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The Summerville Light is a story told about Summerville, Dorchester County. Vote believe it or no way, then see what 1 named source say is documented.
Where Summerville Dorchester County, Lowcountry Kind Legend not a ranking Sources 1 named, linked below Checked Oct 26 2026 Jump to The Story FAQ Local legend. Not confirmed. Just for fun.
No. 4 of 21
The Summerville Light Since at least the 1950s people have told of a ghostly lantern glowing along a railroad track in Summerville. In the best-known version, a woman is still waiting there for her husband, who was killed in a train wreck.
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What Is Actually True The Post and Courier (February 3, 2025) reports that sightings are along the tracks near Sheep Island Road in Summerville, and that U.S. Geological Survey scientist Susan Hough proposed in Seismological Research Letters that tiny, unfelt quakes on the Summerville Fault could release gases that react with static electricity on the metal rails to make light. This is a proposed explanation, not a settled one. The paper also notes a 1974 News and Courier reader's question about the lights that the column could not answer.
Sources: Post and Courier – The Summerville Light might finally have an explanation (Feb 3, 2025) .
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A note: Active or private railroad tracks are not a place to walk; do not give directions to the spot. Husband/wife death story kept to a single sentence, no named individuals.
More legends All South Carolina Legends Next: Blackbeard Shuts Down Charleston Harbor The Gentleman Pirate Hanged at White Point Edgar Allan Poe and The Gold-Bug The Colors of Rainbow Row Plan the trip Events Destinations Places History FAQ Does my vote count anywhere? Votes and your collected set stay in your own browser. We do not store or share them.
Where do these facts come from? From the named sources listed on this page: Post and Courier – The Summerville Light might finally have an explanation (Feb 3, 2025).
Sources Post and Courier – The Summerville Light might finally have an explanation (Feb 3, 2025) Read on October 26, 2026. Stories are for fun; the facts come from these sources. How we check: editorial standards ; spot a mistake? Tell us .
Cite this page: It's South Carolina, “The Summerville Light”, itssouthcarolina.com/things-to-do/south-carolina-legends/summerville-light/ (updated 2026-10-26 ). By the It's South Carolina editorial team. Free to quote with attribution and a link to this page; data and tables are licensed CC BY 4.0.
