Situated on an 860 acre island known as Sol Legare Island, this land once belonged to plantation owner Soloman Legare (1797-1878) and is now considered the Sol Legare community of James Island. In 1863, the area appeared on a map showing a main thoroughfare (now Sol Legare Road) with 17 fields, including 12 structures. This land was most likely a cotton plantation with a row of slave dwellings.
After the end of slavery in 1865, the land was settled by the formerly enslaved and is still largely an African-American community today. In 1915, this lodge, known as the Seashore Farmer’s Lodge No. 767 was constructed. Lodges such as this, as well as churches, were the heartbeat of communities offering fellowship, support, and outreach with likeminded individuals.
The lodge was constructed on land belonging to Henry Wallace, one of the founding members of the Lodge. Members consisted of farmers in the community, many with familial ties — women were always permitted to join as members. Community ties were strong here and music and recreational activities were abundant. If certain farmers had a tough season, the Lodge would help supply crop or seeds for the next year. Health and life insurance, farming tips, nurturing, financial assistance, event hosting, fundraising and more were all made possible through the Lodge and its members, supporting and supplying a strong sense of community.
When a member of the community died, a drum would sound from the Lodge to inform the surrounding families. Members served as pallbearers and assisted the grieving loved ones in any way they could.
As farming slowly faded away, community events gained in popularity. Guest rallies were held charging .25 cents for cake and ice cream as a way to raise money. Holiday events for Fourth of July, Thanksgiving, Labor Day and the Saturday after Thanksgiving were all held at the Lodge. Saturday picture shows were held when a projectionist from Charleston starting bringing a movie and projector to the Lodge. Admission was a quarter and films were projected onto a screen, mainly for the children, which provided insight to areas beyond the community.
Recreation largely started centering around nearby Mosquito Beach in the 1950s and the Lodge eventually fell into disrepair. The building was restored in the 2000s and still holds an active membership with many members paying dues for children who no longer live nearby. The tradition of the Lodge and its memories, past and present, remains strong in the community. The building serves as a museum of cultural rural life with a section devoted to the 54th Massachusetts Volunteers, which served the Union Army during the Civil War.