ON GOLDEN ISLE...

JEKYLL ISLAND

MAY 11, 2012

Finally made it to Jekyll Island.  This is only the third such attempt in seven years.  The first time was in our 30’ S2 Sailboat.  I was working so only had a certain period of time.  We planned a mid-Oct trip but as luck would have it there was Hurricane Wilma was dumping a tremendous amount of rain and moving ever so slowly through the Keys and up the coast.  We left at the end of October following Wilma in 20-25 kts out of the NE.  Got as far as Cumberland Island and decided that St Andrews Sound would be way too difficult with this storm’s effects.   

The second time was a few  years ago when I tried to organize an RV trip up here with the RV Club  (we’re with now).  Only CG I knew of was Jekyll Island CG and it was full of snowbirds.  No vacancy. 

The third time was this past April with Spindrift however if you’ve read that blog, we got as far as St Augustine and had to turn back due to engine issues.

Sooooooo, never say that a plan doesn’t come together eventually!  Today we headed over to Jekyll Island to see what-all we might have missed.

The first thing I noticed, as I always do when crossing water, is that we crossed the ICW.  I saw the marina where I had planned on spending a few days on Spindrift.  It was truly convenient to all the things on the island.  Once you’re over there, you can bike anywhere and that would have been fun from the boat or the Jekyll Island CG. 

First we drove around the Island to get a feel then parked at the Jekyll Island Club.  This place is rich in history mostly revolving around unmitigated wealth of the late 19^th century, early 20^th century.  It always boggles the mind to think about how wealthy and influential these names were and we all have heard of them!

At the turn of the century, tycoons, politicians, and socialites flocked to Jekyll Island to revel in their own luxury and America’s burgeoning wealth. The  historic Georgia Club was described in the February 1904 issue of Munsey’s Magazine as “the richest, the most exclusive, the most inaccessible club in the world.” Its impressive members included such luminaries as J.P. Morgan, William Rockefeller, Vincent Astor, Joseph Pulitzer, William K. Vanderbilt, and other recognizable names on the roster were Macy, Goodyear, and Gould. 

THE POWERFUL MEMBERS

Newton Finney, who served briefly on Robert E. Lee’s staff as captain of engineers during the Civil War, and his brother-law, John Eugene DuBignon, were the early developers whose plan for a hunting club for wealthy northerners hatched into the most exclusive social club in the United States. Between 1879 and 1885, the two men worked on acquiring ownership of this Georgia historic landmark and convincing investors of the merits of the idea. Among the 53 members/investors included Marshall Field, Henry Hyde, J.P. Morgan, Joseph Pulitzer and William K. Vanderbilt.

The club officially opened its doors in January 1888 and the original clubhouse reflects the Queen Anne style, incorporating into its plan the turret which dominates the roof line, extensive verandas, bay windows, extended chimneys and, overall, an asymmetrical design.

Given the powerful members, it is not surprising that the Jekyll Island Club has been the scene of some important historical events, such as the first transcontinental telephone call placed by AT&T president Theodore Vail on January 25, 1915.

CROCHET ANYONE????

ENTRANCE TO THE GRAND DINNING ROOM (where we had our grand lunch!)

SOFT LIGHTING, BEAUTIFUL SCONCES, GREAT LUNCH!

 Finance, as well as politics, was of paramount concern to many club members. J.P. Morgan could create or quell economic panics on Wall Street with the financial resources at his personal command. George Baker, head of the First National Bank of New York, and James Stillman, head of the National City Bank of New York, also members of the Jekyll Island Club, were nearly as wealthy as Morgan. In 1907 when a particularly virulent economic panic caused a run on the banks, one of these three men paved the way for a secret meeting on Jekyll. Traveling under assumed names, Senator Nelson Aldrich, four other bankers of national importance, and the Assistant Secretary of the Treasury made their way to Jekyll posing as duck hunters. Meetings the following week led to the development of the Aldrich Plan, which called for a centralized banking structure for the country. Although Congress did not pass the plan in 1912, President Woodrow Wilson and others used the Aldrich Plan as the basis for another plan that became the Federal Reserve Act, establishing the Federal Reserve System.

THE SOCIAL SEASON

With the advent of the first “season” on Jekyll, the elite club members gathered their families and boarded their yachts, all with expectations for having a grandiose time. Morning hunting trips, lawn parties, carriage rides, leisurely afternoons on the beach…the likes of the Vanderbilts and the Rockefellers passed their summer days in a state of lavish splendor on their Southern playground. For years there was unofficial competition among the yachting members to see who would arrive in the most impressive and beautifully appointed vessel. Dinner each evening, however, was the high point of the day as the dining room grew rich with white-clad waiters, bow-tied gentlemen and stately women.

IMAGINE SPINDRIFT ANCHORED OFF HERE!!!

Between 1888 and 1928 these wealthy northern families built their winter homes, or “cottages” as they were called, designed to house entire families with staff. Hardly cottages, they exemplified Victorian tastes in architecture. Two of these have been restored and are part of the Jekyll Island Club’s historic accommodations.  Maybe our “gated communities” are fashioned after this exclusive Club-style living???


                                                                                                                                         HOLLYBOURNE COTTAGE 1892

MISTLETOE COTTAGE 1901                              

The Jekyll Island Club flourished into the 1930s, but between the Wars and Great Depression priorities began to change.  In 1947 the State of Georgia bought the entire island for $675,000 and turned it into a public state park.

We had a wonderful lunch at the Jekyll Island Club Hotel.  Dave so loved the cheese grits he wanted a 5 lb to go order of grits to take home! 

FORT FREDERICA

MAY 12, 2012

Our first stop of the day was to Fort Frederica on St Simons Island.  This Fort Frederica was established in 1736 by Oglethorpe and John and Charles Wesley as a defense against those pesky Spaniards down in Florida!  

These ruins are essentially an archeological excavation of the foundations of many of the homes and a layout of the town.

In the Ranger's Station we noticed this Insect Forecast!  Notice that Mosquitoes and Deer Flies are in the RED ZONE while Sand Gnats are high YELLOW.  Oh joy!  Interestingly enough, the Deer flies liked Dave better than me.  I certainly wasn't complaining!

The first thing I noticed was the fabulous trees with the Spanish Moss.  It's like a fairyland with all this moss hanging from the grand old oaks.

The streets are laid out as it was when this was a colony.  All that is left are the foundations dug up over the years.

FOUNDATION FOR THE HAWKINS-DAVISON HOUSE

The Hawkins-Davison Houses were the first among Frederica’s settlers.  The two houses shared by a common wall.  Unfortunately the families who lived here did not get along.

Samuel Davison lived in the house on the left with his wife, daughter and two sons.  Davison operated a tavern, made gunstocks for the regiment and served as town constable.  The Rev Charles Wesley called this popular and industrious  man “my good Samaritan”.  The Davisons left town in 1741 unable to tolerate their quarrelsome neighbors, the Hawkins.

Dr Thomas Hawkins lived in the house on the right and was the Regimental Surgeon, town doctor, apothecary and magistrate.  He was frequently embroiled in lawsuits.  His wife, Beatre, ws not noted for hospitality.  In this house she threatened to kill the Rev John Wesley with a pair of scissors and a pistol.  Wesley escaped  but only after Mrs Hawkins shredded the sleeve of his cassock with her teeth!   So it goes to show you ….. your reputation can outlive you …. By at least a couple hundred years!

 This is what is left of the Fort.  It's situated right on the water so they could watch for those pesky Spaniards.  It is also where we were going to anchor for the night and dinghy Billy ashore .... that is if the Dinghy Motor worked!

                       Despite thinking "everything south started with Spain", this is an English Colony.

  Great Shot ..... right over our bow ..... if we were there by boat!!!

If you weren't living in town you were living here in the barracks.  Somehow spending the summers here isn't that appealing.  Just keep thinking about the Insect Barometer in the office!

ST SIMONS ISLAND

We headed over to St Simons as I needed to see the lighthouse!  As we drove over I noticed the marina I had planned on our staying in to visit St Simons.  Looking out at St Simons Inlet there were several sailboats coming through. 

Parking in the little downtown area rivals Key West parking!  I finally told Dave I’d jump out and take pictures of the lighthouse as he was turning around in a parking lot.  We then drove around for another five minutes until someone pulled out of the spot and we slipped in!

  Had a wonderful lunch at Inguanas and then headed back to our car.  As we crossed the parking lot we could feel the fever pitch of the drivers vying for the spot we were going to vacate! 

Got back mid-afternoon in time to take Billy to the Bark Park to play with his beloved tennis ball.  He played well with Darby until the ball became competition then all bets were off, courtesy forgotten and growling began!  Billy came home with a bad report card ….. Didn’t play well with others!

BILLY GUARDS HIS TOYS!

HE LOVES TO CATCH THE BALL IN THE AIR!

The group ate out at Zachery’s and it was very good.  I was still full from lunch so left most of my fried oysters behind!  Tomorrow we pack up and head up to Charleston.