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New Historical Marker Placed On St. James Avenue

Pictured: Goose Creek Tea Ladies and Mayor Michael Heitzler
Pictured: Goose Creek Tea Ladies, Pit Stop Service Center owner Dave Christensen and Mayor Michael Heitzler

GOOSE CREEK, S.C.–The City of Goose Creek’s newest historical marker, which commemorates the 18-Mile House Tavern, has been placed at 137 St. James Avenue.

Goose Creek Mayor Michael Heitzler joined Pit Stop Service Center owner Dave Christensen and members of the Goose Creek Tea Ladies on Tuesday, Aug. 30 to celebrate the marker.

The marker was made possible thanks to donations from Mr. Christensen and the Tea Ladies.

The 18-Mile House Tavern was a historically significant meeting point where the State Road from Charleston and the Road to Dorchester intersected.

Pictured: Michael Heitzler
Pictured: Michael Heitzler

Travelers from Charleston would have crossed Goose Creek, two miles south, before reaching this point.

By the early 18th century, a tavern complex was developed there and provided travelers with room, board, pasturage and other services such as coopering and blacksmithing.

By the turn of the 19th century, Lewis Breaker owned the 18-Mile House Tavern. Later, Carston Vose, who also owned the Oaks Plantation, ran the tavern.

In April 1865, African American troops of the 55th MA Infantry camped near here. They skirmished with Confederate cavalry and liberated slaves living on nearby plantations.

After the war, the Road to Dorchester was abandoned and a farm family occupied the site.

Nikki Gaskins Campbell
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