Charleston, SC, 2026

In last week’s post I spoke of taking a photo group to Charleston for one morning. We spent the afternoon at Magnolia Gardens. I’ve been here several times and it’s always a challenge to find a new way to photograph this landmark.

My first memory of the white bridge is from Mr. Buchanan’s 7th grade class at Isle of Hope School. There was this girl named Kathy, who had decided I was her boyfriend, without consulting me, or me having expressed any interest in such a thing. A visit to Magnolia Gardens was part of a field trip to Charleston Mr. Buchanan had arranged for our class. I remember the bridge, and spending most of my time trying to hide from Kathy. I was a foolish boy, but then I was probably still concerned with the spreading of cooties.

The field trip had repercussions. I don’t remember why, but we were badly delayed leaving the Charleston area to head home. This was the late 50’s, so none of today’s communications’ tools to be able to let someone know what was happening. We were very late getting back to the school house, where concerned, and then angry, parents had been waiting for hours. And calling school board members. Field trips were prohibited for some time after that.

At least that’s the way I remember it.

For more of Bill’s photographs, go to https://www.billdurrence.com/index