The Bluffton Breeze March 2017

WWW.BLUFFTON.COM | MARCH 2017

Bluffton Breeze The

NATIVENOT? OR

PG 12

french country in the Lowcountry PG 30

The Bluffton Breeze

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Notes From The Editor:

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The

Bluffton Breeze PUBLISHER Lorraine Jenness lorraine@hiltonhead.com 843-757-9889

e are so pleased to present a most wonderful March issue for our readers!

EDITOR Randolph Stewart randolph@bluffton.com 843-816-4005

First off, we have the great pleasure of presenting the first article in a two-part series on The Wilson Mansion at Palmetto Bluff written by John Samuel Graves, III. A Bluffton native who now lives in Arkansas, Graves is the grandson of H.G. Rubert, who served as the private secretary and nurse for R.T. Wilson, owner of Palmetto Bluff. The article contains rarely published photographs taken by Rubert from 1910-1929, including an early color shot of the mansion and the aftermath of the fire which destroyed it. What an honor! Stay tuned for Part II in an upcoming issue.

COPY EDITORS Allyson Jones allyson@hiltonhead.com 843-757-9889

In honor of International Women’s Day on March 8, Michele RoldánShaw has written a piece on several local women who have given their time and energy to make Bluffton what it is today, including Mayor Lisa Sulka, May River Theatre President Jennifer Green, Greater Bluffton Chamber of Commerce CEO and Founder Shellie West, Beaufort County School Board member Dr. Christina Gwozdz, Bluffton Historical Preservation Society President Donna Huffman and Bluffton Self Help Board Member Constance Martin-Witter. We honor and thank them for all that they do.

We also hit just the right note this month with our music column by Jevon Daly discussing the history of fiddle music. A regular contributor to The Bluffton Breeze, Daly’s passion for music and the fiddle are unmatched and, if you haven’t heard him play, you really should!

Our Architecture feature highlights a true “French Country in the Lowcountry” home on the Colleton River. A 250-year-old oak tree is the centerpiece of this wonderful, period-designed, Provenance-style home complete with a mix of recycled beams, iron, flooring, fixtures and doors, and Old World stucco. The front and rear raised terraces, as well as the careful selection of plant material, are very typical of Southern French styling.

Amber Hester Kuehn, our longtime environmental contributor, has done it again with an informative and interesting article about native and non-native Lowcountry plants. For those with a green thumb, you will certainly delight in reading and learning many tidbits about our surroundings, including plants thought to be indigenous, but brought from far-away lands.

Last, but not least, our own Andrea Six has prepared a fun article about “Tiny Ways to Tidy Your Life” and I know most all of us need some help with that! Her tips, humor, and variety are sure to please.

Have fun on St. Patrick’s Day, but please be careful. See you next month!

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Kerry Peresta kerry@hiltonhead.com 843-757-9889 SALES DIRECTOR Chierie Smith chierie@bluffton.com 843-505-5823 GRAPHIC DESIGNER Liz Shumake liz@hiltonhead.com 843-757-9889 ART DIRECTOR Jennifer Mlay graphics@hiltonhead.com 843-757-9889 CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Jevon Daly, John Samuel Graves, III, Allyson Jones, Amber Hester Kuehn, Michele Roldán-Shaw, Andrea Six PHOTOGRAPHERS, ARTISTS Eric Einhorn , Tom Jenkins Films, Gerald B. Graves, Rob Kaufman, Anna Pepper, H. G. Rupert, Alexandra Sharma CORPORATE OFFICE 40 Persimmon St. Suite 102 Bluffton, SC 29910 843-757-8877 DISTRIBUTION Bruce McLemore, John Tant 843-757-9889 The Bluffton Breeze is published by Island Communications and The Bluffton Breeze Media, LLC. All rights are reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or stored for retrieval by any means without permission from the Publisher. The Bluffton Breeze is not responsible for unsolicited materials and the publisher accepts no responsibility for the contents or accuracy of claims in any advertisement in any issue. The Bluffton Breeze is not responsible or liable for any errors, omissions, or changes in information. The opinion of contributing writers do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the magazine and its Publisher. All published photos and copy provided by writers and artists become the property of The Bluffton Breeze.

Copyright. 2017.

CONTENTS

MARCH 2017, VOLUME 15, NO. 3

F E AT U R E S

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A Short History of Palmetto Bluff Plantation: Part I Native or Not? Bluffton Blooms Historic Belfair and Rose Hill: Intimate and Revealing Leading Ladies of Bluffton Starting Fresh: Tiny Ways to Tidy Your Life March Happenings French Country in the Lowcountry Fiddlin’ Around Cahill’s Corned Beef Hash

D E PA R T M E N T S

08 History 12 Environment 20 Business Spotlight 28 30 36 38 40 42

Calendar Home Tide Chart Music Recipe Restaurant Guide

ON THE COVER: Colleton River home - Eric Einhorn

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HISTORY

R. T. Wilson, Jr.’s mansion, circa 1920.

A Short History of

PB P

almetto luff lantation: Part 1 Photography by H. G. Rubert, circa 1910-1929

By John Samuel Graves, III All of the photographs in this article are copyrighted by Gerald B. Graves.

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n 1902, Richard T. Wilson, Sr., a New York multimillionaire, purchased 20,000 acres on the May River across from Bluffton, SC, which he named Palmetto Bluff Plantation. Originally from Tennessee, Wilson had been the CommissaryGeneral of the Confederate Army of the Confederate States of America. After the war ended, he moved to New York and continued a very successful career as an investment banker. He is believed by some to have been the model for Margaret Mitchell’s character, Rhett Butler, in her novel, “Gone with the Wind.”

Wilson, Sr., died in 1910. His son, Richard T. Wilson, Jr., inherited great wealth and many properties, including Palmetto Bluff Plantation.

RT, as R. T. Wilson, Jr., was called by his friends and family, was a great lover of fine horses and devoted much of his life to raising and breeding race horses on his farm in Kentucky. He was part owner of the Saratoga Race Track in Saratoga, NY, and, as president of the Saratoga Racing Association, was always present during the annual racing season. RT’s horses won many races during the 1910s and 1920s. He owned beautiful homes in Newport, RI, New York City and Saratoga, as well as the 72-room mansion he built on Palmetto Bluff Plantation in 1916. Sadly, that beautiful showcase home burned to the ground in March of 1926. RT was devastated and soon thereafter sold Palmetto Bluff.

Our individual lives are often linked in fateful ways to other people’s lives. My grandfather, H. G. Rubert, was R. T. Wilson, Jr.’s private secretary and nurse from 1909 until RT’s death in 1929. “Rubert,” as RT and many others called my grandfather, became the general manager of RT’s domestic affairs and, in 1929, the executor of Wilson’s estate. If it had not been for my grandfather’s professional relationship to R. T. Wilson,

s’ ra Small u a L d n Elting a 968 Map of Palmetto g Day, 1 Bluff Plantation.

Weddin

H. G. Rubert, circa 1933.

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Jr., and the Palmetto Bluff Plantation, my mother, Florence Lillian Rubert, would never have met and married my father. In the late 1930s, she returned to the Bluffton/Palmetto Bluff area where she had known much happiness as a child. In 1939, she married John Samuel Graves, Jr., then the owner and operator of the Bluffton Seafood Co. (now called the Bluffton Oyster Factory).

My grandfather Rubert was always interested in photography. He took many photos of the Palmetto Bluff Plantation between 1910 and 1926. Some were very early color glass slides, some were shot using a panoramic camera and others with 120 Kodak film and cameras. He took the photographs shown here, including the great fire that destroyed the mansion.

Look for Part II of “A Short History of Palmetto Bluff Plantation” in an upcoming issue of The Bluffton Breeze. For more information on the Graves family and their legacy in Bluffton, visit graveshouse.org.

Florence Rubert Graves wrote many poems about Bluffton. Her poem “No Mo’ Robert” was written about a Negro funeral on Palmetto Bluff. Her Bluffton poems can be viewed on graveshouse.org. To view the songs of John Samuel Graves, III, composed using his mother’s poems as lyrics, visit astarfell. com and jsgraves.musicaneo.com. See the August 2015 issue of The Bluffton Breeze for his article about his father, “Boll Weevils and Oysters”.

(Right) Mrs. H. G. Rubert and daughters, Florence and Muriel, circa 1920. (Florence was the author’s mother).

R. T.’s mansion in ruins and still smoking, 1926.

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(Above) H. G. Rubert as a young man.

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ENVIRONMENT

NATIVE NOT? OR

Bluffton Blooms

By Amber Hester Kuehn, Marine Biologist Owner, Spartina Marine Education Charters

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any of us, in our Southern childhood wanderings, grew up with camellias, azaleas and crape myrtles.

They may have been around our whole lives, but they weren’t always here.

Many “exotics” were brought to the North American continent with the Europeans. These plants are from all over the world! Camellias are from China, azaleas are from Japan, and crape myrtles are from Southeast Asia. Despite what its name suggests, even Confederate Jasmine is not native.

Lately, the trend is to use more native plants for landscaping. Native plants require less attention, can be subjected to the saltwater’s edge to absorb rain runoff and benefit indigenous animals and the Lowcountry ecosystem. As a marine biologist, I have rarely considered the difference until interior and waterfront development resulted in the removal of huge amounts of native vegetation, allowing rainwater to flow freely into the May River and, along with it, fertilizers, oil and gas residue, fecal coliform from animal droppings, litter and more.

Most non-native plants coexisting in the Lowcountry are considered naturalized or non-invasive and, since they have become established, are not a detriment. However, they aren’t as resilient as the saw palms, yuccas, sand spurs and bull thistles. Other natives include the Southern magnolia, American holly, dogwood, cabbage palmetto, black-eyed Susan, sweetgrass, Carolina jessamine, beauty berry and others. For the complete list of Coastal Native Plants, visit the South Carolina Native Plant Society’s website at scnps.org.

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Native plants do fine without any extra irrigation or fertilizer—a great advantage when considering the local marine environment. And they’re cheaper! Many new developments have incorporated sweetgrass around parking lots and in medians. It is the grass with the purple POOF at the top (obviously, I’m not a botanist). It is also the material used to make Gullah sweetgrass baskets.

The saw palmetto stalks have spines that scratch. Have you ever run into one of these? Or tried to yank it out of the soil?

They are sharp and tough. Deer do not eat palms, unless they are really desperate.

Not only is the plant protected from would-be trampling, it also serves as a dense shelter for small ground dwellers.

Saw palmetto extract has been used in the medical field to reduce urinary problems resulting from an enlarged prostate.

NATIVE to Bluffton

Sweetgrass (Hierochloe odorata)

Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora)

Photo by Kodemizer

Have you ever bumped into the yucca in the Palmetto State Bank parking lot? You forget how sharp they are! I have stabbed myself a time or two getting out of the car, but I noticed it was cut down the other day. The common name for this plant is, appropriately, Spanish bayonet. Yucca need very little water and they produce an attractive white flower. Apparently, the root is edible and full of nutrients. Another plus? Deer will not eat a yucca plant.

Non-native plants which interfere with the growth of native plants are considered invasive. Kudzu comes to mind, as well as the tallow tree and honeysuckle vine.

Tallow trees are very thirsty. They can dry up a small swamp, leaving little water for competing native species. This tree is everywhere! One good look at its unique leaf, followed by an observant glance at our woodlands will quickly yield a tallow tree sighting.

As a child, I plucked honeysuckle and tasted its sweet nectar. This Japanese vine was introduced to Long Island in 1809 and distributed by nurseries. It overcomes other plants by covering them with a thick mat. There is a native honeysuckle, but I guarantee that you have never seen it. It has fused leaves and a purple flower.

All our native plants have unique characteristics that make them perfect for the Southern coastal plains or Lowcountry landscape. The website mentioned above provides a concise list. You will even find there are two species of azalea that are native, but not exactly familiar. Now I want to find them! They are like hidden jewels and imagine what a conversation piece to have an authentic Lowcountry yard with much less fuss!

Dwarf Azalea (Rhododendron atlanticum)

American Holly (Ilex opaca)

Yucca (Yucca glauca Nuttal)

Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)

Saw Palmetto (Serenoa repens)

Azalea (Rhododendron canescens) 13 TheWild Bluffton Breeze MARCH 2017

FUN FACT:

A great learning trip for kids & adults!

Voyage of discovery

My favorite non-native, the gardenia (Gardenia jasminoides) was first given its scientific name in England

by Linnaeus in 1752. It was named after a Scottish physician and naturalist, Dr. Alexander Garden, who later retired to Charleston, SC. (Yes, Dr. Alexander Garden’s garden was the first location of a gardenia in America in 1762.)

Photo by Scott Zona

Photo Scott by Ehardt

Discover the local marsh habitat.

See the richness of life in our tidal estuary.

Learn measures for water quality.

All trips led by Captain Amber Kuehn MS in Marine Biology Contact: SpartinaCharters@gmail.com or Spartinacharters.com 843-338-2716

Not NATIVE to Bluffton TOP TO BOTTOM: Confederate Jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides) Kudzu (Pueraria montana) Gardenia (Gardenia jasminoides) Tallow Tree (Triadica sebifera) Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia) Japanese Honeysuckle (Fallopia japonica)

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Photo by DanielC

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O L D T O W N

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Pre-Spring

2017

Clothing

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Shoes

Accessories

SIZES: 0-16 AGE: Yours!

40 Calhoun Street • Old Town Bluffton • Monday - Saturday 10-6

FACEBOOK US! @Gigis.Bluffton

843.815.4450

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Historic Belfair and Rose Hill: Intimate and Revealing

This March, a bit of Bluffton’s fascinating history will be on display when Alexandra Sharma’s watercolor exhibit, “Historic Belfair and Rose Hill: Intimate and Revealing” opens at the Art League of Hilton Head Gallery.

An award-winning painter, sculptor and instructor who seeks to paint scenes and objects discovered in hidden or forgotten places, Sharma was given sole access to Iva Welton’s private photographic archive of Rose Hill Plantation House and Belfair Mansion.

“The paintings are watercolors that allow me to be spontaneous as I incorporate abstract or ambiguous shapes, and intentionally use my brushstrokes to render the realistic image more abstract,” Sharma explains.

“By working in this manner, I hope to create a mood and an implied narrative that resonate with the viewer.”

Responsible for getting the Gothic Revival Rose Hill Plantation House listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983, Welton is an avid local historian and former director of the Rose Hill Plantation Development Co. which purchased the property for development in 1980.

Construction on the Rose Hill Mansion began more than 100 years earlier, when Dr. John and Caroline Kirk began building a home in what was once the Devil’s Elbow Barony. Forced to relocate during the Civil War, the Kirks were never financially able to complete the home’s interior. In 1946, the 7,000-square-foot house set on 1,400 acres was purchased by John and Betsy Gould Sturgeon who, along with prominent architect Willis Irvin, put sophisticated finishing touches on the mansion which was then featured in a 1955 issue of Vogue. Mrs. Sturgeon passed away in 1966 and Mr. Sturgeon remained at Rose Hill until his death in 1978.

As Rose Hill Plantation was being developed into a gated community, Welton oversaw a 10-month rehabilitation of the mansion’s interior completed in 1986. The following year, an electrical fire caused considerable damage, including melting the cooper roof. Rose Hill Plantation House was purchased in 1996 and restored as a private home.

The Rose Hill Development Corporation also purchased an option on the adjacent 1800-acre Belfair tract in 1982. Although Welton had heard stories of an old house on the property, she didn’t have the time to locate it. At the invitation of owner Elizabeth Mingledorff, she finally saw Swain Mansion.

“Her driver took us down a long, winding oyster shell road, through the magnificent avenue of oaks and through the forested area. As we approached the house, which was the rear of the home, I was not prepared for what I saw,” recalls Welton. “The front of the great house looked directly on the Colleton River and I was aghast and, quite honestly, did not know what to say to her. There were curved double front steps off the porch and four huge Corinthian columns supporting the porch, but the entire house was crumbling. And there were magnificent pink camellias going up the front steps. That’s why Alexandra chose [to paint] this picture.”

Built in 1929 by artist W. Moseley Swain—grandson of a founder and proprietor of the Philadelphia Public Ledger—the four-story Belfair House was composed primarily of tabby mixed with some concrete. According to Welton, “Mr. Swain did not know—although local people warned him— that you cannot use water that has salt in it. From the day that the house was built, the house began to crumble.”

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The Grand Days are Gone (Belfair), watercolor 18x24” (unframed)

by Alexandra Sharma

In 1948, Swain’s son, Billy, fell down the stairs during a house party.

Although Victor Strojny of Callawassie was indicted for Swain’s murder, he was never tried and the case remains unsolved. The Mingledorff family purchased Swain Mansion in 1951 and the property was transformed into a cattle ranch (the house used to store grain) and, later, a turkey farm. In 1982, the Welton family purchased the Belfair property—excluding the house—from the Mingledorffs and it was later sold it to the community’s developer. The mansion house overlooking the Colleton River sold in 1985, was torn down and rebuilt using the four original Corinthian columns. Welton is unsure of its exact location, since the property is now private, gated and falls between Rose Hill and Belfair Plantations.

“The photos became a reference for my paintings and provided me an intimate and alluring glimpse of private, forgotten and lost places,” says Sharma. “Belfair, a mysterious great house with a fatal staircase and structural issues—now destroyed, and Rose Hill, a survivor through periods of abandonment, a fire and final restoration.”

Sharma’s choice of watercolors allows her to “conjure the magnificence, loneliness and mystery of the place while staying true to architectural detail to document a time past and scenes that no longer exist.”

Alexandra Sharma’s “Historic Belfair and Rose Hill: Intimate and Revealing” exhibition opens at the Art League of Hilton Head Gallery located within the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina on March 7 with an Opening Reception from 5-7 p.m. On March 18, Iva Welton leads a Gallery Walk and History Presentation followed by a Painting Demonstration with the artist on March 22. For details, call (843) 681-5060 or visit artleaguehhi.org.

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SPOTLIGHT

ver a century ago, the first Women’s Day was held in New York to honor ladies of every stripe and show appreciation for the contributions they made to society and our hearts. Today, this celebration of mothers, daughters, sisters, wives, teachers, friends, leaders and inspirational figures continues and is held annually on March 8. So, in recognition of International Women’s Day, this month The Bluffton Breeze showcases a few leading ladies of our community, and hearkens their words of wisdom.

Bluffton Mayor Lisa Sulka is a wonderful example of a woman making her way in a traditionally male world— politics—and doing so with distinctly pleasant, feminine grace. She gets these traits from her mother, one of the first female real estate brokers in the state of South Carolina, who ran for mayor of their little town at a time when that was just not done. “I was so proud of her!” recalls Mayor Sulka, who is now a mommy herself. “As a mother, you do all these things for your children, so this is just taking that service to the next level.”

Not surprisingly, one of Sulka’s top priorities as mayor is paving a smooth road for the next generation. She wants to keep Bluffton young and vibrant, and ensure it remains an economically viable place for people to start a life. “A town is built on family legacy,” she says.

“So, I want to encourage our youth and let them know someone has their back.”

(Right) Dr. Christina Gwozdz 20

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(Right) Mayor Lisa Sulka

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Mayor Sulka confides she loves it when people seem a little confused about how she manages to get three kids to three separate sporting events in different towns—all at the same time—run her own business and serve in her third term as mayor. According to Sulka, women are just better multitaskers! She considers it an important part of her role to encourage young women to step outside their boundaries without fear. “Everywhere I go, I am usually the only female,” says Sulka, who is currently the only woman on Town Council and the first female mayor of Bluffton. “I’m not an activist, but I was brought up to be strong, smart and comfortable standing my ground—and to be respectful.”

Echoing similar values but embodying them in a totally different realm, is lifelong Bluffton resident, Jennifer Green. Though she may not necessarily see herself as a leader, the generous, positive spirit she shares has certainly been a bright spot in the community. Green describes herself as a Christian who, while not perfect by any means, tries to practice the values of kindness, acceptance and encouragement.

“I think one of the things that draws people to Bluffton is the small-town community aspect,” said Green. “Yes, we’re having some growing pains, but deep down I think we are still the loving, caring community that we were when I was growing up—I mean the hurricane proved that. It’s just now we have a whole lot more people.”

Green has been president of the May River Theatre for four years, although her involvement stretches back a decade further. Now with a young daughter of her own, she sees the need for arts not only in schools, but also in the community, as a mode of self-expression and a way to build confidence or public speaking skills.

“If you can get onstage and act a fool in front of whomever, you can do anything!” said Green, adding that she hopes to implement more youth programs with the Theatre. “I think it’s so important for kids to

(Above) Jennifer Green get encouragement from a young age so that they can build their confidence. We need to keep them grounded and positive about themselves so they can stay strong enough to face peer pressure and all the horrible things that unfortunately are out there right now.”

Another leading lady who has taken on great responsibility toward the next generation is Dr. Christina Gwozdz. Like Mayor Sulka, she brings the uniquely female experience of balancing motherhood with professionalism and service, operating her own successful medical practice and giving back to the community as a member of the Beaufort County School Board. After putting three sons through public schools here, then sending them off to Princeton, she continues to feel personally committed to helping children get the highest possible quality of education in Beaufort County.

“I make decisions based on values,” Dr. Gwozdz declares. “It is important to me to be honest, trustworthy, dependable, reasonable and respectful of others and their ideas, even if I don’t agree with them. I’ve been very fortunate because I don’t feel any disadvantage as a woman in obtaining a leadership position, especially in the medical field, which is almost a 50/50 split. I think it’s good for women to have a bond with other women, and men with men. But we have to remember that we are a society of both men and women, so we need to work together as a whole.”

Native Blufftonian Shellie West, CEO and founder of the Greater Bluffton Chamber of Commerce, has a similar ideal of an inclusive and sustaining community. Her work with the Chamber involves using her knowledge, experience and connectedness to not only help small businesses succeed, but to promote mutual support and develop strength in the community.

(Left) Constance Martin-Witter with a portrait of her mother.

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“I wanted to use my entrepreneurial background to give back,” says West, who has a master’s in hospitality management and started the Chamber single-handedly while raising three kids and running her

own business. “I don’t claim to know everything, but I am going to seek out people who do. I know how to be resourceful.”

Though West hasn’t necessarily wanted to get into politics, she sees an opportunity to advocate at the local and regional level—or even at the state and national levels. “I feel like I’m one of the few out there who’s really listening to people,” she says. “I talk with them all day long, I know where they’re coming from, and I want to make sure the small voices are heard. I try to see all sides and consider the big picture.”

Yet another role model is Constance Martin-Witter, a retired educator from Michigan with Lowcountry roots extending back to the preEmancipation era. Her father is from Bluffton and her mother, Ida Martin, originally came from the Charleston area, but became a local icon whose legacy continues to benefit residents today.

“My mother started Bluffton Self Help out of the trunk of her car, and now it’s practically a Fortune 500 company,” says Martin-Witter, adding that in 2011 President Obama handpicked Ida Martin as one of 13 out of 6,000 nominations to receive the Presidential Citizens Medal, the second-highest honor awarded to a civilian. Back in the ’70s, little Constance used to go around with her mother in the car gathering food and clothes to distribute to those in need, and later someone donated a tool shed in which to house the budding mission. Ida Martin has now passed on, but her daughter carries the torch with a permanent chair on the Bluffton Self Help’s board of directors, among many other service activities.

“Everyone has a purpose and it’s up to each of us to find and achieve it,” says Martin-Witter. “It’s our charge from God. We can’t hold anyone else accountable but ourselves. We all have in us a greatness that will take us from needing help to turning it around and being able to help others ourselves. We just have to have faith and determination, and not worry about the naysayers. Then we can make a positive difference in other people’s lives—that’s what Bluffton is about.”

(Above) Donna Huffman

(Below) Shellie West Photo by Rob Kaufman

No one knows this better than Donna Huffman, founder of this magazine and president of the Bluffton Historical Preservation Society (BHPS). “I have understood from day one the importance of what I call the Bluffton Trinity,” says Huffman. “That means the May River, the history and the people. I have always been happy to support the Town and do whatever I can to bring that Bluffton Trinity together.”

Starting The Bluffton Breeze magazine in 2003 was one of the most important culminations of her vision because it highlights within its pages the unique local people, environmental richness of the estuary and history, such as the Burning of Bluffton and the Secession Movement that originated here. Now Huffman’s work with the Preservation Society gives her a chance to focus on projects like restoring the Historic Heyward House—which doubles as the Bluffton Welcome Center—an undertaking for which they just received a significant federal grant. She is also very pleased about the Society’s relationship with the Town.

“With all the development going on, it’s nice to have a voice at the table for the historic aspect,” Huffman says. “Because this is the heartbeat— there wouldn’t be a Greater Bluffton if it weren’t for the Trinity.”

Huffman has served the community for years wearing many different hats, but always as a strong, caring female presence. “The women of Bluffton are very compassionate, very apt to give of themselves and their time,” she says, adding that the Historic Preservation Society has relied heavily on volunteers and is always eager to accept new members. “And the men of Bluffton don’t mind for women to be in leadership positions— they accept us. This is a small town that has a lot of friendship, so we can agree to disagree and still love each other.”

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T iny Ways to T idy Your Life

By Andrea Six

lutter doesn’t just live in the back of our closets, under our beds, in kitchen cupboards or in kids’ rooms…it can incubate slowly and hatch elsewhere, if we don’t pay attention. We often justify our lack of control by telling ourselves little lies, i.e. spending a bit more money this month won’t matter, I’ll just save more next month or eating a few chips/ fries/cookies isn’t a big deal, I’ll work on my diet tomorrow.

Ultimately, the little lies may turn into big, bad habits!

The good news is we are in a season of change, rejuvenation and renewal. Just as flowers blossom and start anew, so can we. Perhaps spring is the best time to make a change—the longer, warmer days are perfect opportunities to get outside, do a little recon and uncover the areas in our lives that need sprucing up! Here are a few tips to get started:

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Don’t let cleaning out be a day of distress, but a way to de-stress.

Sometimes the best place to start, literally, is in your home. Think of cleaning out the clutter as giving a gift to someone—in fact, do just that and take your stuff to one of our many consignment shops or thrift stores, such as God’s Goods. As an added bonus, your donations are tax deductible! Whether it’s an extra appliance or furniture in storage, clothes you no longer wear, a car or RV you no longer use or just extra things around your home, donate it to a local organization that’s investing in the community. Make sure the donations are something someone else would want and cherish.

The greatest wealth is health, so get moving today!

As the sunshine begins warming up the days and breezes are nice and cool, we should start incorporating fun outdoor exercises into our schedules, even if it’s just two or three days a week. Take it a step further and sneak some veggies into your lunch or grill them with chicken for dinner, instead of grabbing burgers and fries.

If you’re not eating vegetables every day, then don’t skip out on a multi-vitamin.

“A lot of times people feel sluggish and experience loss of energy because they don’t have the proper vitamins and minerals in their system, especially if they’re not eating right,” Bobby Allen, owner of GNC Vitamins, explains, recommending everyone get some multi-vitamins, especially those who lack the right amount of nutrients in their diet.

We’ve all heard that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but why? Allen puts it this way: “You’d never go on a 17-hour drive without eating any food, but that’s what you’re doing to your body when you don’t eat from 8 p.m. until noon the next day. Since your body is going such a long time without the nutrients it needs, it ends up converting the food you eat into fat instead of using it right away for energy.

Breakfast doesn’t have to be a huge meal; a simple protein shake, smoothie or a piece of fruit gives us plenty of energy, and is a good place to start.

“Death is not the end. There remains the litigation over the estate.”

–Ambrose Bierce Estate planning—an elephant in the room no one likes to talk about—is important to address. This task might not be fun, but it can make a world of difference if the unthinkable happens. Instead of letting the state determine what is done with your property, take charge, and get your will together.

While there are reasonably priced online forms available, one local attorney warned these one-size-fits-all documents often do not conform to the state’s regulations.

It may be wiser to get in touch with an estate planning attorney who is not only familiar with the state’s requirements, but a good fit personally. Be sure to review your will every few years, as a lot of things can change.

“It’s not your salary that makes you rich, it’s your spending habits.”

–Charles A. Jaffe We could all use a few extra dollars, but it won’t happen without a little organization.

Just ask John Kirkland at Palmetto State Bank in Bluffton, who emphasizes how important it is to make a plan and be realistic about it. “With debit cards, ATM machines, online banking and mobile banking, it’s very easy to get access to all your money. And it’s very difficult to control your spending when you have access to it,” Kirkland says. “So don’t make it easy to break your budget. Make it difficult.

Set it up in such a way that it’s hard to spend all of your money.”

Kirkland advises opening a savings account, and automatically depositing money into it every payday. This way, you don’t have immediate access to that money when you go out on the weekend. He also recommends a separate checking account for spending and one for billing, with a debit card attached to the spending account only.

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March HAPPENINGS

Family Owned & Operated Free Pick-up & Delivery Drop off -Pick up Each Garment Inspected Dry Cleaning Shirt Laundry Alterations & Repairs Stain Removal Leather Cleaning Household Items

Bluffton Plant: 373 Red Cedar Street 843.815.5885 door2door@hargray.com Mon.-Fri. 7:30 am-5:30 pm The Bluffton Breeze

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HOME

in the Lowcountry

By Randolph Stewart

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Photos by Tom Jenkins Films, www.tomjenkinsfilms.com and Eric Einhorn

When Eric Einhorn and his late wife, June, approached me about fulfilling their dream of building a French Country home on the Colleton River, I jumped at the chance. Envisioning a home with a centuries-old look the day of its completion, they felt my experience in restoration, antiques and period design was a perfect fit.

I must digress a moment to point out that Eric, raised in South Africa and a former circus trapeze artist when in his twenties, traveled from village to village in southern France. (Voila! The influence responsible for his dream.)

Eric’s career with one of the largest New York advertising agencies in the world allowed him to work on several successful advertising projects, such as the branding of Microsoft, the “Priceless,” and “What’s In Your Wallet” campaigns; as well as the “That Was Easy,” campaign.

When it was time to retire, he chose the Lowcountry.

The dream began with a challenging site—dropping the footprint of the house on a lot that sloped over 10 feet from front to rear with a majestic 250-year-old angel oak in the front, and spectacular Colleton River views in the rear. Working in close collaboration with Eric throughout the process, we designed a “ha-ha” wall that curved around the oak drip line and protected the tree, allowing for fill to create a motor court and formal raised terrace in the front with planters, French wall fountain and antique iron wall trellis.

The raised rear terrace faced due east to capture the perfect morning sunlight and rising evening moon

over the river. It features a covered pavilion with a raised fireplace, outdoor kitchen and infinity-edge, black marcite pool. When a large timber washed ashore one day, we knew the perfect spot for it was the mantel over the fireplace. The flanking antique iron fencing with jasmine growing through acts as a nature curtain and emits wonderful fragrance when blossoming. The raised terraces deter the local deer population from feasting on the wide variety of plants, yet encourages migrating butterflies and hummingbirds to visit.

True French Country has a warm and comfortable feel; is timeless, yet possesses chic elements.

Traditions include materials both austere and durable, which is important in Provence style.

French Country doesn’t employ the frills one would find in Paris and, with this in mind, the facade of Sider-Oxydro stucco was selected, with the perfect mustard color. This stucco (first processed in Europe) is made in Georgia, and as you can see from the photographs, lends an old-world look, changing hues with morning or evening light, and in sun and rain.

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The casement windows and doors are recessed, brick mold trim only, and feature beaded batten shutters with strap hinges, latch and rat-tail hold backs.

The muted blue shutters and grey trim, exposed rafters, and blue and grey slate roof provides a sense of the old with sophistication. The travertine terrace stone front and rear are from French quarries and the planters have specially selected materials from the south of France. The cantilevered balconies over the front door and carriage house have very simple iron railings that provide an added dimension and the opportunity to view the panoramic golf course views from the second floor across the cul-de-sac. Also, note that the antique front door has a plain small knob, as it is intended to be opened from the inside with rim locks to greet visitors.

Entering the home, one beholds the two-story great room, warm heart of pine beams supporting a loft and the timber-framed pine trusses. The views beyond, through a wall of French doors to the pool to the river, are breathtaking. Oiled, not varnished, the heart of pine beams, with exposed iron fittings, were procured from a warehouse previously owned by Eli Whitney.

The walls are finished in Venetian plaster with soft, rounded corners. No base, as the plaster drops to the French limestone floors, clean and simple. Just the right color of paint was added to the plaster, so that the tones and hues change throughout the day. Instead of window and door trim, we utilized embedded pine sills and lintels, oiled and waxed and painted with blue milk paint, which is typical of French country. Anchoring one side of the room is an imported antique stone mantel, and on the opposite wall, a large French mirror.

Overhead is a deep three-sided loft, floored with reclaimed oily heart of pine.

The exposed bottom of the wood-beamed ceiling was limed in a hand-rubbed blue. The oily floors are a product of whale oil drips that lubricated textile mill machines for a hundred years. This created a warm color, and no stain was required. The open staircase, clear of a window, is smooth stucco with

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thick pine treads. The austere iron railing was oiled and left to patina naturally. The loft features a collection of personal art and musical instruments, as Eric and his children are accomplished musicians.

The carefully selected light fixtures, inside and out, are a mixture of antique French or copper reproductions from New Orleans.

How do you make modern conveniences fit in with Old World design, you might ask? The air conditioning grills are filigreed iron, and the audio system has speakers behind the walls with a thin coat of plaster to hide them. The television was concealed in a wire door, painted French armoire. The interior decor is sparse and overscale with just the right mix of antiques, providing form and function that fit the home. The hardware is reproduction aged bronze, mostly hand-made, but typical of the genre—simple and understated.

The country washroom in the back service hall and kitchen feature imported, reclaimed French terra-cotta floors that were finished with multiple coats of burnished tung oil and carnauba wax. This wax is made from the leaves of the Brazilian carnauba palm, which finishes hard when burnished and can be polished to a glossy sheen. The doors in the back hall are antique, and oiled and waxed. The half-glass doors exiting from the kitchen to the terrace are antique.

The kitchen cabinetry was designed to appear as if they had been first made for Grandma, updated by Mom, and again by the children. Knotty alder base units with a few open shelves for basket storage, overhead cabinets with seedy glass, or wire mesh (to keep the rodents out); and the hardware is a mix of casement latches, bin pulls, or drop pulls. The island counter was made of antique reclaimed hickory. The ceiling has a major and minor beam ceiling with exposed fasteners. For color, the tile back splash behind the stove was specially selected by Eric in a Provence pattern.

The undercounter lights are actually tarnished brass map lights, and notice the variety of small drawers, open shelves with iron brackets for ceramic storage, and cup hooks for cups. No French home is complete without a wine cellar! This one was built authentically with fumed oak and fastened with cut nails. The patinated oak door is handmade and has an iron peep door.

Pictures are worth a thousand words, so I will let the photographs tell the rest of the story. Enjoy!

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R. Stewart Design,

Residential Design Urban Planning Preservation

Works of Art You Live In From Lowcountry Classics to French Country Beautiful Design with Great Attention to Detail

View Portfolio www.randolphbarclaystewart.com 12 Johnston Way, Suite 300 Bluffton, SC 29910 843.816.4005 randolph@rstewartdesign.com

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MARCH TIDES Tide chart is calculated for the May River.

Full Moon on March 12.

Daylight Saving Time begins March 12, 2 a.m.

WED 1

THURS 2

FRI 3

L H L H

4:35 10:56 5:00 11:14

AM AM PM PM

L H L

5:22 11:45 5:46

12:07 6:14 12:39 6:37

AM AM PM

H L H L

SUN 5

H L H L

1:04 AM 7:10 AM 1:38 PM 7:34 PM

2:06 AM 8:15 AM 2:40 PM 8:38 PM

MON 6

H L H L

3:09 9:25 3:44 9:46

AM AM PM PM

TUES 7

H L H L

4:14 10:33 4:49 10:52

AM AM PM PM

WED 8

H L H L

THURS 9

H L H

5:19 AM 11:35 AM 5:53 PM 11:53 PM

6:20 AM 12:31

PM 6:52

PM

12:48 AM 7:15 AM 1:21 PM

SAT 4

H L H L

AM AM PM PM

FRI 10 L H L

Hilton Head Boathouse Showroom: 1498 Fording Island Road Bluffton, SC 29910 Hilton Head Boathouse: 405 Squire Pope Road Hilton Head Island, 29926 36

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H

7:44

PM

SAT 11 L H L H

1:40 8:04 2:08 8:31

AM AM PM PM

SUN 12 L H L H

2:28 9:48 3:51 10:14

AM AM PM PM

MON 13 L H L H

4:12 10:29 4:30 10:54

AM AM PM PM

TUES 14 L H L H

4:54 AM 11:08 AM 5:07 PM 11:33 PM

5:33 AM 11:47 AM 5:42 PM

12:12 AM 6:11 AM 12:28 PM 6:16 PM

12:53 AM 6:50 AM 1:10 PM 6:51 PM

WED 15 L H L THURS 16 H L H L FRI 17 H L H L SAT 18 H L H L

AM AM PM PM

SUN 19 H L H L

1:36 7:31 1:55 7:30

2:23 8:17 2:44 8:16

MON 20 H L H L

3:14 9:11 3:36 9:11

AM AM PM PM

TUES 21 H

4:08

AM

AM AM PM PM

L H L

10:11 AM 4:30 PM 10:15 PM

WED 22 H L H L

5:05 11:11 5:25 11:19

AM AM PM PM

THURS 23 H L H

6:02 12:07 6:20

AM PM PM

FRI 24 L H L H

12:18 6:57 12:59 7:14

AM AM PM PM

SAT 25 L H L H

1:13 7:49 1:48 8:04

AM AM PM PM

SUN 26 L H L H

2:05 8:36 2:35 8:51

AM AM PM PM

MON 27 L H L H

2:55 9:22 3:21 9:36

AM AM PM PM

TUES 28 L H L H

3:44 10:06 4:07 10:21

AM AM PM PM

WED 29 L H L H

4:32 10:51 4:53 11:08

AM AM PM PM

THURS 30 L H L H

5:21 11:39 5:39 11:58

AM AM PM PM

FRI 31 L H L

6:10 12:30 6:28

AM PM PM

843-681-2628 www.hhboathouse.net

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MUSIC

F

iddlin’ Around

By Jevon Daly

Late in the evening about sundown / High on the hill and above the town / Uncle Pen played the fiddle, Lord how it would ring / You could hear it talk, you could hear it sing —“Uncle Pen” by Bill Monroe & The Bluegrass Boys Fiddle music is something near and dear to my heart. I guess we all kind of think of fiddle music as an Irish thing. Like a little leprechaun dancing around with a fiddle and…stop! No! NOO! NOOO! Where did fiddling originate? Did some type of fiddle music start in Ireland? Sure. Maybe. Records show us an Italian made the first “fiddle” a few hundred years ago. And, yes, it was a part of Irish Traditional music. But what we now call fiddle music, to me anyhow, is a combo of Celtic melody mixed with Appalachian harmony and African American rhythm and blues sensibilities. What that means is “fiddle music” is an American thing.

Now, all we have to do is crown the king of fiddle music and we’re done.

Easy peasy, nice and squeezy, right? WRONG. Let’s do some diggin’ around into its history (which has nothing to do with fiddlin’ around).

In the early 30s and 40s of the last century, we began to see rural/urban groups poppin’ up to play dances. No amplification, of course. What these bands did typically have was a fiddle, washtub bass (or real upright or doghouse bass, as they sometimes called ‘em) and other assorted instruments to flesh out a band—guitar, banjo, harmonica, Jew’s harp, jug…stuff you found before Buddy Holly and Elvis were around.

These groups played the music typically heard at dances. I have to mention Bob Wills [known as the King of Western Swing], of course, but even Bob’s big groups usually had steel guitar and drums. Check out Bob on YouTube—he was a wacky genius-type guy who fiddled, but typically hired better fiddlers than himself. He would then prance around the stage and kind of observe his band play his music.

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Kinda like Beyonce.

Early fiddlers prior to Bob showed up for dances with maybe a banjo player or guitar player to back them up. These instruments could be carried where even a horse couldn’t go, and typically the band got fed, and possibly paid. This later led to square dance bands, but most of us only know of “Cotton Eyed Joe” as square dance/hip hop fare. I must give high praise to Bill Monroe who wrote a song called “Uncle Pen” about his uncle who played such dances. To me, this is true fiddle music, not John Denver (sorry). Just like Chuck Berry might be the originator of rock ‘n’ roll, the rough-hewn originators of a musical style rarely get the credit. No, I’m not callin’ Chuck a schmuck. But people call Elvis the King and this I will argue with anyone, anywhere, anytime.

So, where did fiddle music truly originate? We may never know, but I do know this much: in John Hartford, we lost our last true keeper of the flame, as far as compiling and playing fiddle tunes for audiences around the world is concerned. Sure, you can go up to the Old Fiddler’s Convention in Galax, Virginia, and hear fiddle tunes, or you may even run into local fiddle tune master, Mick Ayres, around the area, but John, to me, made the greatest fiddle albums in the last 50 years because they had little explanations of where he got the tunes, from whom and so forth. “The Speed of the Old Long Bow” and “Wild Hog in the Red Brush” are great and, yes, they’re on YouTube.

In closing, I just wanna say I think any fiddle music is great, whether it’s “Paper In Fire” by Mellencamp or tunes by Dropkick Murphys. But, if you really want to get down to the Nitty Gritty (pun intended), you must listen to Bill’s, John’s and The Watson Family’s recordings to hear the fiddle in its natural habitat. Just like a whippoorwill is hard to spot in the wild, so is the fiddle untouched by modern accroutrements and production.

Fiddle music is king! Long live the old long bow!

P.S. I wrote all of this from memory, so there.

P.P.S. Add rosin only when needed.

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Cahill’s Corned Beef Hash INGREDIENTS

DIRECTIONS

2 Tablespoons vegetable oil

Heat oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add peppers and onions and cook until onions are translucent. Add garlic and cook for one minute while stirring. Add corned beef and cook for two minutes. Stir in potatoes and season with salt & pepper.

Stir in beef broth and bring to a boil, stirring occasionally.

Reduce to simmer, stirring occasionally, and cook until potatoes are tender (approximately 10-15 minutes). Remove from heat and let stand. Any leftover broth should be absorbed by the potatoes. To serve, add desired amount to a well-greased skillet and brown both sides. Serve on a platter topped with Cahill’s farm fresh eggs and toast.

1/4 cup diced bell pepper 1/4 cup diced sweet onion 1 Tablespoon minced garlic 1 cup cubed and cooked corned beef (I use Cahill’s homemade) 1 cup ½-square cubed potatoes (I like baking potatoes, but any potato will work) Salt & pepper to taste (keep in mind, corned beef can be very salty.)

2 cups beef broth 40

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BLUFFTON’S

RESTAURANT GUIDE Agave Side Bar** 13 State Of Mind St. (843) 757-9190

Cahill’s Chicken Kitchen** 1055 May River Rd. (843) 757-2921 Corner Perk** 1297 May River Rd. (843) 816-5674 May River Grill** 1263 May River Rd. (843) 757-5755 The Pearl Kitchen and Bar** 55 Calhoun St. (843) 757-5511 Red Fish Bluffton** 32 Bruin Rd. (843) 837-8888 Sippin Cow** 36 Promenade St. (843) 757-5051 Squat ‘N’ Gobble** 1231 May River Rd. (843) 757-4242 Toomers’ Bluffton Seafood House** 27 Dr. Mellichamp Dr. (843) 757-0380 Twisted European Bakery** 1253 May River Rd., Unit A (843) 757-0033 The Village Pasta Shoppe** 10 B, Johnston Way (across from Post Office) (843) 540-2095 Walnuts Café** 70 Pennington Dr., Ste. 20 (843) 815-2877 Alvin Ord’s of Bluffton 1230 A, May River Rd. (843) 757-1300 Amigos Cafe y Cantina 133 Towne Drive (843) 815-8226 Backwater Bill’s 202 Hampton Lake Crossing (843) 8836-7475 Black Balsam & Blue

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1534 Fording Island Rd. (843) 837-2583 Bluffton BBQ 11 State Of Mind St. (843) 757-7427 The Bluffton Room 15 Promenade St. (843) 757-3525

The Brick Chicken 1011 Fording Island Rd. (843) 836-5040 British Open Pub – Bluffton 1 Sherington Dr. #G (843) 815-6736 Buffalo’s at Palmetto Bluff 1 Village Park Square (843) 706-6630 Butcher’s Market and Dell 102 Buckwalter Pkwy., Ste. 3G (843) 815-6328 Calhoun’s 9 Promenade St. (843) 757-4334 Captain Woody’s 17 State Of Mind St. (843) 757-6222 Choo Choo BBQ Express 129 Burnt Church Rd. (843) 815-7675 Chow Daddy’s – Belfair 15 Towne Center Dr. (843) 757-2469 Cinco Mexican Grill & Bar 102 Buckwalter Pkwy., 3D (843) 815-2233 Claude & Uli’s Bistro 1533 Fording Island Rd. #302 (843) 837-3336 Corks Wine Co. 14 Promenade St. #306 (843) 816-5168 The Cottage 38 Calhoun St. (843) 757-0508 Cracker Barrel Old Country Store 157 Okatie Center Blvd. N. (843) 706-9545

The Depot 15 Captains Cove Rd. (843) 301-7243

The Juice Hive 14 Johnston Way (843) 757-2899

Okatie Ale House 25 William Pope Ct. (843) 706-2537

Dolce Vita 163 Bluffton Rd., Ste. F (843) 815-6900

Katie O’Donald’s 1008 Fording Island Rd. #B (843) 815-5555

Old Town Dispensary 15 Captains Cove (843) 837-1893

Downtown Deli 27 Dr. Mellichamp Dr. (843) 815-5005

Kobe Japanese Restaurant 30 Plantation Park Dr., Ste. 208 (843) 757-6688

Salty Dog Bluffton 1414 Fording Island Rd., Tanger Outlet ll (843) 837-3344

Farm 1301 May River Rd. (843) 707-2041

Local Pie Bluffton 15 State Of Mind St. (843) 837-7437

Saigon Cafe 1304 Fording Island Rd. (843) 837-1800

Fat Patties 207 Bluffton Rd. (843) 815-6300

Longhorn Steakhouse 1262 Fording Island Rd., Tanger I (843) 705-7001

Sigler’s Rotisserie & Seafood 12 Sheridan Park Circle (843) 815-5030

Fiesta Fresh Mexican Grill 876 Fording Island Rd., Ste. 1 (843) 706-7280

Mellow Mushroom 878 Fording Island Rd. (843) 706-0800

Southern Barrel Brewing Co. 375 Buckwalter Place Blvd.

(843) 837-2337

Giuseppi’s Pizza & Pasta 25 Bluffton Rd., Ste. 601 (843) 815-9200

Mi Tierra 27 Mellichamp Dr., Unit 101 (843) 757-7200

Stooges Cafe 25 Sherington Dr., Ste. F (843) 706-6178

Hinchey’s Chicago Bar & Grill 104 Buckwalter Pl., Ste. 1A (843) 836-5959

Mi Tierrita Okatie 214 Okatie Village Dr., Ste. 101 (843) 705-0925

Truffle’s Cafe 91 Towne Dr. (843) 815-5551

Hogshead Kitchen 1555 Fording Island Rd., Ste. D (843) 837-4647

Mulberry Street Trattoria 1476 Fording Island Rd. (843) 837-2426

Wild Wings Cafe 1188 Fording Island Rd. (843) 837-9453

Jim ‘N Nick’s Bar-B-Q 872 Fording Island Rd. (843) 706-9741

NEO Farm to Table Gastropub 1533 Fording Island Rd. #326 (843) 837-5111

** See the ads in The Bluffton Breeze and Bluffton.com for more info The Bluffton Breeze

MARCH 2017

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Continued from page 27

“Style can change your look, certainly, but it can also change your life.” –Stacy London Spring cleaning is more than just “out with the old.”

Make sure to bring in some new, too, especially for you. It doesn’t have to be a lot—a new haircut or accessory can be the perfect solution.

“A necklace is an easy way to update an outfit,” Anna Pepper, owner of Gigi’s, says, explaining how a statement necklace can turn a comfy-casual outfit into a stylish look.

Then, instead of a budget-busting buying binge, head over to the salon or barbershop and get a new ‘do.

“One of the big styles we’re seeing right now is a “rooty” look, where you actually color the base a shade darker than the ends and do some highlights for the spring, to give it a little extra pop,” Jamee Reed, hair stylist and owner of Tara’s at Moss Creek Village, reveals. “It’s kind of a foilyage, a softer look, but bringing in more root dimension.”

Struggle with humidity? Consider a Keratin Express, a smoothing hair treatment that defrizzes the hair and lasts about seven weeks. A cheaper alternative is using Moroccan oil or Moroccan shampoo and conditioner, which both smooth and add weight to hair to hold it down when humidity is high.

“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” –Helen Keller Don’t tackle all of the spring cleaning or decluttering by yourself! We work better together, so get friends or family involved and make sure you have someone to hold you accountable, so you’re not setting yourself up for failure. It’s also important to realize that change doesn’t have to happen all at once. Sometimes a few small adjustments are all that is needed for a better outlook on life and inspiration to keep moving forward.

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