Mount Pleasant Town Hall Magazine

53 www.MountPleasantMagazine.com | www.ILoveMountPleasant.com | www.MPTownHall.com MOUNT PLEASANT Town Hall dwelling creatures can be found throughout the 92,000 square feet, providing engaging content at every turn. “It was very important for us to keep it decorative but informative at the same time,” said Poplin. “It was equally as important to involve the people whose stories we were going to tell.” In a sense, the new Town Hall is a living, breathing time capsule – one that will continue to evolve in the coming years. From the altering impact of Hurricane Hugo to the industrial boom of the 21st century, visitors gain knowledge of milestones that helped shape the Mount Pleasant we know today. Weavings of sweetgrass, perhaps the most iconic craft associated with this region, can be found along with informational text that tells the back story behind the baskets and of some of the artisans who perfected this art form. “South Carolina is filled with so many historical sites,” said Poplin, who in the past has taken shovel to dirt near Palmetto Bluff and RiverTowne to uncover fancy cutlery and sewing needles of former plantation owners. “It’s rewarding when you discover a really exciting part of the great story you are trying to tell about the site.” One discovery that is a part of Town Hall is Wando pottery. Crafted by American Indians living near the Wando River 1,200 years ago, these recovered shards could possibly have once been a part of ceremonial bowls or drinking jugs. Made by tempering clay with limestone, they can be found only around the Wando. Some pieces contain imprinted designs thought to be the result of pressing cord and fabric onto the surface of the wet clay. The town’s very first fire pumper, dating back to the 1880s, is also on display. Originally horse-drawn, folks can get an up-close look at this well-assembled machine that saved the lives of many. With its crimson color and four large yellow wheels, it possesses just as much whimsy now as it did functionality all those years ago. While the first floor is filled with charming displays chronicling the town’s journey, the real treasure can be found a floor up, in the History Room. While small in size, the objects it holds tell a bigger story. The centerpiece of the room, which harks back to a simpler time of sewing circles, is most definitely the Dupré Quilt. Colorful patches