mlatta
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Ironically, this hotel-turned-apartment has the same name, and the same area as a historic brothel in georgetown, SC.
Here is the story of the brothel:
Quoted from: (http://www.theitem.com/opinion/columnists/article_7662b6bc-47b5-5f4a-92d0-5b5605c53907.html)
Speaking of warehouses: When I was a kid in the 1960s, the world famous Sunset Lodge in Georgetown was in its last years of operation.
The brothel was established in the 1930s when International Paper built the paper mill, and was finally shut down in 1969 after an angry wife grew tired of her husband's extracurricular activities and put public pressure on the county sheriff, according to what passes for generally accepted local history.
The "Bordello Project" was conceived as a way to keep visiting workers out of trouble when the IP plant and headquarters were being built, and over the years it grew into what was considered a fine brothel frequented by sea captains, doctors, lawyers, businessmen of all sorts, professional athletes, salesmen and, of course, politicians.
I spent a lot of time at Murrells Inlet with my grandparents during those years, and we'd take the big Chrysler Town and Country station wagon from Sumter to Kingstree to "look in" on the kin folks - Boodie, Buzz, Frances and Aunt Sis.
We'd listen to the legendary, brilliant and totally crazy Charlie Walker on the AM radio until we lost reception, and it was then on to Georgetown, which you would usually start smelling about 10 miles out. Still can on some days.
One of my friends had dared me to ask my grandparents about "that place with the ladies" in Georgetown. "It'll be funny," he promised. I sensed there was something a little sinister about it, but had no real clue why.
So we're making our way over beautiful Winyah Bay after procuring the coveted Hardee Huskie hamburgers, and I ask about that famous place with all the ladies.
Total silence, just like when Granddaddy would tell a raunchy joke I didn't understand, and Toody, my grandmother, would say just one word - "Hu-butt" - which was followed by a long silence.
Most children have an antenna for strained adult communication situations, and mine was always working. As a natural born reporter, I pressed the issue of "that place with the ladies" further, leading to some front seat mumblings and a little snapping back and forth.
How do you explain the Sunset Lodge to a seven-year-old? You try not to.
Finally, after persistent inquiries, I remember just one specific comment from my grandfather, who in retrospect used his own natural born reporter's abilities, taking on a detached tone in order to establish clear distance from any inherent insinuations that might arise from explaining a "warehouse" to a child.
With my lovely grandmother sitting in the front seat next to him, he said: "I don't know anything about it personally ("puh-sanally") but my friends tell me there's a place that sounds something like that down around here somewhere. How's that Huskie hamburger?"
That signaled the end of the discussion, but it made me more curious than ever about what could possibly go on at "that place with the ladies."
What I've learned, of course, is that God created women to keep men confused, and this remains the Creator's most enduring work.
Graham Osteen is co-president of Osteen Publishing Co. and Editor-At-Large of The Item. Contact him at The Item, 20 North Magnolia St., Sumter, S.C., 29150; graham@theitem.com, or call 803-774-1352.
This is the best story on it here: (It's a .PDF so be patient as it loads)
http://www.elowcountry.com/Home/lcc_pdf/juloct07/2_Sunset_Lodge_.pdf
