Have you ever noticed how hard it is to get rid of junk? For most folks, junk is a collection of unwanted items and appliances just begging to be thrown out. But for whatever reason - work obligations, busy schedules, over-worked brains, or plain old procrastination - we're woefully content to let the junk sit. If you're sick and tired of all the old, junky items in your home and want more room to live and play, you need junk removal in Johns Island, SC, today.
At Labor Bros, we mix the most comprehensive junk removal in town with the highest quality general labor services available. That makes Labor Bros your one-stop shop for all your junk hauling and labor needs, from house cleaning to power washing and just about everything in between. Our customers choose Labor Bros because we prioritize friendly, helpful customer service and good old-fashioned hard work. We take pride in our work, and you see evidence of that with each of our Labor Bros, who are anxious to work hard for you, no matter the size of the project. We're very proud of the fact that we're locally owned and operated. We know the local roads, grew up in these parts, and know the people. As such, we offer fair and competitive pricing for all our customers, whether they're new or returning.
Our goal is to make your life easy, so you can focus on the most important aspects of life while we handle the hard stuff. We understand that your life is busy, and you probably don't have the time or energy to haul away old junk or climb up on a ladder to trim your trees. Why risk a trip to the emergency room when you can call the Labor Bros to handle the heavy lifting? At the end of the day, we do the jobs that you can't or just don't want to do - and that makes us happy. Just click or call and consider it done!
Our fully trained Labor Bros have extensive experience, unmatched work ethic, and crazy cardio. This combo lets them tackle a wide variety of junk removal and labor service projects, including:
On average, the typical American creates more than four pounds of waste every day. That figure doesn't include the items in your home that need to be hauled away but remain for whatever reason. The reality is most South Carolina residents have tons of junk lying around that they don't need. Unfortunately, most of us don't have the time or patience to get rid of these items in an efficient, eco-friendly way. That's where Labor Bros junk removal swoops in to save the day.
If you have never used or even heard of junk removal, don't sweat it - we've got you covered. Junk removal is an on-call service that removes all of the old trash and junk from your home or business. It works like this:
You give our office a call or use our online contact form to set up an appointment. You let us know how much junk we'll be hauling in our junk removal trucks. You then choose a time and date for an appointment, and the Labor Bros will be there on time, ready to work.
Once you give us the green light, our team will get to work hauling all your old debris and junk items from your home or office. It's that simple!
We'll come to your location to get the full scope of the job we're completing for you. Once we do, you get a no-obligation, affordable quote.
Here at Labor Bros, we've hauled away an incredible amount of junk since we opened our doors. Whether it's the hundreds of unsightly, heavy mattresses or old, unusable TVs, our crew has hauled some serious junk over the years. For each truckload of junk that we remove from a home or business, we work hard to donate applicable items and recycle others, to give back to the community and keep it clean.
When it comes to junk removal in Johns Island, SC, here are some of the most common items we remove:
Even the best mattresses will need to be replaced with enough time. Over the years, your mattress will begin to break down, causing you more pain than pleasure when your head hits the pillow. When your quality of sleep is affected, so too is your day-to-day life and wellbeing. To make matters worse, your old mattress is a haven for dead skin cells, hair, and even bugs. When it gets to this point, it's time to get rid of your mattress. Unfortunately, that can be easier said than done, especially if you're working 40 hours a week and must balance a family too. Luckily, the Labor Bros can remove your old mattress quicker than it takes you to snooze on a Sunday afternoon.
Labor Bros Pro Tip: Mattress parts like steel springs, wooden frames, and coils can often be donated or recycled. Our team is happy to handle this part of the junk removal process, so you don't have to!
If you plan on upgrading your kitchen, chances are you will need to update your old fridge too. Refrigerators are notorious for being big, clunky, hazardous appliances to remove. Most folks don't want to deal with the lengthy process of removing the appliance and disposing of it safely. That's where the Labor Bros come in! Whether you have a regular-sized fridge at your home or several large chest freezers at your business, the Labor Bros are here to haul them away today.
Labor Bros Pro Tip: Remember, many refrigerators and freezers have harmful chemicals that need to be disposed of properly. The Labor Bros always take these hazards into account, so you don't risk your health. Once these materials have been dealt with, our junk removal experts will either donate your unwanted fridge or haul it to the appropriate recycling facility.
With new technology and features debuting every other day, it's no surprise that we haul away old TVs every day. Whether you're moving to a new home or just want a new TV, we can remove your old flat screen quickly and safely. Our customers choose the Labor Bros for their TV removal not just because we're fast and effective, but because many modern TVs contain hazardous materials. Once our team removes your old TV from your home or business, we'll make sure your TV is disposed of in an eco-friendly manner.
In addition to our junk removal services, Labor Bros also offers the highest quality general labor services in South Carolina. In today's fast-paced world, many home and business owners don't have the time or staff to handle labor-intensive jobs like garage cleanouts and yard debris removal. There's no need to call in a favor with your best friend or father-in-law. Contact the Labor Bros for fast, efficient service for any of your general labor projects. We save you time, money, and the possibility of injuring yourself or your friends.
If you own a home, you probably know how frustrating it can be to keep up with odd jobs around the house. Sometimes, you need a little more than a helping hand - you need a team of experienced professionals to get the job done right. And that, in a nutshell, is why we founded Labor Bros - to give good people like you the chance to keep their homes looking great, inside and out. Here are just a few of the most common general labor jobs we complete for homeowners in South Carolina:
If you're anything like us, your garage space doubles as a storage unit. Over time, the items you store in your garage can pile up. Often, these items go unused for years, essentially becoming junk right before your eyes. At some point, you will need all that junk and debris cleaned out. When you want it done right, it's time to call the Labor Bros. Our team will not only remove the junk from your garage - we'll clean your garage afterward, so it looks and feels like it was brand new.
Cleaning up your yard debris can be a real pain in the butt. You need the right clothes to protect your legs and arms, gloves for your hands, possibly a back brace, and a lot of patience. After you're done, you're bound to need a shower and a long break. With all that in mind, it's no wonder why so many South Carolina residents call the Labor Bros for yard debris removal! Our general labor techs have cleaned up dozens if not hundreds of yards, and they can help you too. We make yard debris cleanup easy by taking everything: limbs, leaves, grass clippings, wood chips, and more. Simply click or call, and we'll haul it all!
If you just bought a new couch or desk but don't have the time to set it up yourself, call the Labor Bros for a fast solution. Whether you're moving into a new home and you need help mounting your TV, or you need a large piece of furniture assembled, we can do it all.
At Labor Bros, we don't just serve homeowners - we offer general labor and junk removal services for businesses too. All businesses generate junk in some form or fashion. Typically, entrepreneurs don't have the time to handle junk removal and odd jobs like window washing on their own. That's why business owners in South Carolina trust the Labor Bros - because we make their lives easier and more productive, at a reasonable rate. If you're sick of making complicated arrangements that don't fit your business needs, it's time to call our office. We can help with just about any general labor services you need, from removing old office furniture to transporting new equipment to your job site.
Here are some of our general labor specialties for local business owners:
Call or Text 815-931-3993 to receive a FREE QUOTE or to set up your
appointment Today!
At the Labor Bros, we do junk removal a little differently than our competition. We strive to provide the very best residential and commercial junk removal in Johns Island, SC. To achieve that goal, we prioritize customer service, meaning our clients come first before anything. We know it can be hard to trust junk removal companies, which is why we offer transparent services and pricing. No small print. No sneaky fees. Just hard work at a cost-conscious rate.
As professionals, we treat your home or business like it was our own. Our Labor Bros will work as long as it takes to get the job done while respecting your space. At the same time, we're not your cable TV technician, so we won't be moping around your house all day. We'll show up on time and get the job done effectively, so you can get back to living life.
When you book an appointment for junk removal, you can feel good knowing we'll recycle as much of your used junk as possible - because Mother Earth needs a helping hand too. If you're looking for a hassle-free junk removal experience with fair, upfront pricing, look no further than the Labor Bros.
JOHNS ISLAND, S.C. (WCIV) — Balancing development and existing infrastructure is an issue Charleston County and city leaders are facing.Ask any John's Island residents their main complaint and they will likely tell you traffic.Charleston city councilman for District 3, Jim McBride, is brainstorming ways to alleviate the stop-and-go drive on and off the island.On Maybank Highway, two lanes are coming onto Johns Island and only one going off towards James Island.Read more:...
JOHNS ISLAND, S.C. (WCIV) — Balancing development and existing infrastructure is an issue Charleston County and city leaders are facing.
Ask any John's Island residents their main complaint and they will likely tell you traffic.
Charleston city councilman for District 3, Jim McBride, is brainstorming ways to alleviate the stop-and-go drive on and off the island.
On Maybank Highway, two lanes are coming onto Johns Island and only one going off towards James Island.
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Councilman McBride said it's a bottleneck and taxpayers are sitting in traffic, wasting time and money.
There are three projects in the works.
McBride said the first project that will alleviate this problem is the Northern Pitchfork, which is expected to be finished in March.
It will allow motorists to take a right coming onto the island at the fairly new stoplight near Fenwick Hall Allee and take them to River Road, meaning no one has to sit on Maybank.
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The second project is restriping Maybank Highway near the intersection of River Road.
Right now, there are short turn lanes and McBride said cars get backed up, slowing traffic coming onto the island.
He said after the striping, there will be a left turn lane only. The middle lane will be three lanes and a new right turn lane will be added.
The third planned project is the nearly $30 million Southern Pitchfork, creating a possible left turn when you come onto Johns Island.
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The traffic light for the Northern Pitchfork would potentially be moved and realigned with the entrance to the Southern Pitchfork closer to the bridge.
"If that gets funded, and if that happens, the estimated completion time would be somewhere somewhere around 2028," McBride said. "I don't want to wait for four years and no one on the island wants to wait for four years. So, we're trying to come up with some ideas to improve things before that."
McBride said these projects will allow traffic to flow better coming onto the island, but there is nothing funded now to help people get off the island.
"Every single morning taxpayers are sitting in traffic wasting money wasting time," McBride said. "And it's a problem that needs to get fixed."
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One idea McBride is researching is reversible lanes.
With reversible lanes, the middle lane would switch directions in the evening, potentially alleviating traffic.
"In the morning you have two lanes going off the island, and then in the evening, you'd have two lanes coming on the island," McBride said.
McBride said it would require large signaling and possibly entry gates to make it very clear which direction people would drive.
"In 2019, the county did a study on this idea, and they determined that it would improve traffic going off the island in the morning by 66%. That's a huge improvement," McBride said.
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McBride said the county recommended they could not do reversible lanes because currently there are too many stop lights too close together.
He said if the Northern Pitchfork is realigned with the future Southern Pitchfork, there would be one intersection closer to the bridge which would create a more continuous stretch of road, potentially allowing this idea to work.
McBride said the reversible lane idea would cost about $5 million.
"In comparison, the Southern Pitchfork is estimated to be about $30 million. So, $5 million is a lot of money, but it will save taxpayers so much money over time and save time. Instead of sitting in traffic you know, wasting time and gas money," McBride said.
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This is just one idea McBride is researching.
He said he is working alongside Mayor William Cogswell, city staff, and county council members Jenny Honeycutt and Joe Boykin to find a solution for Johns Island traffic.
River Road and Maybank Highway are state-owned, meaning they are managed and funded by the county.
McBride said this requires collaboration between the city and county.
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This November, the county will vote on a 2024 Half Cent Sales Tax Referendum to potentially replace an old sales tax set to expire in the next 2 years.
McBride said it would raise an estimated $5.4 billion.
He said $2 billion would help fund the Mark Clark Expressway, and the other $3.4 billion would help fund the County Infrastructure Improvement Projects.
A newly proposed hotel would be one of the first on Johns Island if it comes to fruition.New Leaf Builders is proposing a 55,000-square-foot lodging, with an unspecified number of guest rooms, according to plans reviewed last week by the city of Charleston's Technical Review Committee, typically the first official stop in the permitting process.The hotel is part of a larger mixed-used development to be called Jubilee. It includes 65 residential units, three restaurants and reta...
A newly proposed hotel would be one of the first on Johns Island if it comes to fruition.
New Leaf Builders is proposing a 55,000-square-foot lodging, with an unspecified number of guest rooms, according to plans reviewed last week by the city of Charleston's Technical Review Committee, typically the first official stop in the permitting process.
The hotel is part of a larger mixed-used development to be called Jubilee. It includes 65 residential units, three restaurants and retail and office space.
The 3.27-acre property at 2935 Maybank Highway is just west of River Road. It was annexed into the city in 2017.
New Leaf did not respond to requests for comment about its plans last week. The company, which is headquartered on Johns Island, not far from the Jubilee site, builds homes in several residential developments in the Charleston region and in the Wilmington, N.C., market, according to its website.
The first hotel on Johns Island is well on its way. The Dunlin is set to open this summer at Kiawah River, a master-planned development off Betsy Kerrison Parkway. The luxury Auberge-operated boutique inn will offer guests 72 rooms, 19 villas, riverfront dining and a full-service spa, among other amenities.
The International African American Museum is once again offering free admission, this time as part of a public celebration on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Registration for a timeslot is required for the waiver for tickets that are good from noon to 5 p.m. on Jan. 15. Local vendors, food trucks and other activities will be on the grounds of the IAAM, which opened its doors in June.
Earlier this month, the waterfront museum next to the Charleston Maritime Center offered free admission to commemorate Emancipation Day on Jan. 1.
The 2024 Credit One Charleston Open is less than 90 days away, and organizers are courting would-be volunteers to ensure the women's professional tennis tournament runs smoothly.
The annual WTA 500 event is a big visitor draw, attracting more than 90,000 attendees to Daniel Island each spring. It returns March 30-April 7 to Credit One Stadium.
Organizers are looking to recruit 350 volunteers to fill all sorts of roles, from ushering to maintenance, as well as 100 ball-crew members. The perks for the unpaid gig include tickets to a match, meal allowances and event apparel. Training and orientation sessions are required.
The tournament is run by The Charleston Place owner Ben Navarro's Charleston Tennis LLC and Beemok Sports & Entertainment.
The Dunlin, the first commercial hotel on Johns Island proper, has set a check-in date.
Management just opened up bookings for after the planned Aug. 1 grand opening of the luxury Auberge-operated property, which will include three food-and-beverage establishments.
Located within Kiawah River, a 2,000-acre master-planned resort development off Betsy Kerrison Parkway, the boutique lodging will have 72 guest rooms, 19 villas, riverfront dining and a full-service spa, among other amenities.
The signature restaurant will be Linnette’s, which will focus on coastal cuisine with wood-fired dishes from a locally sourced seafood menu. A riverside lounge will serve tapas, while poolside dining will be available at The Cove.
The property’s starting rate is $749 per night for guesthouse rooms.
Michael DeCanio, general manager of The Dunlin, said the demand for Auberge Resorts Collection properties in the South is high, and management thought Johns Island was “the perfect location” with an “authentic agriculture heritage.”
“The property feels worlds apart from city life, but for guests who wish to head into Charleston to explore or enjoy a meal, they have that option,” DeCanio said.
He said the hotel’s spa, rentable event space, restaurants and bars will be open to the public.
Gatherings, both large and small, are expected to be an important source of business for the property, which will have several space options geared toward group travelers.
“There is an incredible demand for weddings as well as corporate events and celebrations,” DeCanio said.
Charleston City Councilman Jim McBride, who represents Johns and James islands, said while the hotel is outside of city limits, his biggest focus is it will impact residents.
"The good that it will bring is around 150 or more jobs for the island, and at least one nice restaurant,” McBride said in a statement. “It’s on the upper end of quality as a luxury hotel, and it will incorporate a lot of green space."
He also said he's not overly concerned about a traffic issue as he expects most guests will stay within the resort or within the nearby area, such as Kiawah and Seabrook islands.
Charleston County Council member Jenny Costa Honeycutt said most of the accommodation demand for Johns Island historically has been absorbed either by the peninsula — about 20 miles from The Dunlin — and by nearby vacation rentals and hotels on the more-intensely developed Kiawah and Seabrook.
Also, in some cases the infrastructure isn't in place, she said.
Named for a shorebird, The Dunlin is the first but possibly not the last lodging to land on Johns Island.
New Leaf Builders filed plans late last year for a 55,000-square-foot hotel with an unspecified number of rooms as part of a mixed-used project called Jubilee. The development is proposed for 2935 Maybank Highway, just west of River Road, and is still in the early approval phases with the city.
New Leaf could not be reached for comment.
JAMES ISLAND, S.C. (WCSC) - Crews are continuing to work to repair two major water main breaks that happened within a day of each other on James Island and in West Ashley.Public Information Administrator for Charleston Water System Mike Saia says while the collapsed ground looks like a sinkhole, the damage didn’t happen that way in a technical sense. The damage to the ground and roads is from the strong water pressure when the water lines broke under the pressure. The water force caused the ground around the pipe to explode outw...
JAMES ISLAND, S.C. (WCSC) - Crews are continuing to work to repair two major water main breaks that happened within a day of each other on James Island and in West Ashley.
Public Information Administrator for Charleston Water System Mike Saia says while the collapsed ground looks like a sinkhole, the damage didn’t happen that way in a technical sense. The damage to the ground and roads is from the strong water pressure when the water lines broke under the pressure. The water force caused the ground around the pipe to explode outward as opposed to sinking inward.
“Main breaks in the late part of the winter or early spring are really very common because the temperatures take wild swings with freezing one day, then they were in the 70s for a few days. After that what happens is that temperature change inside our mains really changed the structure of the pipe and to make it a little bit more brittle,” Saia says.
Saia says the water lines themselves were fixed quickly and based on the locations of the breaks, only a few customers were affected for a short time on Highway 61.
“Our main break for Fort Johnson Road was a 24-inch water main, a much bigger pipe with much bigger impact to the site and the road. But no customers were without water at any time because we were able to route the water from other means in the area and keep our customers in service at all times,” Saia says.
“It is likely Fort Johnson will be closed for at least several more days while all repairs are completed,” the town said in an updated post Sunday night. The post attributes the delay to expected rain it states will complicate the already extensive repairs to the broken water line.
With water access and pipe structure handled, now their work turns to repairing the damaged roadways. Saia says on Highway 61 luckily one lane has remained open, and it is a smaller issue that can be fixed faster than the major break on James Island.
“Our crews responded immediately but when a 24-inch water main breaks, it creates a lot of devastation and a lot of destruction. And it took Fort Johnson completely out of service where it remains today. It’ll probably take us another two days, maybe even three to get the road restored,” Saia says.
Saia says Charleston Water System handles about 150 main breaks a year and these two are on the larger side of the average leak. He says crews are always on standby for this type of situation. He explains the cost of repairs is within the system’s regular budget.
“We’re able to handle all the street repairs on Highway 61 and will eventually bring a contractor in to do the final paving. But we are absolutely fully relying on a contractor to do the site remediation for Fort Johnson and because it’s such a very large area, actually contractors are going to do all the backfilling and all the paving throughout the remainder of the project,” Saia said.
James Island First Presbyterian Church sits at the corner of Fort Johnson and Jeffords Street. Despite the main break over the weekend, they were able to get their water running and a plan in place so Sunday Services went off without a hitch.
Mike Terelak, ruling elder on the Buildings and Grounds Committee for the church, says it was a team effort and he talked a lot with the Charleston Water System and SCDOT who helped them get through Sunday and make sure families have access to the child-care center this week.
“We had our annual Chili Cook-Off, which is a big event here. It raised a lot of money for James Island outreach and other missions that we run. And everybody came out, it was a big great time. We had a baptism, we have new members joining the church. So it was a really great day for our church and a little bit of mud wouldn’t have stopped that,” Terelak says.
Saia says since the roads are the Department of Transportation’s, he is in contact with officials there and everyone is collaborating toward a solution as fast as is possible. Saia asks that everyone who can, steer clear of Fort Johnson Road which he expects will be fully closed until at least Wednesday.
Charleston Water System will have a mobile board placed on Fort Johnson to direct drivers to turn onto Secessionville Road, the post states. Those closer to the site will see Charleston County Sheriff’s Office detour signs directing them around the sinkhole by way of Avenue A and then to Folly Road.
The post urged drivers to avoid the area if possible, suggesting Camp Road or Harbor View Road as alternate routes.
The Charleston Water System was able to divert water Saturday morning to ensure that homes in the area had working water. Anyone who does not have water service should call the Charleston Water System at 843-727-6800.
Copyright 2024 WCSC. All rights reserved.
CHARLESTON COUNTY, S.C. (WCIV) — Clean-up efforts are underway after vandalism resulted in a 60-gallon diesel fuel spill on Johns Island, officials with Charleston Water System said Monday.The diesel fuel spilled into a stormwater ditch behind homes along Colonel Harrison Drive that leads to the Stono River. Residents initially discovered and smelled the fuel spill over the weekend. The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control was called on Sunday to help with the spill.0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 90...
CHARLESTON COUNTY, S.C. (WCIV) — Clean-up efforts are underway after vandalism resulted in a 60-gallon diesel fuel spill on Johns Island, officials with Charleston Water System said Monday.
The diesel fuel spilled into a stormwater ditch behind homes along Colonel Harrison Drive that leads to the Stono River. Residents initially discovered and smelled the fuel spill over the weekend. The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control was called on Sunday to help with the spill.
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Vandalism causes 60-gallon diesel spill on Johns Island: Charleston Water System (WCIV)
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“Our contractor cleaned up a portion of the spill, immediately called in a professional environmental remediation company, and notified SC DHEC and the EPA’s National Response Center,” said Mike Saia, Charleston Water System's public information administrator. “It may take several days for them to recapture all remnants of the fuel.”
This is the third instance of vandalism to contractor equipment in recent weeks, and the Charleston County Sheriff's Office is investigating.
“I mean it is a very, in depth vandalism. It's not just a rock through the window. It’s someone who came out here to destroy this 200-something thousand-dollar machine,” said Chad Hunter, owner of Hunter Landworx Construction, the contractor onsite.
Hunter showed up to his Johns Island job site Monday expecting to quickly finish a project he’s been working on since October. Instead, he found his machinery completely vandalized.
“There are wires in there, cut and hidden like that. We wouldn't be able to find it if we didn't see that all the fuel around it, my guys would've gotten in the machine. He put rocks and all in our engine to try to blow the engine up,” Hunter said.
But the damage doesn’t stop there.
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The vandalism led to a 60-gallon diesel fuel spill into the surrounding area along the Stono River. Charleston Water System owns the construction project, and its staff says they’ve never seen damage this bad.
“We don't see a lot of vandalism. If we do, it's very, very minor, and easy to repair. But this is a different situation because not only did the person damage the equipment related to the job, but they've also damaged the environment,” Saia said.
Saia said they were able to soak up as much of the liquid fuel as possible and the Coast Guard confirmed to CWS that the spill didn't reach the river.
Now, Hunter must pick up the pieces.
He said the damage to his machine alone will cost a few hundred thousand dollars and his crews are now behind on all their current projects.
“We're out here to clean up somebody's mess as well as take time from our family and slow down the project. I mean, it's hurting everybody, the neighborhood, everything around us is just getting messed up from one person,” Hunter said.
“One hour's worth of work is causing weeks of fix-up.”
News 4 has reached out to CCSO for more information.
The Charleston County School Board just can’t catch a break.For once, none of the board members have done anything that anyone could reasonably criticize — yet they are still in the middle of a simmering controversy.And they have to sort this mess out next week.The trouble here is unfortunate: An excessively large committee of school officials and community members recently recommended christening the district’s new River Road school as Johns Island Elementary.Which is only a problem bec...
The Charleston County School Board just can’t catch a break.
For once, none of the board members have done anything that anyone could reasonably criticize — yet they are still in the middle of a simmering controversy.
And they have to sort this mess out next week.
The trouble here is unfortunate: An excessively large committee of school officials and community members recently recommended christening the district’s new River Road school as Johns Island Elementary.
Which is only a problem because just about everyone really wants to name it after local civil rights icons Esau and Janie Jenkins.
Now, there are no villains in this story. No one set out to slight the Jenkins family. On the contrary, by most accounts this is actually the result of a well-intentioned attempt to avoid disrespecting anyone.
Unfortunately, the result is a generic, homogenized name that many board members say would be a wasted opportunity to honor a nationally acclaimed legend in education.
Last year, the district set up a naming committee for the new school, which will open in August 2025. Following preliminary discussions, the panel took its first tally in the fall, allowing members to vote on two names that would move forward for consideration. Esau Jenkins Elementary came out on top by one vote.
But then everybody got to talking.
See, Johns Island has a rich history — and a long line of African American residents who’ve done a lot of good in the Lowcountry. We’re talking about community activists like Bill Saunders, John and Mattie Washington, Hermina Traeye.
These are folks who worked to end segregation, help their fellow citizens engage in public discourse and bring civil rights to this country. For instance, Traeye was a nurse famously involved in the Charleston hospital workers’ strike; Saunders helped broker its resolution.
Esau Jenkins worked with many of those folks and, a lot of people would argue, led their efforts. He set up the first local citizenship school so African Americans could pass the literacy tests required to vote back in the day, started the island’s famous Progressive Club, founded the district’s Haut Gap school, hosted Martin Luther King Jr.
He and his wife, Janie, bought a Volkswagen van to drive students to school, because they knew education was the key to everyone’s success. As Jenkins drove students to downtown schools, Janie taught them to read.
It’s such a powerful story that part of their van ended up in the Smithsonian.
Most old-timers will tell you Jenkins is a local superhero, and the island's most famous native son. The bridge between Johns and Wadmalaw islands bears his name, as will a new senior housing complex that just broke ground.
Maybe that’s why some committee members started talking about honoring other locals from the Sea Island’s history. A little competition developed, and most folks understandably wanted no part of taking sides.
So they fell back on a district policy that says, in general, school names should reflect their geography. In fairness, many Charleston schools do just that: You’ve got James Island, North Charleston and Ladson elementary schools, and neighborhood schools like Stiles Point, Belle Hall and Oakland.
But the district also has nearly two-dozen schools — about a quarter of its facilities — that are named for somebody: A.C. Corcoran, E.B. Ellington, Mamie Whitesides, James B. Edwards elementary schools, just to mention a few.
In recent years, the district has named a middle school after local philanthropist Jerry Zucker and a high school after longtime Wando principal Lucy Beckham. Both of which were appropriate, worthy candidates for such an honor.
The Johns Island committee, however eager to avoid controversy, has only stirred up more. As The Post and Courier’s Valerie Nava reports, the committee received letters supporting the Jenkins name from a majority of Charleston County Council.
No pressure or anything.
Johns Island School Board member Darlene Dunmeyer-Roberson suggests the board thank the committee for its work, take its recommendation to name various rooms in the school after local residents such as Saunders, the Washingtons and Traeye — and officially name the school Esau and Janie Jenkins Elementary.
In other words, the board should make the hard decision the committee sidestepped.
“They’re only making a recommendation,” Dunmeyer-Roberson said. “It’s up to the board to make a final decision.”
She’s correct, but things are rarely that easy at 75 Calhoun St. — even though, when the board first discussed this in February, there seemed to be majority support for the idea.
Several board members say all the names brought up in the committee’s debate are worthy of honor, but Esau and Janie Jenkins should have the school named for them because education is their legacy.
And this is really not that complicated.