1960


1970


1980


volunteer fire department and rescue squad and its own post office. In keeping with the vision of its early leaders, the 1970s and 1980s witnessed unprecedented growth as the area became a popular retirement and va- cation destination. As the town grew, so did its abundance of parks, lakes and recreation- al facilities. By 1978, Surfside Beach had its own library, housed in the building now used


as the Surfside Beach Senior Center. H urricane Hazel, a monster Category 4


storm, made landfall near the North Carolina/ South Carolina border on October 15, 1954. In Surfside Beach, 18 of the town’s 65 houses were destroyed and 13 had to be moved out of the public right of way. The town rebuilt, and by 1956, T.J. Harrison opened the first grocery story for the handful of permanent residents and the burgeoning influx of summer visitors. Reasonably-priced land was soon dotted with beach houses that were mostly modest and designed to make the most of the ocean views and breezes.


By the early 1960s, Surfside’s population


had grown to the point that it needed city services. To provide these and ensure careful planning for the future, on March 14, 1964, the residents of the town voted to incorporate. T.J. Harrison was elected as the first mayor. The town’s first budget totaled $14,990 and, by the end of the year, this new town had its first town clerk and treasurer, police chief,


16


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