On our walking tour of historic #Charleston, SC, I typically take guests past local sites that are home to some of the city’s most traditional societies, such as the plaque pictured, which is on Chalmers Street. The Deutsche Freundlische Gesellschaft, known in English as the German Friendly Society, was created in 1766, as most societies in the city, to help those in need. German immigrants had flocked to Charleston in the colonial period to escape hardship and wars in Europe, but many came with little more than the clothes on their backs, so other Germans were very willing to help as “friends” to the immigrants. Over the years, the society has become largely social in nature, with festive events and meetings, but still provides help for the indigent. <img.src=”Charleston Culture” alt=”The German Friendly Society”
