Azalea Magazine Winter 2019

CELEBRATING TEN YEARS OF MODERN LIVING IN THE OLD SOUTH AN ANNIVERSARY RETROSPECTIVE / A SOUTHERN FOCUS: THE WORK OF BRANT BARRETT EXPLORING HISTORIC ATALAYA / RUSTIC BREAD REVIVAL / THE RHYTHM OF THE ASHLEY RIVER ARTIST DRAYTON SMITH / ETIQUETTE: THE SUPPER CLUB / SAVING THE WOODPECKER

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A Z A L E A

M A G A Z I N E

F E AT U R E S Winter 2019

Rise and Shine Cranberry Honey Walnut Artisan Bread

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THE BIG TEN

A SOUTHERN FOCUS

A F O RT R E S S O F C R E AT I V I T Y

RU S T I C REVIVAL

A decade ago, a couple with a dream set out to tell the stories of their beloved hometown. Ten years later, we celebrate the experiences our journey provided.

Photographer Brant Barrett invokes curiosity into his subjects, turning his lens onto the life of those we might otherwise just drive by without a second thought.

Less than a century ago, a pair of northerners landed on the sandy soil of the Waccamaw Neck, making an impact that still resonates today.

Using readily-available ingredients and simple techniques, any baker can whip up a warm batch of comfort, perfect for sharing with a neighbor or friend.

CONT ENT S

/ Winter 2019

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27 27

47

08 Editor’s Letter 12 Contributors FIELD GUIDE 15 Food 16 Etiquette - Supper Club 21 Literature

COLUMNS 35 Natural Woman

by Susan Frampton 39 Kids These Days

by Tara Bailey

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SOUTHERN LIFE 23 Southern Spotlight - Conservation 27 Southern Spotlight - Art 31 Southern Spotlight - Conservation

43 Life & Faith

by Lili Hiser OPEN HOUSE 47 Redefining Paradise Balancing the aesthetics of an authentic farmhouse with a contemporary interior THE SOCIAL 87 Kitchen Tour THE VILLAGE POET 88 Winter Picnic

On The Cover: Our namesake, and the South's favorite shrub.

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AZALEAMAG.COM Winter 2019

A place where neighbors smile, wave and call you by name.

At Carnes Crossroads, you’ll find a thoughtfully planned community where charming neighborhoods are situated among beautiful parks and lakes. Shops, restaurants and conveniences are emerging within a growing town. And homes from four award-winning builders reflect today’s modern lifestyles and the timeless grace of Lowcountry living.

New Homes from the mid $200s Come Visit: Monday – Saturday: 10:00am – 5:30pm Sunday: Noon – 5:30pm

CarnesCrossroads.com Information Center | 513 Wodin Place | Summerville, SC

Experience the Pinewood difference.

At Pinewood, the words “Risk,” “Truth,” and “Exploration” go far beyond the school’s crest. Students are encouraged to develop their character and expand their knowledge by applying these core values every day.

EDITOR’S LETTER

Ten Years of Modern Living in the Old South Celebrating our first decade and those who have been a part of it Time flies. It feels like just yesterday that we had an idea. It was a simple idea: to share important stories. No, we weren't going to cover U.S. foreign policy, world leaders, or the daily lives of royal families.

But, through honest words and meaningful images, we could tell the stories of the people and places that shaped—and were continuing to shape—a community: our important stories.

In winter of 2009, we launched Azalea Magazine-Modern Living in the Old South. This was my Editor's Letter from our very first issue:

Dedicated to Excellence in Pre-K3 through Grade 12 • • • • • • • •

College preparatory curriculum IDEA Lab (STEM) program Visual and performing arts Smaller class sizes Interscholastic athletic teams Community engagement opportunities Extracurricular clubs and organizations Experiential learning through class trips

Schedule a visit today: 843.873.1643, ext. 2023 admissions@pinewoodprep.com

We try to take the kids to Disney World as much as time and money will allow–by the way, neither of which have been all that generous lately.

There’s something about the 107 acres of Central Florida that just feel good. Magic Kingdom is the original of the four parks and is still one of the most visited places in the world. It’s always our first stop. When we finally see the steeples of Cinderella’s castle hovering above the trees, it always dilutes the stresses of a million “are we there yet{s}.”

It was our last visit, two summers ago, that the irony hit me.

You see, when you pass through the front gates, you enter another world. Walt Disney could have chosen anything–a land laden with dinosaurs or a distant planet, but he chose to greet his guests with what he called "Main

Street U.S.A.,” a panorama of early American architecture and personality. I couldn’t help but notice how similar the scene was to the hometown I had just left.

Azalea is a celebration of Summerville and the many simple wonders that surround her. Please allow us to trim a few trees and shed some light on the sights, sounds, people, and culture that make Summerville so unique. You may not find a roller coaster or a seven foot mouse waiting around the corner, but I assure you—there will be plenty of magic.

In that first Editor’s Letter, “Magic" was a word I used to connect our community with the iconic one that Mr. Disney created. But what we found was bigger than that—better than that. See, magic is make-believe. What we uncovered over the last decade was authentic—a grace and charm that reflects the hearts of real people and the beauty of real places.

This tenth anniversary, we celebrate the stories that we have had the opportunity to tell and the countless number of people who have contributed to bringing them to life.

We celebrate you, the reader. You are at the heart of why we do this. We celebrate our business partners. Thank you for being with us along the way. It has been an incredible decade. Here's to the next ten years and the many stories waiting to be told.

Will Rizzo Editor In Chief

Now Open Tucked into the tall pine trees near Carnes Crossroads, sits the first new hospital in Berkeley County for 45 years. Our newest addition brings quality healthcare closer to home for thousands of our neighbors, family and friends.

The new hospital is more than just a smartly designed building with the latest medical technology. Inside you’ll find the comfort of familiar faces and the Roper St. Francis care you know, trusted by generations of Lowcountry families.

To learn about the full range of services offered at our hospital visit rsfh.com/berkeley.

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It’s a big world out there‌ are you protected?

We provide concierge insurance services for high value homeowners and business owners in Summerville, Nexton, Del Web, Carnes Crossroads and Cane Bay. Visit us today at our Summerville office (upstairs in Town Square), one of four Taylor Agency locations serving the Lowcountry.

Will Rizzo Editor in Chief will@azaleamag.com Dottie Rizzo Managing Editor dottie@azaleamag.com Susan Frampton Senior Editor Jana Riley Senior Editor & Copy Editor Lewis Frampton Distribution Manager

www.tayloragency.com

Leslie Phinney, Personal 843.762.3372 Buck Inabinet, Commercial 843.762.3373

Contributors Tara Bailey Virgil Bunao Elizabeth Donehue Susan Frampton Lili Hiser Ellen Hyatt Jessy Devereaux Mitcham Jana Riley Amy Sherman Jason Wagener Advertising Inquiries Susie Wimberly susie@azaleamag.com 843.568.7830

Subscribe *Available for $16.99 a year (4 Issues). Visit azaleamag.com for details.

Azalea Media

114B E. Richardson Ave. Summerville, SC 29483 info@azaleamag.com www.azaleamag.com 843.478.7717

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AZALEAMAG.COM Winter 2019

The Crescent Difference L O C A L .

I N N O V A T I V E .

Beyond the

F L E X I B L E .

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CONTRIBUTORS

SUSAN FRAMPTON Writer & Editor

LILI HISER Writer

AMY SHERMAN Baker

JANA RILEY Writer & Editor

Never dreaming that anyone would read her ramblings, Susan Frampton scribbled her way through two wildly different careers before accidently becoming a writer. These days, when away from the keyboard, she follows the antics of her accident-prone husband, nurses pine-coneswallowing wiener dogs, reads late into the night, and counts her many blessings.

Lili Gresham Hiser was born in Charleston, SC and raised in both the Lowcountry and Central Florida. She invested more than ten years of service in the non-profit/ higher education sector and many years as Communication Studies adjunct faculty. She and her husband enjoy reexperiencing life in the South through the eyes of their young children.

A self-taught baker and cook, Amy is passionate about bringing people together over her delicious creations.

When she isn't whipping something up in the kitchen to share with her neighbors, Amy is busy creating healing concoctions at a small-town pharmacy. Amy lives with her husband and two children in Summerville.

A lifelong explorer, Jana Riley delights in discovering the passions and personal journeys of everyone she meets. When she isn't crafting inspiring tales with Azalea Magazine, she can be found seeking ways to bring her community together at Public Works Art Center, falling madly in love with her sweet family, and exploring destinations near and far.

JESSY DEVEREAUX MITCHAM Writer

JASON WAGENER Illustrator

TARA BAILEY Writer

DOTTIE RIZZO Photographer

Jason began his illustrious art career when he won a coloring contest in third grade, subsequently entitling him the proud owner of a Mickey Mouse dry erase board.

He moved to the Lowcountry in 1990 and save an education at the Savannah College of Art and Design, has remained a faithful transplant ever since.

Tara Bailey lives in Summerville with her husband and three daughters, assuming the one in college comes home to visit.

She has worked as a naturalist, a teacher, a writer, and an editor, balancing her love of the outdoors with her compulsion to alter sentences. She enjoys natural history, horror movies, and reads anything in print.

When she’s not behind the lens or running a taxi service for her two children, Paris and Davison, she’s plotting an overthrow of Martha Stewart to become The New Queen of Crafting.

Jessy is a writer and the Social Media Coordinator. Born and raised in Summerville, Jessy loves to spend her free time exploring the outdoors, hiking and kayaking around the Lowcountry with her husband and children.

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AZALEAMAG.COM Winter 2019

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W W W. S H E L B O U R N E FA C E . C O M

One fall a few years ago, when 82 Queen Executive Chef Steve Stone couldn't find enough apples readily available to make apple pie, he utilized what was available in the Lowcountry green tomatoes.

Treating sliced green tomatoes like apples in a traditional apple pie with sugar and cinnamon, Stone developed a Green Tomato Pie at 82 Queen that deceives even the most experienced apple pie eater. "Green tomatoes are very similar to green apples being that they are both firm and tart," he says.

"They're a perfect substitute for apples in a fall pie!"

Green Tomato Pie Steve Stone Executive Chef, 82 Queen

Crumb Topping

Filling

1 cup flour ½ cup brown sugar ½ cup white sugar 1 tsp cinnamon ½ cup butter, softened

6 cups sugar 1 cup flour ½ cup corn starch 2 tsp cinnamon 1 tsp salt ¼ cup cider vinegar 5-6 green tomatoes, sliced thin 9 inch deep dish pie shell

*combine all of these and mix until pea sized

*Mix sugar, flour, cornstarch, cinnamon and salt. Toss green tomatoes in cider vinegar.

Combine dry mixture and green tomatoes. Arrange tomatoes in pie shell, layering until slightly higher than pie shell. Cover pie with crumb topping and bake at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes (or until golden brown and filling is set). AM Winter 2019 AZALEAMAG.COM

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ELIZABETH DONEHUE

“Meet Elizabeth... arbiter of social graces. Passionate volunteer with a heart for hospitality and cultivating community. She lives in Summerville with her husband and three boys."

" At a dinner party one should eat wisely but not too well, and talk well but not too wisely.

"

W. Somerset Maugham

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AZALEAMAG.COM Winter 2019

ETIQUETTE

Join The Club

Deepen old friendships and cultivate new ones with these tips for a Perfectly-Southern supper club Whether an impromptu Lowcountry boil or a well-executed potluck, we Southerners know that breaking bread with others is the timehonored approach to deepening old friendships and cultivating new ones.

Supper club, meeting and dining on a regular basis, is a strategic method that guarantees staying in touch with friends. There are certain ingredients that make any party a success and supper club is no exception. Lets talk tips for supper club success:

Decide the Structure There are no fixed rules for supper clubs, but there is consistency on certain points. Members meet regularly and take turns hosting. Before the first supper club takes place, choose how often you plan to meet. Find dates that work for everyone.

Show Up The key to a cohesive club is to remain committed and participate regularly. Part of the fun is knowing you will see this group of friends on a regular basis.

Choose Members Wisely Who do you want in your Supper Club? Is it a couples thing? Just for the girls? Friends you see regularly? Friends you hardly see?

Mix it Up Try a formal meal, drinks and appetizers, a wine tasting evening, a casual cookout, a themed meal or a picnic at the park.

Keep the list anywhere between 6 and 10, but smaller groups tend to be better - it keeps the group intimate and is easier to fit around a table.

Food matters to supper clubs, but consistent fellowship and lasting friendships matter most.

What are you waiting for? Call up your friends and start planning supper! AM

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Through the expansion of our Women’s and Children’s services, we’re delivering the ultimate mom and baby experience with all of the mom and baby care you need in one convenient location.

Learn more at TridentHealthSystem.com/MomandBaby.

Winter 2019 AZALEAMAG.COM

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LANDSC AP E Location

The Badham House Photographed by

Dottie Rizzo Three years ago, we featured this historic house, and the beautiful family that called it home.

Herman and Harriet Holman, both retired from the military, had found the house of their dreams in the community where Herman was raised. Harriet serves on Dorchester County Council. In the early morning of October 27, the house caught fire and was completely destroyed. The Holman's 29-year-old son, Tonie, perished in the fire. Our thoughts, and more importantly, our prayers are with the Holman family.

Winter 2019 AZALEAMAG.COM

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Where your family belongs.

JOIN TODAY.

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A Life of Love Throughout their story—getting married (though neither could remember the exact day), living on Fripp Island, SC, traveling both separately and together, then moving to Beaufort only a few years before Pat’s final illness— Cassandra’s spellbinding voice and gift for atmosphere transport readers into her life with Pat, a world paradoxically both tumultuous and surprisingly serene.

Without sentimentality, she reveals a man genial, generous, funny, but wounded and unpredictable, a man she understands as no other person possibly could.

And just as Cassandra discloses afflictions in Pat’s life, she divulges her own torments.

They are a couple who connect deeply in a relationship where petty annoyances seem insignificant, each finding joy and peace instead. AM

Meet the Author Cassandra King will be speaking in Summerville on February 9.The presentation will begin at 2:00 pm at the Bethany United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall, 118 W. 3rd Street South, Summerville. A “meet the author” reception will follow at the Timrod Library. For more info, or to purchase tickets, contact the Timrod at (843) 871-4600

My Life With Pat Conroy Bestselling author Cassandra King Conroy considers her life and the man she shared it with, paying tribute to her husband, Pat Conroy, the legendary figure of modern Southern literature.

Winter 2019 AZALEAMAG.COM

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L I F E & C U L T U R E from O U R L I T T L E S L I C E of T H E S O U T H

Big Bend Every curve of these waterways holds secrets to discover

The Rhythm of the River Though we once almost lost sight of it, organizations like Lord Berkeley Conservation Trust help remind us that the essence of the Lowcountry still rides in the currents of the Ashley River.

photo by Virgil Bunao

by Susan Frampton

Featuring: The Rhythm of the River pg. 23 / Canvassing a Legacy pg. 27 / Feathered Fighter pg. 31 / Natural Woman pg. 35 / Kids These Days pg. 39 / Life & Faith pg. 43

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The Rhythm of the River

here was a time when the river was everything, and the Lowcountry moved to the rhythm of the Ashley River.

Slow, straightforward, and stained by decaying vegetation to the deep, rich color of tea, its black water eased from the swamps before traveling the diverse landscape transforming it to a brackish river. Gathering speed and volume from the tributaries along the way, the river eventually surrendered to the influence of the sea, becoming flavored by the tides before flowing free into the wide world beyond its banks.

"Eventually, all things merge into one, and a river runs through it," Norman McClean once wrote of a river that defined his life. In many ways, his words describe the Ashley River's influence on the people and places it has touched for centuries on its journey to the sea. His words speak an indisputable truth that resonates with many, for the river has long carried with it the very essence of who we are.

Along its banks, mighty oaks have lent shade to both those who rested and those who labored. On its rising tide, the world sailed to our doorstep. On its ebb tide, we, and the fruits of our labor were launched out into the world.

An age-old question asks of us, 'How will our children know who they are if they don't know where they come from?" The same might

T

photo by Jacquie Conners

Water Works Opposite page: Recreation on the waters of Cypress Gardens.

This page: Chris Vaughn, Executive Director of Lord Berkeley Conservation Trust; Schultz Lake

26 AZALEAMAG.COM Winter 2019

be asked of the Ashley River. To truly know it – to fully appreciate its contributions to our past, present, and future, we must understand where it comes from, and the significance of each mile of its journey.

The broad, saltwater river that leads to Charleston and the ocean beyond begins its journey to the sea some 60 miles upstream amidst the knobby knees of Berkeley and Dorchester Counties' cypress trees.

That often comes as a surprise to many, according to Chris Vaughn, Executive Director of Lord Berkeley Conservation Trust (LBCT).

"Most think of the Ashley River only in terms of the stretch that runs from the historic plantations into Charleston. Even locals who have spent years on the Ashley River don't realize that it doesn't start right around the Highway 17A area in Dorchester County."

But over 200 years ago, far upriver from the plantations that famously represent the Lowcountry, the community of Ridgeville, SC, and the rough-hewn cabins of Cypress Methodist Campground were strategically built on a ridge alongside Cypress Swamp – the highest point in the Ashley River's headwaters. Berkeley County's Wassamassaw Swamp and Dorchester County's Cypress Swamp were both essential to early life in this region. Settlers here employed inland swamp rice-growing technology, a method largely overlooked in contrast to tidewater rice production. Remnants of dikes built to facilitate the grain's growth are still evident in many areas.

Through the centuries, when asked, the river answered and served its people well. In addition to providing wild game and fish as a food source, the Ashley River also fed the fields where rice was cultivated, and provided access for barges and other vessels to carry the crop to world markets. As rice production declined in the years following the Civil War, the needs of the region changed. The Ashley once again answered, offering up the resources of its watershed.

Recently, along with like-minded organizations, LBCT was a participant in a project to conserve some of the last undeveloped waterfronts along the Ashley River and to restore wetlands in the King's Grant development for a public park, walking trail and canoe and kayak launch owned and operated by the City of North Charleston.

But upstream, where the majority of the land along the headwaters is forested, farmed, or serves as wildlife habitat, the Ashley River is not protected, leaving it particularly vulnerable to development pressures from both east and west. For LBCT, founded in 1992 to help permanently conserve environmentally and historically sensitive lands within a nine-county region bordering Berkeley County, the area is of critical importance.

"Of all the areas LBCT works, the Ashley River Headwaters is perhaps the most threatened of all due to its proximity to I-26 and to several large industrial developments," says Vaughn, "Land use in the headwaters impacts every community downstream. Urban growth in this region is unavoidable, but wisely planned growth will help every community along the Ashely River corridor to connect with the river in the most positive ways, and to develop a vision for what it should look like in the future."

This year, along with Weyerhaeuser, LBCT announced the permanent protection and restoration of Big Run. With 2,485 acres and

photo by Jacquie Conners

Large tracts along the river were consolidated for commercial timber production. Vast deposits of phosphate-laden marl were discovered nearby, and docks began to dot the shoreline. At one time, the land along the Ashley River produced one-half of the world's mined phosphate. But by 1938, the phosphate boom was over, and in its wake, a dramatic environmental bill was left to be paid. With devastatingly high phosphorus levels left behind, the generous river that had given us our identity was in danger of losing its own.

By mid-century, rather than surrender to the residual pollution, those who would see the river restored and revered for its historical, natural, and cultural contributions took note. More importantly, they began to take action. In 1976, under the South Carolina Scenic Rivers Act of 1974, the portion of the Ashley River from Summerville's Bacon's Bridge downstream to Bull's Creek was declared eligible for designation as a State Scenic River.

The tide continued to turn in the years just before the new millennium with the establishment of the Ashley Scenic River Council, and implementation of the Ashley River Management Plan. As the new century moved forward, in 2014, the Ashley River Blue Trail was created to help communities to explore the river through fishing, boating, and wildlife watching. As a result, the Blue Trail also increased recreation and tourism opportunities, adding local businesses and the economy in general while helping to protect river health and wildlife.

Today, due to the efforts of individuals, landowners, communities, local governments, and conservation organizations like LBCT, tremendous strides have been made. The Lowcountry's unique resources and quality of life have led to its ranking as one of the most rapidly growing regions in the country.

six miles of braided streams in Berkeley County, Big Run contains critical wetlands within the Ashley River's headwaters. It is part of a larger conservation initiative to create a greenbelt around the Charleston Metro area.

Extending from the Ashley River at Charleston Harbor, the Big Run parcel evolves upstream into Cypress Swamp, then into the braided stream system of Big Run Creek, before ending at the southern edge of Lake Moultrie. To date, Lord Berkeley Conservation Trust has protected more than 40,000 acres permanently through easements and acquisitions. The easement serves as an anchor that will hopefully be a catalyst for additional land protection along the headwaters.

"These kinds of cooperative efforts and this type of wise land management are the key to preserving a positive future for the Ashley River, and others like it," says Vaughn. "The cost of doing nothing is simply unacceptable."

If we are wise, the very essence of South Carolina will continue to be carried into the future on the clear waters of an outgoing tide that will once again tell the world who we are and what we value. The river is everything to the rhythm of the Lowcountry, and although we may have at one time lost sight of that, Lord Berkeley Conservation Trust and others like it have reminded us of the words are as relevant today as they were when we first saw the sunlight on the Ashley: "Eventually, all things merge into one, and a river runs through it."AM

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SEWE-Azalea_HP_JAN20.indd 1

10/30/2019 3:17:07 PM

Living Color Rutherford Smith sits in his office, surrounded by the works of his brilliant brother, Drayton Smith

SO U THER N SPO TL I GHT

ARTS

Canvassing a Legacy Artist Drayton Smith quietly lived a full and inspiring life in Summerville, creating beautiful art and traveling the world. Recently, some of his best work was found in an unexpected place, bringing to light his talents once more.

by Jana Riley

utherford “Rudd” Smith, a lawyer, sits in his Downtown Summerville office, reflecting on the memory of his brother Drayton, who passed away in 2010. As Rudd recalls experiences and conversations with Drayton, an emotion fills the room, so palpable one can feel it in their soul: pride. Rudd Smith is exceptionally proud to be Drayton Smith’s brother. After a life spent enjoying sporadic, yet inspiring deep connections with his youngest brother, Rudd has every reason to look back on the man’s life with love and pride.

R

Alongside their other brother, Greg, Drayton and Rudd had a lovely upbringing, by all accounts. Rudd was the oldest, with Greg three years behind him and Drayton another three years younger than Greg.

The trio spent their childhood living in beautiful places and making wonderful friends, practices that continued when they moved to Summerville in 1960.

With six years between them, Drayton and Rudd were not exceptionally close in their younger years, but all that changed as they entered adulthood. Rudd went to Washington and Lee University for undergraduate school, and finished in 1968. After a stint in the military, Rudd went back to Washington and Lee for Law School in 1970, at which point Drayton was attending the same school for his undergraduate degree. When Rudd and his wife had a son, Drayton became a wonderful uncle, stopping by Rudd’s house to spend time with his nephew, and later becoming a mentor to the boy.

During Drayton’s visits, Drayton and Rudd became closer, often spending hours talking, striving to better understand one another as they shared their different outlooks on the world.

“Describing Drayton, the first adjective I would choose for him is intellectual,” muses Rudd Smith. “He was not only the Winter 2019 AZALEAMAG.COM

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Canvassing a Legacy

Life's Work This page: samples of Drayton Smith's collection

best athlete of the three of us, but he had the broadest interests, the sharpest mind, and he could talk about anything, though he really liked discussing religion, philosophy, and metaphysics.

Drayton’s library had so much of that stuff, and every one of his books was dog eared and had notes in the margin.”

After their shared time at Washington and Lee University, it wasn’t long before Rudd and Drayton went their separate ways once again. After graduating with a cum laude degree in Fine Arts, Drayton dove deeper into his art career. He went back to the Lowcountry and taught at Porter-Gaud, then moved to Baltimore, where he worked at a hotel, often connecting with media and sports elite. In 1986, he acquired a Masters Degree in Art Education from USC, moved back to the Lowcountry once again, and taught at College Park Middle School until 30 AZALEAMAG.COM Winter 2019

his retirement in 2002. But it was in his travels that Drayton, who never married, truly pursued his love. In Florence, Rome, Paris, London, and other artistic meccas, Drayton honed his skills and deepened his appreciation for all things creative. He attended cooking school in Paris, and conducted funded, independent research at the Louvre. Across the globe, he sculpted, made pottery, took photographs, wrote poetry, sketched imagery, carved wood, acted in the theater, and, perhaps more than anything, painted. No matter where he was, one thing remained constant: his unwavering desire to create.

“For being a creative type, Drayton was super disciplined about what he did,” recalls Rudd Smith. “He would take six months and work on nothing but a single technique or a single medium, doing it over and over until he felt he got it right. It was incredible.”

Drayton created countless works of art in his life, and his work was displayed in shows across the world. Nonetheless, his overall sales were modest. Many of Drayton Smith’s works of art were given by the artist to professors and friends, a practice that seemed to be worth so much more than any monetary gain. Still, recognizing his brother’s talents, Rudd would often implore his brother to create work to sell.

“I’d say, ‘Drayton, why don’t you sell some of your work?,’” remembers Rudd. “He’d reply, ‘I know what the market wants, but I have to feel what I am creating. What the market wants does not fit how I feel.’ For Drayton, the value was much more about the emotional process of creating works of art than any sort of commercial success.”

In 2003, Drayton went into kidney failure, spurred on by an onset of adult diabetes in his late 30’s. Though the prognosis was grim, the unfortunate turn of events brought the two brothers closer together once again.

Rudd started visiting Drayton to help out, beginning with once-weekly visits that later turned into much more regular care.

“Eventually, I was effectively responsible for his care,” says Rudd. “But the time spent with him during those days provided occasions for some wonderful conversations. I’d clean up his house, and I’d ask him to tell me the stories behind what I found, including his artworks. I really treasure those memories.”

In 2010, Drayton Smith succumbed to his illness. On his tombstone, his mother chose to inscribe “True to His Own Spirit,” a statement the family believes accurately sums up the enigma that was Drayton Smith.

After a time, Rudd began the process of selling his brother’s Kings Grant home, including taking an inventory of all of his paintings and other artworks. After packing up the last box, Rudd went into the home one more time to make certain the home was empty and ready to sell. In the shadows of the attic, he discovered a pile of carpet scraps, and brought it downstairs for inspection. Within the pile, he found crumpled canvases, obviously discarded by the artist.

“It knocked my socks off,” remembers Rudd. “These were bigger pieces than anything I had seen from my brother, and the colors were more brilliant than any of his other works. I took them to an appraiser who had seen some of Drayton’s other works, and he said, ‘Rudd, these are the most valuable ones you’ve got here, the ones crumpled under the carpet scraps!’”

Rudd kept the works close, treasuring them within the family for years, until he met

A Brother's Love Rudd Smith shows off one of his brother's linocut pieces; the artist in a playful mood; Drayton experimented with color and texture to create gripping pieces.

local artist April Aldrich, who offered to take a look at the collection for him. Like Rudd, she immediately recognized the intrinsic value of Drayton Smith’s works.

“It’s rare to come across a body of work this size, which spans the course of decades,” says April. “It really is incredible.”

Together, the two are working through the collection, forging a path forward to share the skillful works of the incredible Drayton Smith with the world. Aldrich imagines a future where Drayton’s artworks hang in galleries far and wide, on display for anyone to experience, and purchase if they’d like. Notably, Rudd Smith clarifies that the primary intention behind sharing Drayton’s works of art is not financial, but rather an endeavor to connect people with his brother’s legacy.

“We do not necessarily need to sell the artwork, but we want to share how extraordinary Drayton was. He lived such a good life and there is so much to learn from him. It seems to me you need to celebrate a life well lived, and that’s what we are doing here.”AM For more information about the works of Drayton Smith, follow @draytonsmithart on Instagram.

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Wood Workers A vintage illustration of a RedCockaded Woodpecker

SO U THER N SPO TL I GHT

C O N S E R VA T I O N

Feathered Fighters With a little help from their fellow soldiers, on Columbia’s Fort Jackson, a species has fought its way back from the edge of extinction.

by Susan Frampton

here are several reasonable explanations for the persistent rat-tattat you might on Fort Jackson, the U.S. Army’s main production center for Basic Combat Training in Columbia, SC. Charged with providing trained, disciplined, motivated and physically fit warriors, Fort Jackson turns out over 48,000 basic training soldiers, and 12,000 additional advanced training soldiers every year. The sound could be target practice on one of the 100 ranges. Or a construction project on the 52,000 acres that

T

also house the U.S. Army Soldier Support Institute, Armed Forces Army Chaplaincy Center, National Center for Credibility Assessment, and the Army’s Drill Sergeant Training School.

The last thing one might expect is that a small feathered creature is at the center of the ruckus – one that is hard at work on a new residence. But amidst the military installation’s training fields, rifle ranges, and 1,160 buildings, a rare bird species has taken

up residence. In the comeback story of the century, the hard-working little army is setting records.

Once prolific, the Red-Cockaded Woodpecker population diminished by about 99% after Europeans settled in America. They dropped from around 1.6 million family groups to approximately 5,600, as 97% of the primary longleaf pine habitat system was lost to settlement, timber harvesting, urbanization, and agriculture. Officially labeled “enWinter 2019 AZALEAMAG.COM

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Feathered Fighters

dangered” in 1970, the birds came under the protection of the Endangered Species Act in 1973.

Territorial and non-migratory, the species is about the size of a cardinal. Its name is derived from a small red patch, or cockade, that the male wears on each side of its black cap. The pop of color stands out from the body’s horizontal black and white stripes.

Homebuilding is serious business for the breeding male, and he is particular about the neighborhood he selects for his project.

While other woodpeckers bore out cavities in dead trees where the wood is rotten and soft, the red-cockaded woodpecker exclusively selects mature, living pine trees.

Though it can take longer, cavity excavation takes one to six years. Additional cavities added to the original create a cluster for the species’ complex, cooperative social system, with family groups that consist of a breeding pair and up to four male (rarely female) offspring from previous years. These offspring, known as “helpers” assist in incubating eggs and brooding and feeding nestlings produced by the breeding pair.

The forests of Fort Jackson hold many coniferous woods but consist primarily of Longleaf Pine. Some Loblolly Pine and planted Slash Pine grow on upland sites with an understory of various Scrub Oak species. Wetland drains are dominated by Red Maple, Yellow Poplar, and other hardwoods. The areas managed for Red-cockaded Woodpeckers feature park-like conditions. Prescribed burning is done at regular intervals although a backlog of areas with no-burn histories remains. Some open spaces and fields are present, but most of the area is heavily forested, except the developed area at the western end of the Reservation.

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Within this habitat, humans can replicate sites favorable for the woodpeckers’ homebuilding process.

Within this habitat, humans can replicate sites favorable for the woodpeckers’ homebuilding process. In 2007, the Army was tasked with helping to create habitats to aid in the recovery of the endangered species. It was a joint exercise that demanded cooperation from both human and feathered forces.

Before the first breeding pairs could be released into the pines, trees were selected as home sites for the birds. The outer layer of bark of these trees was ground off, and sections cut out to make room for the placement of artificial cavities. Once in place, the man-made openings were covered with putty and paint to match the natural bark on the tree.

In 2015, Fort Jackson welcomed two pairs of the birds who carried on their tiny backs the hope of a new start for the species. Over 6,801 acres of the longleaf pine that is the Red-cockaded Woodpeckers’ preferred habitat has been restored. According to many measures, the 2018 nesting season was the best on the books, with the number of active clusters up by 7%, and the number of groups of trees with inhabited cavities up from 41 to 44. There were 41 potential breeding groups with at least one fertile male and female, with 37 reportedly attempted nesting. A new record of 150 eggs was laid, beating the previous record of 125, and more than 80 hatched.

Installation biologists use herbicides to convert some slash pine forests to longleaf pine forests and keep underbrush low to improve the bird’s habitats. On average, over the past five years, 11,819 acres have been burned on post annually, along with 2,388 thinned. Fire is essential to maintaining and restoring southern pine ecosystems, particularly the longleaf pine ecosystem, and is critical to red-cockaded woodpecker habitat maintenance and restoration.

With recovery plan guidelines calling for an annual average growth rate of 5% on all recovery populations, the industrious Redcockaded Woodpeckers have met and exceeded the goal set for them. The rat-tat-tat that sounds in the forests of Fort Jackson is a welcome sound. The new homes being built and new families raised will help repopulate a species almost lost to South Carolina. The war has not quite yet been won, but the joint operation is an example of what is possible when an army of soldiers comes to the aid of a determined group of feathered fighters. AM

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N AT U R A L WOMAN

Some Days Are Better Than Others The good and bad days are the ones we remember, but it’s the Tuesdays that teach us the difference.

by Susan Frampton

I

awoke to the sound that alerts all experienced pet owners of impending disaster as surely as air raid sirens warn of incoming bombs. To my sleep-addled mind, the immediacy of the “upcoming” event didn’t quite register, but once the dog barfed down the neck of my pajamas, it was too late to take evasive action.

I should have known at that moment that it would be one of those days.

engine and walk away, and when you come back, it has either suffered some kind of automotive arrhythmia or been the victim of a mechanical murder. Whichever one had stricken Old Silver, it didn’t sound good.

The sheets were barely in the washing machine when my husband hopped in his truck to run an errand, and a hideous screaming sound came from beneath the hood. It’s always been a mystery to me that an automobile can be perfectly fine when you turn off the

I had yet to even have coffee, and this certainly didn’t appear to be the day to give up caffeine, so I dilly-dallied, savoring a fresh cup of wake-up while waiting for the sheets to finish spinning in the washer.

When the phone rang, and the voice on the other end began sputter-

Coaxing the truck out of the driveway and calling from the driver’s seat, my husband shouted, “I’m going to try and get her to Tupperway,” and began a blistering 3 mph sprint across town.

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N AT U R A L WOMAN

ing indignantly, I was a little confused.

“I cannot believe you would speed right on by and leave me on the side of the road!” railed my husband. “It’s bad enough that every other car on the road has been shaking their fist at me. It’s not like I like crawling along! Jeez, what is wrong with people? You didn’t even wave!”

I let him run out of steam before I broke the news. “I haven’t left the house yet. That wasn’t me.”

“Oh. Are you sure?”

I was sure. Taking that as my cue to get it in gear, I grabbed my keys.

I wasn’t even to the stop sign at the end of the street before I realized that this day was not going to get any better. Inexplicably, all the electronic messaging in my car began to speak French.

After four years of Spanish classes, I took a French class in college. I never got much farther than, “Bonjour. Je m’appelle Susan,” before realizing that this had not been a smart educational move and dropped the class like a hot baguette. This situation was a painful reminder of my inability to parle français.

As though reading my mind, the car began cycling through all the romance languages. I almost launched into reciting the Pledge of Allegiance in Spanish to see if any of the words on the dashboard looked familiar. No comprende.

Regretting my inability to convert kilometers per hour to miles per hour, I sighed. It wasn’t even 10 o’clock and the day had gone to hell in a handbasket. I can laugh about it now, but at the time all I wanted to do was to put on fresh sheets, sell our cars, and go back to bed.

38 AZALEAMAG.COM Winter 2019

Twenty-odd years ago, I received a Christmas card from my GreatUncle James which he inscribed: “Merry Christmas. Some days are better than others.” Though my great aunt talked so fast that we could only assume she had an alternate oxygen source, he was a wise, slow-talking man of few words. On that basis, I interpreted his message as a thesis on the state of his and my great-aunt’s life as rural octogenarians. But it has stayed with me long enough to make me wonder if his words were a more profound philosophical guideline for life in general.

When we measure out the days of our lives by placing each one in a column of good or bad, there are those that stand out on either side.

When we measure out the days of our lives by placing each one in a column of good or bad, there are those that stand out on either side.

It’s easy to slap a label on the lifealtering days – the ones we will always remember, as bright red checks in the win column. Those days, we marry our true love, get the job, bring new life into the world, or step over the threshold of our first home.

We’ll also never forget those that fall squarely in the losing column and are recorded with bold, black X’s. We lose a loved one, say good-

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N AT U R A L WOMAN

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bye to a childhood home, receive disappointing news, or physically or metaphorically stumble and fall.

Both ends of the spectrum stand out in the stories we will tell of our lives.

In fact, most land somewhere inbetween. These are the Tuesdays of our lives, the days when we actually do the complicated business of living: loving and being loved, giving and taking, working and playing, waking and sleeping. On Tuesday, the peanut butter to jelly ratio may be perfect on our sandwich, or it may hit the floor jelly side down. Perhaps we hit all green lights only to find that someone took our parking space. Or maybe nothing happens at all.

Tuesdays don’t linger in our minds.

They lack the fresh start of Mondays, Wednesday’s mile marker of being halfway to the end of the week, the anticipation and planning that marks Thursday on the calendar, or the red carpet atmosphere of Friday, leading us to the celebratory and sacred weekend.

But where would we be without the Tuesdays that make us appreciate the extremes? They make the highs of the good days better and help us put the bad ones in perspective to look for the lessons, and sometimes the laughter.

I’ll always revel in memories of the good days, and try to find the lessons and laughter in the bad ones to soften their blow. The dog-barfing, multi-lingual, mistaken identity day was in the bad column, but it made the next bad one funnier when the same car randomly began blowing its horn in the middle of the night.

Uncle James was right. Some days really are better than others.

I know there will be many good days and bad days down the road.

I’m grateful for the Tuesdays that come in between to remind me of the difference. AM

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K ID S THESE D AY S

Party of Five

by Tara Bailey

M

y husband texted me when I was at the store buying a few things prior to a family weekend getaway. “Grab some cheap ponchos just in case it rains,” he said. I went down the camping aisle and put five pea green ponchos in the buggy, thinking the color would help us find each other in the crowded theme park where we were headed. The next day while packing a day bag for a full afternoon of walking, standing in lines, more walking, and more standing in lines, I counted out five Slimer-tinted ponchos - for four people. “I counted one for Nan!” I cried out. My heart had already been hurting a little that our oldest daughter couldn’t be with us, and seeing that lone, unpacked poncho made her absence more palpable.

My husband was sympathetic but more practical: “Hey, at least it will be easier to ride rides with an even number of people.

And there will be less fighting among the girls.” I don’t have to tell parents of odd numbers that having three kids means two, any two, always form a faction against the other at some point.

But I was willing to handle occasional squabbles and ride roller coasters with strangers if it meant that all five of us could be together.

When my oldest daughter went away to college, I didn’t think family events would change much, since her school is less than two hours away. I envisioned the same family weekend trips we had always done, just including an extra stop in Columbia to grab her along the way. As you now know from my superfluous poncho

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KIDS THESE D AY S experience, I was quite wrong. This change in family dynamics as well as headcounts began in the fall of her freshman year, when we were planning the details of our annual weekend to Table Rock State Park.

“There’s no way I can go,” she said.

She had school. She had stuff. I wasn’t too sad because Thanksgiving was around the corner, and soon after that I would have her for three whole weeks at Christmas.

Then Thanksgiving arrived, followed by three whole weeks of Christmas.

We were all overjoyed when she walked in the door for her first holiday after becoming a college woman, but I was also unprepared for the altered dynamic of a newly independent kid integrating back into a household with rules, curfews, a kitchen woefully understocked compared to a dining hall, and much older and younger housemates. That first November night we talked, visited, and shared stories, and when it was time for bed, I hugged her and told her how happy I was that she would be sleeping in her own bed tonight. “Oh, I’m about to go out.

Not sure when or if I’m coming back tonight.” “Tonight? It’s a school night for your sisters and a work night for the rest of us.” “I’ll be quiet when I come in. If I come home.” “Where are you going?” “Out.” “Where?”

“Don’t know yet.” “Who will you be with?” “Not sure yet.” And so it went.

Christmas was pretty similar, so needless to say, it was a while before she returned home for a visit. And it was a while before we drove up to see her. But just as I was craving her company for a week at our annual beach trip, I got the following text: “I’m not going to be able to go to the beach this year because of work.”

This, this would not do. This was our family reunion in our common “thin place,” as the ancient Celts would have called it, a week of joy and renewal and remembrance and connections.

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“What?”

“Maybe I could come down for like a day, but that’s it.”

She had scored her first paid internship, but I didn’t think it started so soon (this was the end of May, after all). But it did, and I had to come to grips with the fact that at age nineteen, my child would most likely be working full time somewhere each summer and holiday until her retirement. So I packed five beach towels, five bath towels, and five sets of sheets out of habit, only to have to stare at them unused in the bag once we got there. Well, not completely unused - she did pop by for a Saturday visit, hugging aunts, cousins, and grandparents and enjoying a sunset dinner before driving back to her adulthood.

You’d think that I’d be used to this routine by now, but I can’t imagine not counting her. We talk or text regularly, and I have more reason to be proud of the woman she is becoming with each passing day.

All the same, I bought five ponchos when four would do.

We got lucky on our recent family getaway. The rain held off until the morning were were leaving, though we did use those ponchos while loading up the car. As we rolled our suitcases out to the hotel portico, a young family of five was waiting outside for a shuttle to take them for a day of exhausting fun. The mom and three little girls were snug in their own ponchos while the dad was getting soaked. “Here,” I told him.

“I have an extra.” “Thanks!” said the man, and as we drove off I saw a flash of green loading his future memories onto an idling shuttle bus. I wish I could make him and his wife know just how fleeting that day would be so they would savor the long lines, meltdowns, and wet shoes. Because sooner than he realizes, he will be offering his extra poncho to a stranger. AM Winter 2019 AZALEAMAG.COM

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Pineapple Propaganda

T

L IF E & F A IT H

by Lili Hiser

he pineapple is the original crown of the south, especially in South Carolina. The pineapple pattern is peppered throughout many of our homes, in furniture carvings, paintings, fabrics, and decor. This exotic fruit’s most traditional throne is the entryway or front gates, serving as a symbol of our famous southern hospitality.

A true southern gal, I counted half a dozen pineapple influences in our own home just now. But this fruit is more than a decorative item around here; my kids love eating it, and recently I became curious to learn more about this once-pompous piece of produce.

In the 1700’s, the high-society American colonists were mesmerized by the alluring appearance of the pineapple and its heavenly

sweetness. This fruit became more than a rare tropical novelty; it became one of the leading symbols of power and extreme wealth…if you could afford one. Having one proudly displayed in your home for a social event sealed your status as upper-crust, because a pineapple had to survive the long boat trip from the Caribbean Islands. In today’s dollars, aristocrats paid as much as $8,000 for one pineapple! If you still wanted to impress your peers and did not have the cash to procure a pineapple, you could rent one to display at a gathering (and be prayerful that nothing happened to it or no one tried to sneak a bite)!

During my most recent trip to the grocery store, I spent less than $2 for a pineapple. Ironically, for its size, it is one of the most affordable fruits, and much fresher than anything the colonials

ILLUSTR AT ION by JASON WA G E N E R Winter 2019 AZALEAMAG.COM

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LIFE & FA I T H

purchased. Maybe because I am modern day middle-class, I cannot fathom spending thousands on fruit just to promote my affluence.

Ludicrous!

I may be too quick to criticize, though. Just as colonial America has evolved into the United States of America, much has changed about lifestyles, views of equality, education, and industry. What has not changed? Going to extremes to impress others. Three hundred years ago, this took the form of a prickly pricey fruit. What is it today? Maybe a type of home, boat, vehicle, or brand name. Beyond the tangible status symbols, this can be attending a specific school, pursuing a certain career, or marrying into a social class.

Enjoying nice things or success is not an issue—putting superior value on such things is the pitfall.

Philippians 2:3 reads, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.” As I reflect back on the $8,000 pineapple period, I have no doubt that, although some elites wanted the rare fruit just to show off their power, some wished to spare no expense in demonstrating their gratitude for their guests. Sure, the spending is still inconceivable—but from this latter perspective, hospitality is the pineapple legacy we celebrate today.

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These days when I serve pineapple to my kids, I feel a slight wave of guilt placing something of such soughtafter beauty on the cutting board.

While chopping it into bite-sized pieces, I recall the less-appealing, self-serving past of the fruit. As I place the fruit on plates for my kids, I am not only feeding them a midday snack, but reminding myself not to get caught up in impressing others or showing off success, but to pour into people and make them feel worthy, treasured, and welcomed, which is more valuable than any pineapple in history. AM Winter 2019 AZALEAMAG.COM

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Keys to Happiness Vintage touches abound in the Pelayo home

Redefining Paradise A creative local duo have taken the reigns on life, following their dreams and building their own version of paradise, right in Summerville’s back yard.

by Jessy Devereaux Mitcham

Winter 2019 AZALEAMAG.COM

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W

hat does paradise mean to you? For Jenna and Chris Pelayo, both born and raised in Hawaii, it is a familiar question, one they have contemplated since saying goodbye to the tropical islands they once called home. When they were 19 years old, the couple crossed the Pacific over to mainland America, and after being away for several years, their hearts began to ache for the oasis they left behind. They decided to take their dreams into their own hands, and are now the creators of their own personal paradise in a once-forgotten home in a small Southern town.

With the freedom to choose their destination, as well as fond memories held of past visits to Lake Tahoe, the couple left Hawaii for a year-long student exchange program in Nevada and began their new adventure. When the program was over and their introductory year in the continental United States 50 AZALEAMAG.COM Winter 2019

was up, it was time for the couple to make another move: this time to buy their first home. The possibilities were endless, and the housing market in Arizona was on the rise at the time, so Arizona it was.

Farmhouse Fresh This page: street view of the grand home; a warm fireplace is highlighted by decor made from local foliage. Opposite page clockwise: The entryway is inviting, complete with an adorable welcoming committee; exposed beams top a spacious kitchen; sitting on the wide front porch is encouraged; grand oaks highlight the property; fun is always in order at the Pelayo home.

The move to Arizona brought two realizations along with it: the first was in the form of two investment properties that they remodeled, bringing to light their mutual love of “fixer-uppers.” Their second epiphany was not a surprising one: “Arizona just wasn’t for us,” Jenna says. “We are water babies!” More interested in creating a new home than returning to their old one, they began a country-wide search with a checklist of what they were looking for: old, historic homes, friendly people, no snow, and a close proximity to the ocean (amazing seafood was a must). With that kind of criteria, it became clear that they belonged in the south, and after visiting a couple of Southern states, Charleston won their

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hearts. The couple spent almost two full years searching all around the Lowcountry for the right home and the right job transfer for Chris. In what seemed like a Christmas miracle, the stars aligned and pointed the way to the house that would soon become their forever home.

and restorations of their ancestor’s estate are just two small benefits of having a second family next door. Jenna and Chris want to return the home to being the authentic, antique treasure that it is, and they keep that in mind with every home improvement project. Whether it is by finding and using a left-behind broken chandelier in their chicken coop, or by using bricks that were salvaged from an old downtown Charleston road for the pathway leading up to the house, the pair have done what they can to have their home reflect the era in which it was created. The 1850s flooring, ceilings, mantles, and moulding are where they were originally intended to be by Henry Jamison himself, which is saying a lot for a building that was in shambles when the couple took ownership.

A final job interview and a well-timed showing of the house is what gave the couple the kind of certainty that they were not expecting. Chris walked into a dilapidated building behind a shopping center in Summerville, just a short drive from Charleston, and was astonished at how perfect it seemed for the pair. Despite the structural damage around him—a preview of the difficulties that were sure to come—he immediately knew that he was inside of their future home.

He put in an offer on the spot, even before calling Jenna to say, “This is our house. I just know this is the house we want.”

And just like that, it was theirs. The fact that they put the offer in at that time, and not waiting until after the holidays is ultimately what gave them their home. They later found out that the house had recently become a hot-ticket item in the local real estate market; nearly every person who toured the building ended up making an offer on it. Despite winning the historic home jackpot, their journey was far from over. The house had been sitting vacant for ten years and was deemed “non-liveable” by the bank. Walls, wiring, floors, and doors were missing from all over, and a fair share of looters over the years had picked the house clean. They had three months of extreme renovations ahead of them that would get it to a condition that was even considered liveable.

If it was not enough to restore one of Summerville’s oldest properties from an abandoned lot to an admired estate, the two have tackled most of the renovations themselves, only calling in the professionals when it was dangerous not to do so. Neither one of them had experience taking down a ceiling, but that did not stop them from learning how when it was time for the kitchen’s ceiling to go. They did the necessary research, watched enough how-to videos, and now the kitchen boasts the original beams and beadboard from when the house was first built, showcasing just a small part of their talent, hard work, and dedication.

For so many years before it was the Pelayo’s home, it sat forgotten. Located outside of the confines of the town’s

Before the test of time took over, the house had a solid history behind it. It was built in the 1800s by Henry Alfred Jamison, who built it as a token of love for his wife, Emily. Within every aspect of the house, he paid incredible attention to the details, floor to ceiling. His use of heart pine flooring (wood from old, slow-growing pine trees, sought after for its natural high quality) that he harvested from the abundant pines of Middleton Plantation, was just one of many testaments to the fact that he spared no expense when it came to the love of his life. When the Jamison family’s time in the house had come and gone, the next generation of owners moved in. Near the turn of the twentieth century, one of Dorchester County’s first high-profile political figures, Sheriff Orin “Bossy” Limehouse acquired the house, where it stayed in the same family for over a hundred years.

The Pelayo family purchased the house in 2017, and it soon became clear that they had some sort of responsibility to pay homage to the generations who lived in the home before them, so they began to seek out information about the past residents of their future residence. The two new owners did not have to look far; soon after the house was deemed safe to live in, they discovered that the fourth-generation great grandson of the man who built the house was renting the home right next door. The distant relative gave them a better idea of what the house was like in its prime, when it sat on ten acres of land that has since been (mostly) turned into a largescale housing development. By befriending the neighbor next door, the Pelayo duo gained more than a friendship: they now consider his family to be part of their own. Spending holidays together, and including them in the process of the renovations 52

AZALEAMAG.COM Winter 2019

Field of Dreams This page: Jenna and Chris on the steps of their dream home.

Opposite:The side yard boasts a white picket fence and chicken coop, making it a picturesque, fun stop on a tour of the estate.

historic downtown area, the house was not officially recognized as part of Summerville’s Historic District until 2012, which also made the property eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. With the home both literally and figuratively on the map once more, these hard-working homeowners are sure to prevent it from falling off the map again. Offering events such as Goat Yoga (a fun exercise class that involves goats walking around while you stretch) and homemade goods such as handpainted furniture, goats’ milk goodies, and honey products (made with the help of their backyard bees), together, using the help of the welcoming community around them, the Pelayo team is putting the once-ramshackled house back on the town’s radar.

While Jenna and Chris continue to work hard to bring the house back to its former glory, they are also able to customize their home to be exactly what they dreamed it could be. They are the creators of their own world, together redefining what paradise means to them: one DIY project at a time. AM

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AnimalHouse Ready to get down at Goat Yoga; a fire pit provides space for relaxation; chickens run free.

Photos by Magnolia Photography

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A C C O M M O D AT I O N S

CAROLINE'S BED AND BREAKFAST

FLOWERTOWN COTTAGE

THE INN AT MIDDLETON PLACE

Southern hospitality & elegant charm.

Located in historic Summerville.

Listed #1 on Trip Advisor 4 years in a row! Extended & corporate stays welcome in the BnB or cottage.

The cottage is a beautiful decorated, furnished 30 day rental. It can be rented as a 2 bedrooms-2 bath, or 4 bedrooms -4 bath, both with full kitchen, laundry facilities, private deck and big front porch!

The Inn’s 55 rooms include admission to Middleton Place, home to America’s oldest landscaped Gardens. Guests also enjoy kayaking, bicycle rentals, and horseback riding.

SU MMERV I L L E, SC

843-637-5903 / carolinesbedandbreakfast.com

flowertowncottagerental@gmail.com 843-901-3804

(843) 556-0500 / theinnatmiddletonplace.com

LINWOOD

MAGNOLIA INN

SHORT CENTRAL COTTAGES

A blend of modern amenities, spacious private suites featuring 14 foot ceilings and original heart pine floors. Easily walk to Hutchinson Square, shops, and restaurants in the Historic District.

Located across the street from historic 'Short Central', each cottage features a full kitchen and unique Southern decor, perfect for experiencing Historic Downtown Summerville.

SUMMERV ILLE, SC

FOOD & DRINK

Historic Home and Gardens.

C HA RLESTO N, SC

SU MMERV I L L E, SC

SUMMERV ILLE, SC

SUMMERV ILLE, SC

stay@linwoodinn.com

843-212-2865 / StayInSummerville.com

843-212-2865 / StayInSummerville.com

ACCENT ON WINE

COASTAL COFFEE ROASTERS

EVA'S ON MAIN

It doesn't matter how you pronounce it-what matters is how it tastes, and at Accent on Wine that's what we place our focus on.

Your local coffee roaster, bakery and community spot. Enjoy select wines, craft beer, music, events and so much more.

Open since 1944, Eva's On Main is located in Downtown Historic Summerville and serves a Southern comfort menu for breakfast & lunch daily, with brunch on Sat. & Sun.

S U MME RV I L LE / PARK CIRCL E

SUMMERV ILLE, SC

SUMMERV ILLE, SC

843-832-1212 843-203-4536 / accentonwine.com

843-376-4559 / coastalcoffeeroasters.com

843-873-5081 / evasonmain.com

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HALLS CHOPHOUSE

THE ICEHOUSE RESTAURANT

The cafe is known for daily specials and rotating soups, homemade condiments, & gluten free and vegan options. They have 3 locations that focus on quality, healthy, casual cuisine.

Halls Chophouse provides USDA prime steaks, fresh seafood and an acclaimed family fine dining steakhouse restaurant experience in Summerville.

Chef Michael Balga is bringing you Eclectic, Farm to Table, Southern Fare with a love & passion for the finest ingredients & flavors to tempt your taste buds.

SU MME RV I L L E, SC

SUMMERV ILLE, SC

SUMMERV ILLE, SC

843-804-9410 / fiveloavescafe.com

843-900-6000 / hallschophouse.com

843-261-0360 / www.website.com

LOWCOUNTRY FISH CAMP

MIDDLETON PLACE RESTAURANT

O'LACY'S PUB

A laid back and rustic restaurant and bar where guests can enjoy some great seafood with an ice cold beer, glass of wine, or one of many specialty cocktails.

Overlooking the Gardens & inspired by the recipes of former resident chef and James Beard honoree Edna Lewis, the Middleton Place Restaurant offers traditional Low Country favorites.

Your hometown bar in the heart of Historic Downtown Summerville, on Short Central Avenue.

SU MME RV I L L E, SC

C HA RLESTO N, SC

SUMMERV ILLE, SC

843-285-8558 / LowcountryFishCamp.com

843-266-7477 / middletonplace.org

(843) 832-2999

THE FLOWERTOWN PLAYERS

MAGNOLIA PLANTATION & GARDEN

PUBLIC WORKS ART CENTER

The Flowertown Players create theatrical magic on stage for audiences of all ages. Summerville's premier community theatre known for a variety of plays, musicals, and comedy.

America’s oldest garden, Magnolia has been selected as one of "America's Most Beautiful Gardens" and is the only garden honored with this distinction in the State of SC!

Offering studio spaces for artists, engaging exhibitions, art classes, a boutique gift shop, music events, an outdoor market, a special event rental space, and so much more.

SU MMERV I L L E, SC

C HA RLESTO N, SC

SUMMERV ILLE, SC

843-875-9251 / flowertownplayers.org

843-571-1266 / magnoliaplantation.com

843-860-0742 / publicworksartcenter.org

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A R T S & C U LT U R E

FIVE LOAVES CAFE

FOOD & DRINK

AZALEA MARKET

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SCULPTURE IN THE SOUTH

SUMMERVILLE COUNTRY CLUB

SUMMERVILLE ORCHESTRA

Art that invites touching. From wildlife to engaging figures, a permanent collection of public sculpture is being created in the historic village of Summerville.

Family owned and operated since 1974. Open seven days a week. 18 hole PUBLIC golf course featuring an outdoor event venue, the Candlelite Pavilion, available for rent.

The Summerville Orchestra performs a 5-double-concert subscription series and hosts free programs including Music Chats with Wojciech and the Encore Series.

SUMMERV ILLE, SC

SUMMERV ILLE, SC

843-851-7800 / sculptureinthesouth.com

843-873-2210 / summervillecountryclub.com

SummervilleOrchestra.org

ANTIQUES AND ARTISANS VILLAGE

ART ON THE SQUARE GALLERY

BEY + ELOISE

A Fun Place to Shop! Home to over 150 vendors/consignors. Easy parking at 619 Old Trolley Rd., Summerville. Antiques, Vintage, Gifts, Local Artisans.

Now opened at 420 Nexton Square A Fine Art Gallery featuring over 30 local award-winning artists - Painting, Photography, Sculpture, Jewelry, Stained Glass, Pottery & Mosaics!

SHOPPING

SU MMERV I L L E, SC

SU MMERV I L L E, SC

SUMMERV ILLE, SC

Bey + Eloise is located in Nexton Square, near Taco Boy and Halls Chophouse. The shop offers unique items as well as recognizable brand names for women looking for a fresh look!

843-900-5386 / antiquesandartisansvillage.com

843-871-0297 / artonthesquare.gallery

(843) 900-3500 / beyeloiseapparel@outlook.com

DOTTIE LANGLEY JEWELRY

EAST WINDS

EVERYTHING CHIC

Handcrafted solid bronze oyster jewelry created from casts of shells collected on beaches and waterways along the South Carolina coast.

Hand selected jewelry, apparel and gifts featuring distinctive Southern charm with a fresh modern attitude.

Everything Chic is a Southern gift shop full of eclectic home decor, jewelry, candles, furniture, and local specialty items. Our prices are reasonable and our staff is friendly!

SU MME RV I L L E, SC

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SUMMERV ILLE, SC

SUMMERV ILLE, SC

SUMMERV ILLE, SC

843-875-8985 / eastwindsonline.com

843-879-2099 / everythingchicetc.com

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FLY MODERN APPAREL

FOUR GREEN FIELDS GIFTS

GOLDEN & ASSOCIATES ANTIQUES

Our promise at FLY is to deliver the best quality materials while giving you the comfort, fit, and style you desire. Each season FLY will bring you the newest trends.

Designer gift baskets, Lowcountry souvenirs, and creative cards and gifts for any occasion--plus, corporate gifts for all industries. Gift wrap, shipping, and delivery services available.

Located in historic Charleston South Carolina, Golden and Associates Antiques has been dealing with the finest of antiques for generations.

SU MME RV I L L E, SC

SUMMERV ILLE, SC

C HA RLESTO N, SC

843-225-3661 / flymodernapparel.com

843-261-7680 / fourgreenfieldsgifts.com

843-723-8886 / goldenassociatesantiques.com

GUERIN'S PHARMACY

HANEBRINK JEWELERS

LAURA JONES & COMPANY

Guerin’s Pharmacy is the oldest pharmacy in South Carolina. We invite you to stop in and see our 1920’s Soda Fountain and candy counter.

This hometown jeweler specializes in unique jewelry including estate pieces, custom design, diamonds, and gemstones! Veteran owned, they focus on jewelry made in the USA.

A home furnishings and accessories shop. We have a constantly changing showroom featuring beautiful furniture, garden elements, and thoughtful gifts with an acquired look.

SUMMERV ILLE, SC

SUMMERV ILLE, SC

843-873-2531 / guerinspharmacy.com

843-970-8088 / HanebrinkJewelers.com

843-875-0609 / laurajonesandcompany.com

LOWCOUNTRY OLIVE OIL

MAGGIE ROSE BOUTIQUE

MAIN STREET ANTIQUES

Established at the Summerville Farmer's Market in 2011, family-owned Lowcountry Olive Oil now carries over 65 olive oils & vinegars, and dozens of locally made gourmet foods.

Maggie Rose is a ladies boutique of simple elegance in the Historic Downtown District of Summerville, South Carolina.

We are 6500+ square feet with a unique variety of merchandise that changes daily!

SU MME RV I L L E, SC

SUMMERV ILLE, SC

843-695-8327 / lowcountryoliveoil.com

843-871-6745 / maggieroseboutique.com

SU MME RV I L L E, SC

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SHOPPING

AZALEA MARKET

MISS MADDIES

NINA BELLE'S BOUTIQUE

OK FLORIST

We specialize in handmade apparel for your pets, and bake fresh daily tasty treats. We offer themed cakes and host birthday parties.

Nina Belle's offers a wide range of apparel, shoes, purses and jewelry in sizes small to 3X. We also offer locally handcrafted cards, candles, and bath and body products.

OK Florist, located in the heart of historic, downtown Summerville, has been providing beautiful blooms and lasting memories to Summerville and the Lowcountry area since 1947.

SU MME RV I L L E, SC

SUMMERV ILLE, SC

SUMMERV ILLE, SC

843-810-0069 / missmaddies.com

843-991-6080

843-873-3681 okflorist.net / okfloristevents.com

PEOPLE, PLACES, AND QUILTS

PIAZZA HOME

SIMPLE TO SUBLIME

A premiere fabric and quilting emporium, with books, patterns, beautiful displays, classes, sewing machines, and good times throughout this wonderful store of 6,000 Sqft!

For 20 years we have been bringing the finest in gifts, home decor, and furniture to the Lowcountry.

THE destination to find unique gifts, chemical free bath, body and skincare, women’s clothes, accessories and more!

Bring in this ad to receive $5 off your purchase (limit one per customer).

SU MMERV I L L E, SC

843-871-8872 / ppquilts.com

SUMMERV ILLE, SC

piazzahomeinteriordesignsummerville.com 843-873-8015

SUMMERV ILLE, SC

(843) 879-9792 / simplesublime.com

SIMPLE TREASURES

SOLE SHOE COMPANY

SUMMERVILLE ANTIQUE GALLERY

Gourmet Popcorn, homemade ice cream, handmade chocolates, novelty candies, and gifts. We host 501c3 fundraising events.

Sole Shoe Co. is a modern shoe company, committed to bringing the most modern/chic/comfy/casual shoes and accessories for both men and women.

110 booths full of antiques and uniques.

SU MME RV I L L E, SC

SUMMERV ILLE, SC

843-970-8382 / simpletreasures.biz

843-225-9210 / soleshoeco.com

SUMMERV ILLE, SC

facebook.com/SummervilleAntiqueGallery 843-873-4926 To be a part of the Azalea Market, email info@azaleamag.com

Home Sweet Home In our second issue, back in the Spring of 2010, we did the research and made the claim that Summerville is "The Birthplace of Sweet Tea." Today, the town embraces its roots with festivals, artisan products, a mural, and even a Guinnesswinning giant sweet tea mason jar.

BIG TEN 20 09

20 19

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A decade ago, a couple with a dream set out to tell the stories of their beloved hometown. Ten years later, we celebrate the experiences our journey provided.

Cheers to ten years!

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I drive the road every day, and never knew the shipping container a stone's throw from Main Street housed such a high-tech hydroponic garden system. The tour of Tiger Corner Farms was awe-inspiring, and so exciting to see such innovative thinking right here in my hometown.

I'm looking forward to seeing how they change the world!

-Jana Riley

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I met Miss Rosa Rulack on an October day hot enough to make a sinner rethink a fiery future.

The flavor of her soul-saving fried chicken, cooked in a cast-iron skillet on a wood-fired stove was proof positive that prayers are heard and answered at St. George's Indian Fields Camp Meeting.

-Susan Frampton

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Robert Lange Studios is easily one of the most interesting, creative spaces in the Lowcountry, and when they say “art is for all,� they truly mean it. While writing this article, I learned that the owners, Robert and Megan Lange, built their highly-regarded gallery from virtually nothing, sacrificing so much to bring it to fruition. It was an honor to tell their story.

- Jana Riley

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There is a moment in every rodeo when a lone rider rides into the ring carrying the American flag. As hats are held to hearts and faces raised to the night sky, tears inevitably slide down my face. It reminds me that its an honor and a privilege to be an American, and I'm inordinately proud to ride for the brand.

-Susan Frampton

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G E O R G E TOW N COUNTY, SC

The Santee-Delta East Wildlife Management Area is seen here undergoing a prescribed burn in April of 2015 as part of the South Carolina Department of Resources’ plan to manage the freshwater wetlands between the North and South Santee Rivers for migratory waterfowl.

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PHOTOGRAPHER BRANTBARRETT DEVELOPEDHIS A R T I S T ’ S E Y E WHILEGROWING UPAROUNDTHE N AT U R A L B E A U T Y OFSAINTHELENA I

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Originally from Augusta, Georgia, his family had a vacation home on the sea island, and he spent the summers of his youth crabbing, fishing, and exploring its environs. When adulthood called him away from his idyllic childhood, he joined the Marines, started a family, and began a post-military career in information technology. As retirement approached, Barrett pondered his next move. He would need something to occupy his time, energy, and creative mind - or, as he put it, “I had to figure out what I was going to do since I don’t play golf.” So he bought a 35mm Nikon camera and a South Carolina State Park pass and began photographing the landscapes and wildlife of Huntington Beach State Park near his Surfside Beach home.

Picking up a camera at this phase of life was like visiting an old friend. He had put photography aside years before to focus on his career, and returning to it felt natural. Barrett first became interested in photography while capturing family moments following the birth of his two sons in 1977 and 1980. Even then, composition and communicating a vision was important to Barrett. In those years, of course, he used film, and he sees learning the basic skills of photography with film as a gift. “Each push of the button cost money,” he says, so taking the time to plan and execute each shot wasn’t just more artful; it was more frugal. Today Barrett still uses film occasionally, noting that “film really slows you down.”

Shortly after Barrett began photographing the denizens of Huntington Beach State Park, he began to notice that everyone else was photographing the same things that he was. The ubiquitous imagery of wading birds and marsh grasses made his new hobby feel less satisfying, so he enrolled in visual arts classes at Coastal Carolina University to learn more and branch out. For years, Barrett has been growing as a photographer thanks to his commitment to continued learning, even sometimes repeating courses with different professors to gain a new perspective. In 2011, Barrett entered his first art competition at Winyah Rivers Foundation, earning Best in Show. From then he was inspired to enter more competitions, taking the merit prize at ArtFields in 2015 and the top category prize in 2017 and 2018, among other awards and recognitions.

Barrett tells stories through images of both people and landscapes. When he was accepted for a portfolio review by Atlanta Celebrates Photography, he was told by one of the reviewers, James Estrin of the New York Times, “People are curious about other people they don’t know.” Barrett wants to invoke your curiosity about his subjects and their environments, turning his lens onto the life and work of those we might otherwise just drive by without a second thought.

Brant Barrett’s work can be found in the Santee Coastal Reserve permanent collection in McClellanville, the SC Artisan Center in Walterboro, MISC- Everything Murrells Inlet Gallery in Murrells Inlet, and Sunset River Marketplace in Calabash, North Carolina. For more, visit his website: www.brantbarrettphotography.com.

HORRY COUNTY, SC

A hazy dawn sky meets the horizon of a tobacco field during first light in the farming community of Aynor in Horry County.

Titled "Rooster Time," this image won the ArtFields category prize in 2017.

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The yellow circles in the pattern of this girl’s dress hints at the sustenance she holds in her hand. Part of Barrett’s Yardwalkers series, this photo of a twelve-yearold girl showing off an egg from one her family’s backyard chickens was taken outside of Conway.

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Nine days of rain in August of 2014 resulted in the flooded Horry County tobacco field seen here. Fortunately, this field had been harvested just prior to being inundated with water. The name of this image is "Too Much of a Good Thing."

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MURPHY ISLAND, SC

The bow of a boat pushes through the waters of Murphy Island, stirring up American coots during a youth duck hunt in November of 2014. Murphy Island is part of the Santee Coastal Reserve Wildlife Management Area.

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Workers sweltering in the July heat prepare whole hog barbecue inside the pit house at Scott’s Bar-B-Que in Hemingway. Before owner and pitmaster Rodney Scott won the James Beard Award for Best Chef Southeast in 2018, he learned the process of slow smoking hogs from his family’s business in rural Williamsburg County. The pit house, seen here in 2014, replaced one that burned from a grease fire the previous year.

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HORRY COUNTY, SC

Farmer Charlie Johnson works the fields of a tobacco farm in Aynor owned by the Johnson family. No relation to the farm’s owners, Johnson operates a harvester to farm a crop that has sustained the people of the Pee Dee for generations. Even with modern equipment, farming is relentless labor that yields little rest or down time. But for those who farm, the land is not just their livelihood, but their way of life. AM

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A F OR T R E S S Sand Castle The beautiful architecture of Atalaya is highlighted by scores of palmetto trees

OF LESS THAN A CENTURY AGO, A PAIR OF NORTHERNERS LANDED ON THE SANDY SOIL OF THE WACCAMAW NECK, MAKING AN IMPACT THAT STILL RESONATES TODAY.

C R E AT I V I T Y

by J A N A R I L E Y

photographs by D O T T I E & W I L L R I Z Z O

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A half hour south from the lights and vibrant social atmosphere of Myrtle Beach, a curious historic structure stands, strong and mighty in the sands of Huntington Beach State Park. Surrounded by native foliage, the building is at once simple and elegant, calling to mind Spanish and Moorish architecture. Dominated by a tall square tower in the center of its three sides, the building is appropriately called “Atalaya,” which means “watchtower” in Spanish, though at some point in recent history, locals affectionately added “Castle” to its name. Its many rooms now vacant, “Atalaya Castle” holds stories too numerous to count, but that does not stop visitors from donning a pair of headphones as they take guided audio tours through the halls of this once-vibrant place. With a bit of education, a little historical context, and a salty breeze, one can imagine what life here was once like: when a fascinating couple sought respite here from their high society northern lives, pulling up in a renovated recreational vehicle and kicking off their shoes to relax; when monkeys chattered in the art studio and bears lounged outside; when extraordinary poetry, sculpture, and paintings were created and philanthropic and business endeavors mulled over.

In its prime, Atalaya was a place of rest, and somewhat paradoxically, productivity and creativity. Today, it stands as a reminder of two people who changed South Carolina forever: Anna Hyatt Huntington and Archer M. Huntington.

To understand why Atalaya exists as it does today, it is important to understand the couple behind it. Archer M. Huntington, son of railway magnate Collis P. Huntington, was an industrialist, philanthropist, scholar, and poet, among other distinctions. A savvy businessman, Archer successfully ran a number of businesses in his

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life, but some of his most notable achievements were seen in his museum work, specifically his founding of the Hispanic Society of America in New York in 1904 and the Mariners’ Museum in Newport News, Virginia in 1930. It was through the former that Archer met his future wife, Anna Hyatt, when he commissioned a medal from her in 1921. Anna was a brilliant artist, recognized as one of the most prominent sculptors in New York City at the time.

She was especially skilled at depicting animals through sculpture, receiving international acclaim as well as a variety of awards and commissions for her work. In 1915, Anna created the first monument in New York City dedicated to a historical woman, Joan of Arc, which was also one of the first public monuments made by a woman in the city. Seen as progressive for her time, Anna was an independent woman, content in her life as a traveling artist, not interested in pursuing the trappings of marriage and parenthood like many of her peers. Still, after working closely with Archer Huntington on a number of occasions, and turning down his offers for courtship three times, Anna finally relented, and the pair quickly fell in love with one another. On March 10, 1923, they were married in a small private ceremony at her studio in Greenwich Village.

On that very same day, Archer turned fifty-four and Anna turned forty-seven, leading them to call March 10 their “three-in-one” day.

Robin Salmon, historian and author of a number of books about Archer and Anna Huntington and related topics, has always enjoyed the stories of the Huntington’s early courtship and what became of the relationship afterward.

“Anna was a professional woman who had her own money and was well-established in her career,” she says. “In some ways, I think, marriage signified the end of all that to her; she was afraid it would change her life too much. But what she ended up getting was the best cheerleader: a partner who supported her and encouraged her in everything she wanted to do. And she became his champion, loving him and making sure he was appreciated for the hard work he did, as he often worked behind the scenes, so to speak. There is no doubt that these two adored each other.”

The adoration Archer held for Anna became most evident when she was stricken with tuberculosis in 1927. Determined to help his wife heal away from the often harsh northern climate, Archer endeavored to establish a winter home in the south, and so the pair traveled down the Intracoastal Waterway, eventually landing in the area now known as the Waccamaw Neck. There, they found an advertisement listing a hunting lodge and four former rice plantations for sale, and after touring the land and falling in love with the foliage, they purchased it.

Archer brought in a few skilled workers from the shipyard he ran in Newport News, Virginia, and also hired 100 local men to work on the property. The Huntingtons decided to set aside a large tract of their new land to establish Brookgreen Gardens, a sculpture garden and wildlife preserve that remains one of South Carolina’s most unique tourist destinations today. From 1931-1933, the workers split their time between Brookgreen Gardens and the Huntington’s winter home of Atalaya, apparently without any blueprints or drawn plans.

Mike Walker, an Interpretive Ranger at Huntington Beach State Park, where Atalaya stands today, notes the economic impact of Archer and Anna’s decision to build in rural South Carolina during the Great Depression.

Creative Spaces This page clockwise: the interior lawn; a fireplace warmed the space on cold southern nights; ironwork designed by Anna Hyatt Huntington; brickwork hallways in the servant's wing; castle-like details have earned Atalaya a castle moniker; even today, the rooms are filled with light and inspiration; teal ironwork reflects the property's original colors; intimate details are a treasure to behold

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“This was a place for the Huntingtons to retreat from the social obligations they had to live up to when they were at their homes in Connecticut and New York. This was a place to escape from all that, to be inspired by nature, and to work on their mutual art forms.�

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“Archer deliberately stretched the construction period so that he could continue supporting the workers during such a difficult economy,” he says. “The Huntingtons were pretty much the only employers in this county at the time, impactful enough to say that if you lived in Georgetown County during the Great Depression and had a job, that almost automatically meant you worked for the Huntingtons in some way or another.”

When it was completed, Atalaya was exactly what the Huntingtons wanted it to be: a strong, 200 foot by 200 foot masonry home dotted with influences that Archer picked up during his travels along the coast of Spain, including Moorish masonry and ironwork, which Anna designed. For Archer, there was a study where he could focus on his many business and philanthropic endeavors. For Anna, there was a large outdoor studio near the stables and animal pens that could hold the subjects for her sculptures, as she preferred live models over anything else. There was also an indoor studio with a massive skylight for cold or rainy days. For the pair, a breakfast room, library, sun room, dining room, and bedroom overlooking the ocean: a view shared with household staff in their day room in the servant’s wing of the house. The staff wing also included a large kitchen, living quarters, laundry room, and an office for the housekeeper. All in all, despite its size and servants quarters, Atalaya was still a less-than-extravagant beach house for one of the country’s wealthier couples.

A few years ago, while Park Ranger Mike Walker was giving a tour, a visitor, who had toured the Biltmore House in Asheville, North Carolina the day before, shared a sentiment that stuck with him.

“He said, ‘Atalaya is like the anti-Biltmore Estate,’” Walker recalls.

“And I thought, ‘that is the perfect way to describe it.’ I think Atalaya is just as noteworthy for the rooms it does not have as it is for the ones it does. For example, there is not a single guest bedroom in the entire building. There is no ballroom, no billiard room, no pool.

It really was not designed to impress the neighbors. This was a place for the Huntingtons to retreat from the social obligations they had to live up to when they were at their homes in Connecticut and New York. This was a place to escape from all that, to be inspired by nature, and to work on their mutual art forms.”

Still, Robin Salmon notes, Atalaya wasn’t a place of complete solitude.

“Anna kept extensive journals, so we know that even though they weren’t here to socialize, they weren’t anti-social,” she notes. “They regularly entertained visitors, both wealthy and non-wealthy, but likely much less than they would be doing up north. They were typically here from just before Thanksgiving through around the end of March, so during those long stretches of time, they had family, friends, and business associates come to visit, especially during the holidays.”

Archer and Anna thoroughly enjoyed their winter home, which they wintered in continuously until 1947, save for five years during World War I, when they vacated the property and allowed it to be used by the Army Air Corps. The rest of the time, it was exclusively theirs. At Atalaya, Anna painted and sculpted, Archer wrote poetry, and the pair fell deeper in love than ever. They became invested in their surroundings, and over time, they estab-

lished a clinic for everyone in the area, built two schools on their property, established three churches, helped countless people with small and large financial gifts, gave scholarships to promising young people, and more. They were as devoted to their community as they were each other, and Brookgreen Gardens got a fair share of their attentions as they turned it into the cultural and artistic mecca that it is today. Their impact on South Carolina cannot be measured, and yet still, it was only a fraction of the philanthropic good they achieved together in their lifetimes; much of their fortune was shared with organizations and causes close to their hearts in New York, Connecticut, and elsewhere. The Huntingtons had no children, and when they passed—he in 1955, she in 1973—their wishes that the land they knew and loved in this tiny corner of South Carolina were made evident.

Today, Atalaya is empty. The wrought iron furniture designed by Anna was packed up long ago, their belongings shipped to relatives, former staff members, and friends, and maritime plants have grown on the dunes, blocking the ocean views. But it is no less treasured than it was when Archer and Anna Huntington loved and lived in it. Devoted volunteers, the “Friends of Huntington Beach State Park,” help to keep the property clean, maintained, and stabilized, and happily give guided tours during the busy season. Atalaya was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984, and was included in the designation of Atalaya and Brookgreen Gardens as a National Historic Landmark District in 1992. The state park hosts a number of events at the site, including sleepovers and a popular arts festival in September, and it is often rented out for special events such as weddings and parties by people who appreciate its unique beauty. And then there are those who simply cannot stop seeking as much information as they can about Archer and Anna Huntington, perpetually fascinated by one of the most interesting couples to land on these shores.

“The Huntingtons wanted to protect and conserve nature before being a conservationist was cool,” says Park Ranger Mike Walker.

“They wanted to actively manage the land for the benefit of wildlife and they wanted to be inspired by nature. I think those are great qualities to inspire in others, which is why I am so passionate about this story.”

For Robin Salmon, who also holds the distinction of Vice President of Art and Historical Collections and Curator of Sculpture at Brookgreen Gardens, the earnest goodness in Archer and Anna Huntington is what inspires her to keep learning more about the couple.

“They were so incredibly philanthropic; it’s mind boggling the extent of what they did to help the causes and people they believed in, and not just here. They were generous everywhere they went,” says Salmon. “And because Archer often contributed anonymously, we are still finding out the scope of their impact. Their presence here was a wonderful gift to South Carolina.”

Though the Huntingtons are now long gone, their spirit of conservation and philanthropy live on in the many stories that can be told about them, and their presence can be felt in nearly every corner of their passion project of Brookgreen Gardens. With a little bit of luck and a lot of continued financial support, Anna and Archer Huntington will continue to inspire for years to come. AM

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RUSTIC

REVIVAL

Baking bread doesn't have to be complicated. Using readily-available ingredients and simple techniques, any baker can whip up a warm batch of comfort, perfect for sharing with a neighbor or friend.

Recipes & Preparation by Amy Sherman

CINNAMON RAISIN PECAN ARTISAN BREAD

Ingredients 3 1/4 cups all purpose flour 1 3/4 teaspoons coarse kosher sea salt 1 3/4 teaspoons ground cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon active dry yeast 1 1/2 cup + 2 tablespoons warm water 1/2 cup raisins (fresh is best) 1/2 cup coarsely chopped toasted pecans

gradually add the water and stir until incorporated.

Toss in the raisins and pecans, mix the dough gently, and form into a rough ball.

Preparation

Transfer to a large clean (ungreased) bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and let dough rise in a draft-free area at room temperature until surface of dough is covered with tiny bubbles and the dough has more than doubled in size for 12-18 hours.

Whisk the flour, salt, cinnamon and yeast in a medium bowl. While stirring with a wooden spoon,

Place a Dutch oven in the cold oven with the lid on and preheat oven to 450°.

86 AZALEAMAG.COM Winter 2019

Place a piece of parchment paper on counter and dust it generously with flour. Rub flour on hands and scoop dough away from sides of the bowl to remove and place it on the parchment paper.

Lightly dust dough with flour, cover it with plastic wrap, and allow it to rest for 30 minutes.

Remove plastic wrap and trim parchment paper into a close circle around the dough.

Using a sharp knife, at a 90 degree angle, score an X in the top of the loaf. Each score mark should be about 3 1/2 inches long and about 1/4 inch deep. Using a

pastry brush, lightly brush the top of the bread with water.

Take Dutch oven out, and transfer the dough still on the parchment paper to the Dutch oven.

Place lid on and cook in oven 30 minutes.

Remove the lid and continue cooking 8-12 minutes or until the top is nice and dark (but not burnt).

Remove from the oven and transfer the loaf of bread to a cooling rack.

CRANBERRY HONEY WALNUT ARTISAN BREAD

Ingredients 3 cups all purpose flour, plus 3 tablespoons 1/2 teaspoon instant yeast 2 teaspoons sea salt 1/2 cup chopped walnuts 1 cup dried cranberries 1 1/2 cups water at room temperature 1/4 cup liquid honey, plus more for drizzling on after baking

side. Stir each side individually, then mix both sides together.

Add the cranberries and walnuts to the flour mixture and stir.

Combine the honey and water and stir with a fork to combine. Add to flour and stir with a wooden spoon until combined well. Mixture will be sticky.

Preparation

Cover bowl with plastic wrap and let it sit for 12-18 hours in a warm room to allow the dough to rise.

Add flour to large bowl. Using a wooden spoon, add yeast to one side of the bowl and salt to other

Place a Dutch oven in the cold oven with the lid on and preheat oven to 450°.

Place a piece of parchment paper on counter and dust it generously with flour.

Rub flour on hands and scoop dough away from sides of the bowl to remove and place it on the parchment paper.

Shape dough into a circle, handling as little as possible.

circle around the dough.

Take Dutch oven out, and transfer the dough still on the parchment paper to the Dutch oven.

Place lid on and cook in oven 30 minutes.

Remove lid and continue cooking 15 minutes.

Sprinkle flour over the top of the loaf and loosely cover it with plastic wrap. Let the dough rise for another 45 minutes.

Remove Dutch oven and place on cooling rack and allow to cool completely.

Remove plastic wrap and trim parchment paper into a close

Once cooled, remove and drizzle a bit of honey over top.

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n pe O ow N

Perfectly Southern

Classically Lowcountry

A go rge o u s wh ite bar n we ddin g a n d eve nt fa c i l i ty, Pi n e l a n d P l a ce, i s t h e Lowcou nt r y ’s newest eve nt facility. N est le d in M on c ks Corn e r, Sou t h Ca rol i n a , t h i s m e m ora b l e eve nt facility will prov ide t h e p e rfe c t ba c kd rop for you r u p com i n g eve nt. pi n e l an dpl ace.co m • i nfo @ p i ne l a nd p l a ce.co m

SOC IAL

SOCIALS, CAUSES, AND COMMUNIT Y

Scrumptious Summerville Kitchen Tour This year's Kitchen Tour took place in the West Richardson Avenue area of historic downtown Summerville.

Guests toured some of Summerville's most historic homes, as well as sampled creative cuisine and decadent desserts prepared by notable Lowcountry chefs and restaurants. This beautiful event benefited the Dorchester Children’s Advocacy Center.

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VILLAGE P OET

WINTER PICNIC

by Ellen E. Hyatt

The best of summers happen in winter in this Southern town.

Let's meet each other here, soon.

Let soon begin at evening twilight.

Let twilight promise us the moon.

Let the moon be full and free.

Let it drift away from cloud-crowd.

Let us find our way to the space, the anniversial space we know, because we've met there before in youth, in passion, intense as a summer sun. But now we sigh a softer sigh for balanced, less ingrediented hours. Much like the round, simply-made rustic bread you bring to this winter picnic.

You break off two bite-sized pieces, hand one to me. We feed each other.

The wine is poured. Backlighted, it's looking like liquid rubies. We recall "The Rubaiyat"—its 11th quatrain— the "Loaf of Bread". . ."Flask of Wine". . .

"Book of Verse." We yield to Now. Who knows the certainty of Again?

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We Welcome You To Our Family Table Halls Chophouse Nexton is led by Owner Bill Hall, a veteran in the hospitality and dining industry, along with his family, wife Jeanne and sons Billy and Tommy. Offering wet and dry-aged USDA Prime and Choice Beef as well as locally-sourced fish, poultry, vegetarian and gluten-free options, the Halls Chophouse Nexton menu features expertly-crafted dishes that highlight the essence of culinary creativity and distinguished flavor.

Nexton Square Parkway, Summerville / (843) 900-6000 / hallschophouse.com

styled by Margie Sutton makeup by Krista Elam photograph by Taylor Kennedy