History Grand Strand

the f.g. burroughs steamship

prior arrival of europeans, long bay area inhabited native waccamaw tribe. waccamaw used river travel , fished along shore around little river. waties island, primary barrier island along long bay, has evidence of burial , shell mounds, remains of visiting waccamaw.

the first european settler along long bay arrived in late 18th century, attempting extend plantation system outward towards ocean. records sparse period, of recorded history pieced old land grants documents. these settlers met mixed results, producing unremarkable quantities of indigo , tobacco coast s soil sandy , of crop yields of inferior quality.

prior american revolution, area along future grand strand uninhabited. several families received land grants along coast, including withers: john, richard, william, , mary. family received area around present-day wither s swash, known myrtle swash or 8-mile swash. separate grant granted james minor, including barrier island named minor island, waties island, off of coast near little river.

mary wither s gravestone @ prince george winyah episcopal church speaks remoteness of former strand: gave pleasures of society , retired long bay, resided great part of life devoted welfare of children.

as american colonies gained independence, area remained unchanged, , coast remained barren. george washington scouted out southern states during term, traveling down king s highway. stayed night @ windy hill (part of present-day north myrtle beach) , led across wither s swash georgetown jeremiah vereen.

the withers family remained 1 of few settlers around myrtle beach next half-century. in 1822, strong hurricane swept house of r. f. withers ocean, drowning 18 people inside. tragedy made withers family decide abandon plots along coast. left unattended, area began return forest.

original myrtle beach air force base during world war ii

on february 28, 1899, burroughs , collins, predecessor of modern-day burroughs , chapin, received charter build conway & seashore railroad transport timber coast inland customers. railroad began daily service on may 1, 1900 2 wood-burning locomotives. 1 of engines dubbed black maria , came second-hand north carolina logging operation. community named withers post office established @ site of old swash.

after railroad finished, employees of lumber , railroad company take train flatcars down beach area on free weekends, becoming first grand strand tourists. railroad terminus nicknamed new town , contrasting old town , or conway.

at turn of 20th century, franklin burroughs envisioned turning new town tourist destination rivaling florida , northeastern beaches. burroughs died in 1897, sons completed railroad s expansion beach , opened seaside inn in 1901.

after founding, new town continued grow until 1957, when incorporated. contest held name town , burroughs wife suggested honoring locally abundant shrub, southern wax myrtle (myrica cerifera). town named myrtle beach.

in 1937, myrtle beach municipal airport built, promptly taken on united states army air corps in 1940 , converted military base. commercial flights began in 1976 , shared runway on 15 years until air base closed in 1993. since airport has been named myrtle beach international airport. in 2010 plans build new terminal approved. in 1940, kings highway paved, giving myrtle beach first primary highway.