MONCKS CORNER — The looming threat of rain didn’t stop the huzzah at Old Santee Canal Park Sept. 27, as hundreds celebrated the fourth annual Colonial Day.
Liz Canada waved to visitors with a blue hand, stained from the indigo dye she wrung out of fabric for a demonstration. She’s no stranger to blue hands. As the Living History Director for Historic Camden, she’s often doing classes like this, dressed in colonial-inspired garb that she has sewn herself.
“People think of history as a bunch of numbers, dates and names to memorize,” Canada said as she dropped fabric into the dye. “People really respond to something they can see and touch. It’s real, and not just something that happened in a book 200 years ago.”
Canada said events like this help broaden exposure for Lowcountry residents who don’t know there’s a plethora of history lessons just two hours away. She dipped another white bandana into the dye and stirred it for a few moments like one would a soup left to simmer. When she pulled it out, it was an emerald green that slowly turned to a deep hue of blue as it oxidized.
“We want to show a side of colonial life that happened behind the scenes — essential things like spinning, weaving and dyeing that were an essential and part of everyday life,” Canada said.
The day-long celebration offered tours of Fort Fair Lawn — one of only two remaining Revolutionary-era British forts in the state, musket and cannon firing demonstrations, a live performance depicting the life of Eliza Lucas Pinckney, vendors and history lectures.
Chair of the Berkeley 250 Francis Marion Commission Chris Volf said the event brings together organizations from across the region.
“Our history doesn’t end at our county borders,” Volf said. “We have to tell the stories that haven’t been heard or told.”
One of those stories was told by Christy Pleasant, of Historic Performance Events, who was dressed as Eliza Lucas Pinckney. As a lifelong actress who has done living history portrayals for the last 12 years, she said she was inspired by Eliza’s role in empowering young women.
“Keep in mind, she never legally owned anything. One of the lines in the show is, ‘I was left responsible for an empire, and discovered I was made for it.’ And, you know, it’s symbolic for what daughters can do if given the chance to,” Pleasant said.
Dozens of organizations were set up outside the Berkeley County Museum and inside the park’s interpretive center, ranging from the Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon, Gullah Museum in Georgetown and the Powder Magazine to living history groups like The Carolina Navy and The Crew of the Charles Revenge. Another was the Wassamassaw Tribe of Varnertown Indians. Chief Lisa Collins said being part of the event speaks to the tribe’s mission to educate and to preserve their traditions and culture. She said an exhibit at the museum with Native American art is an example of how the tribe keeps traditions from the past alive, while making it relevant to today.
“The history of Native American people is often glossed over. It’s Columbus, colonial contact and the Trail of Tears,” Collins said. “But, we are still here. We are part of the vibrant communities in which we live, and our future is part of our story too.”
Hundreds of area residents showed up in force, with the forecasted rain holding off.
Dayna Condy, a new resident of Summerville, brought her husband and family to the event. Her oldest, a nine-year-old named Matthew, eagerly watched the cannon fire demonstration, covering his ears with his hands before being enveloped by thick cannon fire smoke.