begun in 1906 and completed in 1907, is a memorial to Mrs. George W. Williams by her daughter, Mrs. Martha W. Carrington. The bandstand, designed by William Martin Aiken and built by Robert McArtney,[5] cost more than $5,000 when it was built and hosted regular concerts. The new bandstand replaced a dilapidated wood structure.[6] The inuagural concert for the new bandstand was held on June 28, 1907 to celebrate Carolina Day with music by Metz's Military Band.[7] In 1978, in response to neighbors about noise and commerical activity, concerts were outlawed at the bandstand. In 1985, the bandstand received a $30,000 restoration (including $8,000 in private funds), and a request was made to resume musical performances. The request was rejected, and although the bandstand is used for weddings and limited special events, concerts are not allowed.[8] In 1934, the pavilion was raised three feet and restrooms were installed under the structure.[9] Because of law enforcement issues, the bathrooms were locked at some point. In 2008, the City announced a plan to restore the bandstand and lower it to its original height of three instead of six feet.[10]
In 1962, Charleston sculptor Willard Hirsch was commission by Miss Sally Carrington to create a bronze statute of a dancing girl. The statute was a gift to the City and was installed as a water fountain in White Point Gardens on an especially low granite base so that children could make easy use of it.[11]
Among the military relics on display was once the capstan of the U.S.S. Maine. The capstan was salvaged from the Maine when it was raised from the bottom of Havana Harbor, and its parts were meted out to communities all over the country. The capstan was donated to Charleston by Sen. Tillman but sat in the basement of City Hall for several years before being installed in Hampton Park. Later, the capstan was relocated to the U.S. Navy Base and then later to White Point Garden. It was displayed atop a concrete base on the eastern edge of the park.[12] In 2007, the capstan was removed, and a statute of William Moultrie was installed in the same location. The 8-foot statue, atop a 7-foot pedestal, depicts a uniformed Moultrie, sword in sheath, holding his hat at his side as he appears to survey Charleston Harbor. It was sculpted by John Ney Michel.[13]
At the southeastern corner of White Point Garden is a large statute dedicated to the Defenders of Fort Sumter. The statute is 25 feet tall and was unveiled in 1932. It was sculpted by Herman A. MacNeil.[2]
Near the southwest corner of the park is a memorial to the crew of the U.S.S. Amberjack, a submarine that was sunk during World War II, and 51 other American subs lost during the conflict.[2]
Also located near the southwest corner of the park is the 20-foot tall, granite Hobson Monument. On April 26, 1952, the U.S. destroyer Hobson was cut in half and sunk after being in a collision with the American aircraft carrier Wasp. The stones used in the platform come from the 38 home states of the 176 sailors who died. The Hobson had been built at the Charleston Navy Yard.[14]
At the meeting of Meeting St. and South Battery is a memorial to the crew of the C.S.S. Hunley. Added in 1899, the granite monument recognizes the first successful submarine, the Hunley, which eventually sank in Charleston Harbor following a successful attack on the Housatonic.[2]
Along the center walkway in the park, half way between Church and Meeting, is a bust of William Gilmore Simms, a laywer, historian, and author whose history of South Carolina served as the definitive textbook on state history for much of the 20th century. The marker was added in 1879.[2]
Along the center walkway in line with Church St. is the Ft. Moultrie Monument. It is often called the Sgt. Jasper Monument since it shows a statute of Sgt. Jasper, a hero of the Revolutionary battle won by the colonists at Ft. Moultire on June 28, 1776. The memorial was added in 1877.[2]