The Ashley River & Other National Historic Regions
Parts I & II – March 22nd and May 2nd
Timrod Library 2018 Guest Speaker
“Summerville is very much the product of the Ashley River, as plantations once lined its banks and the town takes its name from its use by those planters. In recent years the river region has been the scene of major conflicts over its future, and its fate is by no means decided as growth and change continue to come its way. This region, however, is not alone, for historic and scenic areas across the nation, such as those around Mount Vernon, Monticello, Civil War battlefields, and even prehistoric Native American sites, are also facing change. In his presentation, George McDaniel will discuss the Ashley River and place it within this national context of change.
“A resident of Summerville, McDaniel has devoted much of his time and energy to preservation and growth management in the Ashley River region. He helped the campaign to designate the Ashley River a State Scenic River and the formation of the Ashley Scenic River Advisory Council, of which he is now chairman. In 2015 he received the South Carolina Environmental Awareness Award and in 2016 the S.C. Governor’s Award for Historic Preservation, the first person in the state to win the leadership awards in both fields.” —from the Summerville Journal Scene
My first presentation on the conservation of the Ashley River region covered the period of the 1990’s and included the work of other national historic sites, like Mt. Vernon and Monticello. It was well received and I was invited to present a second time, to discuss the progress made in more recent years, which has been significant. A key message in both of my presentations was that conservation doesn’t just happen—that people must step up in order to have the future that they want for themselves and their communities.
Friends and neighbors gather at Timrod–it was great to be with allies and mentors in conservation, and with many younger advocates, too.
Terrific turnout! SRO for this important topic to our community.
On the National Register of Historic Places, the Timrod Library is dedicated to contributing to the quality of life in Summerville by providing the community a variety of print, audio, and video materials, by hosting a series of lectures, events, and programs, including the annual Shrimp Boil and the Children’s Story Hour, and by preserving the historic building in which the collection is housed. Image from http://bit.ly/DiscoverTimrod
George W. McDaniel, Ph.D., is President of McDaniel Consulting, LLC, a strategy firm that helps organizations use history to build bridges within itself and to its broader constituents. The company’s tag line, “Building Bridges through History,” is grounded in McDaniel’s personal beliefs and his experience in site management, preservation, education, board development, fundraising, and community outreach. Rather than using history to divide us, he strives to help organizations use history, especially local history, to enhance cross-cultural understanding and to support local museums, preservation, and education. Dr. McDaniel recently led volunteer efforts with Emanuel AME Church and historical organizations in Charleston to use historic preservation to enhance racial reconciliation and healing. McDaniel is also the Executive Director Emeritus of Drayton Hall, a historic site in Charleston, SC, owned by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
A frequent writer, speaker, and facilitator about such issues, he can be reached at gmcdaniel4444@gmail.com or through his website at www.mcdanielconsulting.net.
Header Image: The Ashley River seen from Drayton Hall historic site. Photo credit: Kellie Thorne, National Scenic Byways
Other images courtesy of the author unless otherwise noted.
McDaniel Consulting LLC is a strategy firm that helps organizations use history to build bridges within itself and its broader constituents.