ePub The Church; Our Story by Patricia Morrison Driedger in History

Description

Since the arrival of Maria Gracia Dura Bin Turnbull; the first female Greek settler in North America; Charleston has long embraced a vibrant Greek community; which has in turn continued to enrich the area for centuries. As an eastern seaboard city; Charleston was a magnet for great numbers of Greek immigrants; most from the island of Cephalonia. They journeyed to the city during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries; bringing with them a rich cultural heritage; shared values and a devotion to hard work and industry. Those early settlers operated small businesses; predominately grocery stores and restaurants; and emphasized education; ensuring that their descendants would help to weave the professional and civil fabric of the city. Their stories encapsulate the American immigrant experience; offering a portrait of where Charleston has been and where it can go. Longtime Charleston resident George J. Morris; an active member of the local Greek community; has collected primary documents and photographs that illustrate the unique development of Greek culture in the city.