Winter/Spring Issue of Daufuskie Front Porch by Heather Bragg

Daufuskie Island, SC

The Front Porch Neighborly News for Residents and Visitors

www.DaufuskieIslandFrontPorch.com

Issue No. 80 | Winter/Spring

Briefly Daufuskie Daufuskie Island Elementary School Oyster Roast

Daufuskie Elementary School will be hosting an Oyster Roast and BBQ at Jolly Shores on April 27, 2014 from 2:30pm to 6:30pm. This event is generously sponsored by Dolphin Management. There will be roasted oysters, Marshside Mama’s famous pulled pork, hotdogs and hamburger with all the fixins! Admission is free but donations are accepted to this wonderful fundraiser that benefits the school. We hope everyone will come out to support the school and have a good time.

From Birds of Daufuskie

Of the tens of thousands of birds counted statewide in this year’s Christmas Bird Count, there were only three Red-breasted Nuthatches....all of which were on Daufuskie Island!

Winter Has Arrived ... At Last!

by Daufuskie Dundee

ith that said, I look out the window and see a cold, slow rain falling and feel very smug and snug sitting next to our glowing wood stove. I sip a hot cup of tea.. This ain’t bad folks! :)) I have missed our more traditional winters for the past few years. It can and does get really cold here at times. I have to chuckle when folks ask if it ever gets cold. They think this is like Florida and I have to admit some, supposedly winter days, are like.. well, tropical. We had an 80 F. day last week but over the years there have been some bitter cold days with temps in the teens. My grandfather, Pappy Burn would talk about ice storms that would hit and the limbs of the pines would be popping like gunfire as they gave way to the weight of ice and freezing cold. I’ve never heard that happen. But I did see his toilet bowl at the Bloody Point Lighthouse busted. Lots of well pumps and car blocks busted. The winter of 1949-50 my father and I and a couple of men who worked with him came to the old Fripp house, (Jolly Shores was in

the back yard) one Friday afternoon. It was not that cold - long sleeve shirt weather. We went to bed but sometime past midnight we all woke up freezing. The wind was howling and the rain was rattling on the tin roof. Fortunately we had laid in a load of wood for the fireplace and we quickly built up a roaring fire. Then somebody asked my father if we’d put antifreeze in the jeep or the old Ford tractor. Nope. We quickly got our warmest coats on and went out. The cold was absolutely brutal. It stopped us in our tracks and made our eyes water. The whole side of the house was ice. We up’d the hood on the jeep and the radiator cap was sitting up on a oneinch column of solid ice. It never ran again. The tractor was next. It was frozen too. The radiator was split and the ice cracked the block but only on the outside and later it was repaired with sealant, the radiator soldered up and it was still running years later. Mother, my sister and baby brother were in See WINTER on page 3

In This Issue Something to Crow About, 2 Daufuskie Community Farm News

DAUFUSKIE COMMUNITY FARM NEWS

Something to Crow About… by Rhonda Davis

Haig Point Tabby Ruins, 4 Rick Wightman works on Haig Point’s tabby ruins restoration Tax Preparation, Asistance, 5 Valentines from Daufuskie Island Elementary, 5 Conservancy Initiative to Clean Up of Dump Sites, 6 Daufuskie Island Rum Company, 9 Get to Know an Islander, 10

Eileen Pojednic

Daufuskie Boasts Exceptional Tennis Director, 11 Daufuskie Island Directory, 14

Behind the Scenes Interested in submitting photos or articles to The Daufuskie Front Porch? Submissions are due by May 14. Please submit by e-mail to: info@daufuskieislandfrontporch.com. Publisher Paula Nickels info@daufuskieislandfrontporch.com Design Heather Bragg heather@braggmedia.com 77 Fuskie Lane Daufuskie Island, SC 29915 www.daufuskieislandfrontporch.com ©2014 Daufuskie Island Front Porch All rights reserved by copyright. The Daufuskie Front Porch is published quarterly and distributed on Daufuskie Island. While we have made every effort to ensure information contained herein is accurate, no warranty implied or otherwise is made. This newsletter or parts thereof must not be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher. The publisher does not make any representation to opinions and facts.

Spring 2014 | Daufuskie Front Porch

Duck eggs! Our Indian Runner baby ducks have grown up and are laying eggs! The first eggs were Daufuskie Farm is online: http:// discovered in January. Duck eggs daufuskieartisanvillageandfarm. are wonderful for baking. They com/home.html for up to date make fantastic soufflés, excellent Farm news, pictures and cakes and marvelous meringue! donation opportunities. The Welcome Center is finished and greeters are available daily from 11 am until 3 pm. Free hot coffee and tea. Please drop by. Daufuskie Farm Group recognizes the need to repurpose items (rather than create landfill) especially on our beloved island. In view of this, the Group is working towards opening a future ‘shabby chic, boutique, vintage thrift store,’ once necessary permits and licenses are obtained. All donations and proceeds will be go directly to the farm. In the meantime, donations for the ‘to-be-named’ Farm thrift store are being accepted. Contact Kristi Nelson at knelson@kentuckystickhorses.com. We are working on a goat play-yard. Goats are such funny, personable and curious creatures, that we want to give the ‘kids’ the playthings they enjoy! Come by and be entertained!

More Information

Sow a seed – Reap a Harvest (Farm Donation Requests)

Send donations for the ‘Farm Restrooms’ at the Link above! Or by mail to: Daufuskie Community Farm - Rich Silver, 67 Fuskie Lane, Daufuskie Island, SC, 29915. Our current goal is $10K – watch our progress on the gauge by the Farm Entrance. Let’s ‘flush out’ the cash and ‘spend a penny’ to get this ‘potty’ started! After all, it’s a farm and ‘nature calls!’ Though we do have a ‘tinkling’ of an idea that it may be a ‘wee’ bit hard to reach the goal without your help! Don’t let our ‘relieve’ efforts ‘go down the drain’! See CROW on page 3

CROW continued from page 2 Sisters of the Soil Pat Beichler, General Manager - Note to all 2013 donors: Letters with amount donated and the farms 501(c)(3) ID will be sent out the beginning of the week. If you do not receive yours please contact Pat at bowwow@hargray.com. Our annual meeting will be held Saturday, April 5th with a power point presentation of the farm’s journey from the beginning in 2010 to the current date. This will be followed by a cookout. More info to follow. Lynell Linke, Farm Manager reflects: “While our animals are sweet – we are not a petting zoo. Our animals are multifunctional. It’s a functional farm. Goats and Cows give milk for cheese and manure for the garden and orchard; Ducks protect crops by eating grubs and other harmful pests, lay eggs and drakes are chosen for human consumption. Chickens produce eggs, recycle food and yard waste, provide natural insect control, enrich compost and are good for the soil. Guineas provide tick and bug control. The Farm has a specific variety of animals to eliminate the need for pesticides and commercial fertilizers. We are always looking for ways to improve and enrich the animals’ lives. All of our animals have one thing in common; they enjoy visitors! In return, I’m confident that all who visit will find the animals entertaining.”

Jodee Brunning, Garden Manager reports: “Winter crops have suffered a bit from the cold but we hope they will get a second wind and continue to produce for a few more weeks. Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and cauliflower are forming heads and leafy greens are available for harvesting. Early Spring planting begins this month with peas. Thanks to our hard-working volunteers we have four new raised beds and a cold frame that will allow us to plant right away. Dave Carlson will manage the berry bushes so hopefully this year’s harvest will improve - if we can stay ahead of the birds! A garden work day will be scheduled in the Spring! A good time for new volunteers to join in! “ Susie Thompson, Orchard Manager says: The trees have survived one of the coldest Daufuskie winters in recent times. We will soon have new, free range Weeder Geese in our orchard, which help with pests and control unwanted vegetation, while their droppings add nutrients to the soil. Kristi Nelson, Website Manager: The Daufuskie Farm online at http:// daufuskieartisanvillageandfarm.com/ home.html for up to date Farm news, pictures and donation and volunteer opportunities.

Boat Schedule

Calibogue Cruises Ferry Schedule & Services Round trip ferry ticket, lunch or dinner at the Old Daufuskie Crab Company, and either a golf cart rental (map included) or a guided historical tour: $59 per person. Please call for reservations, 843-342-8687. (Revised schedule effective 01/07/2014) P = Palmetto Breeze Passengers Allowed T = Travelers and Luggage Allowed HHI= Hilton Head Island DI= Daufuskie Island

Monday and Friday HHI DI 7:15am(P/T) 8:15am(P/T) 3:00pm(P/T) 4:15pm(P/T) Wednesday HHI DI 7:15am(P/T) 8:15am(P/T) 10:00am 11:00am(P/T) 3:00pm(P/T) 4:15pm(P/T) Tuesday&Thursday HHI DI 10:00am(P) 11:00am(P/T) 3:00pm(P/T) 4:15pm(P/T) Saturday HHI DI 10:00am(P/T) 11:00am(P/T) 3:00pm(P/T) 4:15pm(P/T)

WINTER continued from page 1 Savannah, and they had heard about the approaching storm and took both our new 1949 Ford pickup, and the new Oldsmobile 88 to the local gas station and had them serviced with antifreeze and they were fine. Thank goodness! Another memorable winter storm was December 22-23, 1989. 6 inches of snow closed I-95 around Savannah and coated this island with the heaviest snowfall my folks had ever seen. Emily and I had some great walks through the woods and to the beach taking pictures. Two of which can be seen on page 231 of Mom’s book “An Island Named Daufuskie”. Look closely and

you can see the snow still coming down. It stayed on the ground for about three days. It was indeed a winter wonderland. As a boy I loved Daufuskie and would take any opportunity to come over. Either riding the boats from Savannah and staying with my grandfather at the light house or sometimes I would ride with him in his 16 foot ‘bad-oh” (french Bateau) pushed by a cranky old 5 hp Johnson outboard. At times that would be awesome with the wind and spray coming down Savannah River. I’d bundle up under an old tarp with the groceries, hang on and bail when the water got deep enough. My grandfather

steered, cussed the engine and then would have to gas it up about half way to the island. Then he would have to try to get it started again. Sometimes it would just not start, so he’d pull the oars out and row a while. He’d warm up and the engine would cool down and then he’d have another shot at it. Then it would fire up and off we’d go. But those were the days and the livin’ was not easy. So when the rain slacks off, bundle up mates and take a walk, never can tell what you might see. I saw a hawk kill one of our chickens yesterday! But that’s a tale for another time! Cheers mates..! Daufuskie Front Porch | Spring 2014

Rick Wightman works on Haig Point’s tabby ruins restoration

Haig Point Tabby Ruins Restoration and Celebration

his spring will bring the restoration of the tabby slave cabin ruins at Haig Point. The ruins are rare remaining examples of Lowcountry tabby construction and have become quite fragile. Working with Colin Brooker, noted architectural preservationist, skilled restoration craftsman Rick Wightman has been at work since the beginning of February stabilizing and restoring the tabby. When finished, the ruins will be stronger and more weather resistant, while not losing the integrity of the original structures. Haig Point has provided funding for the restoration project. The DIHF has worked closely with Haig Point and Rick Wightman to facilitate the completion of the project. Weather permitting, the stabilization should be completed midMarch and we can look forward to this island treasure enduring for many years to come To celebrate the completion of the restoration project the Daufuskie Island Historical Foundation is partnering with Haig Point on a two-day celebration highlighting historic structures and locations in Haig Point. On Friday, June 6, Joe McGill founder of the Slave Dwelling Project (see “Smithsonian Magazine”, October 2013) will spend the night under the stars in one of the tabby ruins. 4

Spring 2014 | Daufuskie Front Porch

Archaeologist McGill has been on a mission to sleep in as many remaining slave dwellings as possible to bring attention to the historical importance of the structures and the era they represent. There will be a DIHF member event that evening at which time Mr. McGill will share information and stories about the Slave Dwelling Project. On Saturday, June 7, the Daufuskie Island Historical Foundation and Haig Point are sponsoring an all-day celebration during which visitors can go on an historical walking tour highlighting the tabby ruins, the Haig Point Lighthouse, Haig Point’s pre-Civil War cemetery and the Strachan Mansion. Joe McGill will be present to discuss the Slave Dwelling Project with visitors. The event is open to all Daufuskie Islanders and to the general public “across the water”, as well. Tickets prices will include entry to the event, boat passage from Haig Point Embarkation (for those coming “across”) and lunch. A portion of the ticket price will benefit the Daufuskie Island Historical Foundation. For now mark your calendars; more information will be forthcoming as plans progress.

Tax Preparation and Assistance To Be Offered On Daufuskie

My Valentine

This past Valentine’s Day Daufuskie Island Elementary students were asked to give their definition of love… I think that love is when people love each other. Savanna Smith I think that love is when you care about someone. Harmon Whitaker I think that love is when people will stay in the persons heart. Presley Miles

AARP-Foundation Volunteer Tax Assistance program will again provide trained and certified volunteers to help local residents prepare and e-file their state and federal tax returns for the 2012 fiscal year. There is no cost for this service. It is intended for low to moderate tax payers of any age, but with preference given to those 60 years of age or older. The Volunteers can help with a variety of tax situations applicable to these tax payers, but there are some things they are not permitted to deal with such as sale of a home, self-employed business income when expenses exceed $10,000, and other complex returns. Call below for more information. The volunteers will be available on Saturdays March 1 and April 12, and possibly one othFor additional er Saturday, if there is sufficient information and/or interest and APPOINTMENTS to schedule an ARE MADE. Service will be by appointment, appointment only, no drop-ins please contact Pat can be helped. There is drop-in Dempsey at assistance on Hilton Head by pbdempsey@ AARP Volunteers on Tuesday hargray.com or call afternoons at the public library and leave your name and phone number and on Thursday mornings at on her message mathe Senior Center. There is also chine at 686-6270. a VITA site for low income tax Call soon to be sure payers on Hilton Head. you get your Tax payers will need to appointment bring a photo ID, their Social scheduled. Security Cards, last year’s tax return (if filed), and all relevant documents to their appointment. Tax forms will be prepared and e-filed at that time if all the correct information is provided.

More Information

I think that love is your family, your brothers and sisters, your pets, your friends, and the earth. Michael Phelps and Trinity Adams I think that love is when my mom gives me hot chocolate. Cheyanne Holcomb I think that love is to hug people and to kiss people. Clinton Miles I think that love is another way of saying I Love You. Delaney Roberts God and my family are what love is to me. Katharine Crosby I think that love is my mom and dad, and my family. Destiny Goolsby I think that love is my dog and my school. Tony Phelps

Daufuskie Front Porch | Spring 2014

Conservancy Initiative to Clean Up of Dump Sites

n the fall of 2012, several vacant lots in the Historic District were identified as needing to be cleaned up due to dumping that has taken place over the years. These sites were “trashed” with items ranging from an oil tanker to lumber, paint cans, insulation, kitchen cabinets, piles of aluminum cans, and everything in between. The property owners were contacted in order to obtain their permission for the Conservancy to clean up these properties. In February, 2013, the first clean up occurred with 22 volunteers picking up whatever they could physically remove from 14 different properties located from one end of the island to the other. That effort filled two large waste dumpsters. Since that time, the Conservancy has received permission from additional property owners and five more properties were the focus of the February 15-16, 2014 effort. Thanks to Mike Loftus who, using his Bobcat, moved heavy items. And 26 volunteers were able to remove whatever they could carry. Conservancy Project Leader, Paul Vogel said, “The next phase is to raise money and apply for grants for properties where we have received permission, to remove large trash such as old cars, boats, and rusted trailers that will require removal with heavy equipment and then barged off the island.”

D I S PAT C H :

From The Daufuskie Island Fire District Our SC State Forestry Commission Grant The Daufuskie Island Fire District recently requested and was awarded a 50/50 matching grant from the South Carolina State Forestry Commission to purchase brush firefighting items. The items requested of the Commission would replace those we owned that were worn out and unusable. The total cost of the items was $4,000 with the Fire District paying just $2,000 representing the applicant’s share of the matching grant. We plan to use these brush firefighting items island-wide but especially in the Wildland Urban Interface Communities that we protect. Installed on Squad 51 and Squad 52 will be 1” booster hose for fighting brush fires, ¾” forestry 6

Spring 2014 | Daufuskie Front Porch

hose for extending booster hose deeper into the brush when needed, 1 ¾” attack fire hose to provide more water supply than typical forestry hose can provide when we encounter brush fires or items burning in the woods and 3” supply hose so we can pump water from Tanker 42 to Squad 52 when needed. In addition we will be replacing old, worn out rollers with new ones on Squad 52 to speed the hose reeling process. And finally we’re purchasing a pair of chain saw chaps to protect the firefighter using the chain saw. The South Carolina State Forestry Commission’s awarding of our requested grant for these items enables us to continue to serve our island community’s emergency needs.

Daufuskie Front Porch | Spring 2014

A Tribute to Charles Cauthen

ome of our Front Porch readers are old enough to remember Charles Cauthen and are aware of his visionary and historical relationship with Daufuskie Island. Those less familiar have missed knowing an extraordinary person and might appreciate this brief historical tribute to him noting his long and important relationship to Daufuskie Island. During the 1970s Cauthen used to make frequent sailboat trips to Daufuskie from Hilton Head to escape the hustle and bustle. Over time he developed a sincere love and appreciation of the Island. He started looking for a small piece of land to buy for himself, but as he looked, he learned that the Bostwick family was trying to sell their holdings, equal to 47% of Daufuskie and began to think on a larger scale. Being in the real estate business he saw opportunities for development but was also keenly aware of the natural beauty of the island, its environment as well as the needs and welfare of its people. He strongly felt that the island could be developed in a thoughtful manner consistent with his vision for Daufuskie yet protect and preserve the heritage of the inhabitants. This led him to the concept that at the heart of Daufuskie should be a town center that would serve as a vibrant commercial center for the entire island. A portal of entry via the Webb tract would be developed in a manner that showcased the island’s heritage.

By Aaron Crosby

As part of his research and planning for Daufuskie Cauthen visited numerous island communities throughout the country, including Mackinac, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket, to assess their strengths and weaknesses. Needing an investor for the project, Cauthen was introduced to the Halliburton Company based in Dallas, Texas. Though he had never met the CEO of Halliburton, it only took one meeting (scheduled for ½ an hour, but lasting 3 hours) to secure the financial commitment to acquire and permit the property. Now armed with his vision, a financial backer, and research, Cauthen led the team that planned and permitted the Haig Point PUD which, at that time included the Webb and Oak Ridge properties. In 1984, at the request of Halliburton, Cauthen introduced International Paper to Daufuskie Island, at which point IP agreed to purchase and develop the Haig Point property in accordance with Cauthen’s plan. It wasn’t until 1999 that Cauthen was finally able to become part of a group that purchased the remaining Webb and Oakridge properties from Halliburton. Over the years, various efforts have been made to develop the town center but for one reason or another, they did not come to fruition. His dream of the town center and vision for the entire island was not implemented during his lifetime, but Cauthen’s vision

for Daufuskie can be felt across most of the Island. Whether it is Haig Point that he planned and permitted, Melrose and Bloody Point that were influenced by his initial work, or the recently completed Daufuskie Island Plan that embraced his town center plan completely. His legacy lies in pursuing his vision and doing his best to guide Daufuskie into the era of modern development while preserving all that makes it so special to all of us. Lastly, some personal anecdotal comments about Charles Cauthen: Ever wonder why cars aren’t allowed in the PUDs? It was because Cauthen declared as part of the original permitting for the overall Haig Point PUD (The one that at the time included Webb and Oak Ridge) that his vision was for golf carts, bicycles and horses! He felt that Daufuskie was an ideal place for equestrian activity, and loved to take people on tours in a horse-drawn carriage. The original Haig Point ferry that Charles used for sales and his investors was named “The High Spirits”, a wooden Trumpy motor yacht that is the sister ship of the Presidential yacht Sequoia. Charles believed that he was the one Jimmy Buffet sang about when he sang “Now I realize who killed the Prince of Tides”, Buffet’s song about development coming to Daufuskie Island. Charles Cauthen passed away over Labor Day weekend of 2013.

FRONT PORCH

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Spring 2014 | Daufuskie Front Porch

Daufuskie Island Rum Company It wasn’t until June of 2012 that Tony Chase and Kristi Nelson discovered Daufuskie Island. In their search for a beach house, Daufuskie became their focus, and upon visiting the island, they instantly fell in love with the beauty, the people and how natural the island is. A week here and there during 2012 became a four month long stay in early 2013, which evolved into a desire to be on the island full time. Tony’s pharmacy background led him to begin thoughts of what could be, upon retirement. The notion of a rum distillery made sense as rum is notoriously an island drink. “Rum made the most sense, as most rum is distilled on an island and Daufuskie has a history of having produced rum”, says Chase. Not long after the idea was birthed, Chase went about forming the investment group and thanks to Pat Beichler of the Daufuskie

Community Farm, found a 12 plus acre plot of land and acquired it in October of 2013. The rum company now had a home. The building is close to being approved and construction on the distillery should begin as early as March. “White” rum, or clear rum, will be the first product to be distilled as it is the fastest and easiest to produce. Next will come the gold rum, which will be aged in charred oak barrels. “Demand for the product has been amazing”, says Chase. “Restaurants, bars and others from all over South Carolina and Georgia have been calling because some of the over 2000 Facebook fans of the rum company have been asking for it.” Even distributors, at times a hard sell for a micro-distillery, have been asking about when it will be available. The Daufuskie Rum Company even allowed its Facebook fans to reserve one of 200 Commemorative

First Batch bottles and the list filled up in less than 48 hours. But, while rum is the main focus of the company, they intend to give back to the island. Soon, a glass crusher will be purchased and much of the 60 tons of glass that gets barged off the island will be able to be repurposed into gravel sized glass that can be mixed with gravel, used as landscaping or fill for trenches. It can also be crushed as small as grains of sand and used in mortar or even in one of the hundreds of sand traps on the island’s beautiful golf courses. To Chase, the rum company is a retirement dream come true. “I get to retire, stay busy making rum and give back to Daufuskie at the same time”, says Chase. Can it get any better than that? We are all anxious to sip some rum, take a tour of the distillery and enjoy the 500 square foot “Front Porch” and take pride in the rebirth of rum on Daufuskie.

Daufuskie Front Porch | Spring 2014

Get to Know an Islander Eileen Pojednic

Full disclosure is necessary here: The questions below were lifted directly from Vanity Fair’s Proust Questionnaire. We thought it would be fun to see how our neighbors and friends answer these questions. In each issue we will check in with another Daufuskie resident for their answers. Eileen Pojednic; DI resident, wife, mother, grandmother, friend and island crusader, Eileen gets more done in one day than most of us do in a month. She is a dedicated volunteer for the DI Historical Foundation, the DI Conservancy, the Front Porch and the DI Community Farm. If something good is happening on the island, chances are Eileen Pojednic is somewhere behind the scenes helping to make it happen.

What is your idea of perfect happiness? Living out my dreams with the man I love in a place called ‘paradise’. What is your greatest fear? The Unknown. Which historical figure do you identify with most? Eleanor Roosevelt, Anne Morrow Lindberg Which living person do you most admire? Author Maya Angelou and Pat Beichler, a close second What is the trait you most deplore in yourself? I like where I am at…but I guess it is that I am so non-competitive. What is the trait you most deplore in others? Dishonesty and banality What is your favorite journey? My dreams… What is your greatest extravagance? Wonderful vacations with my whole family What do you consider the most overrated virtue? Humility On what occasion do you lie? When playing cards 10

Spring 2014 | Daufuskie Front Porch

Which living person do you most dislike? The weatherman Which words or phrases do you most overuse? ‘Are you kidding??’ What is your greatest regret? I try not to think that way… I hope I have time to make a difference. What or who is the greatest love of your life? Easy... my husband and best friend of over 40 years, Len Which talent would you most like to have? Artistic talent. The gene definitely missed me What do you consider your greatest achievement? Raising my family. I love you John, Laura and Mark – you all make me proud. If you could choose what to come back as, what would it be? Ballet Dancer What is your most treasured possession? My Memories What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery? Loss of self-respect and the respect of those I care about.

What is your favorite occupation? Being a ‘Grammy’ – it’s glorious. I love my two guys. What is your most marked characteristic? I love laughter and a happy face! What is the quality you most like in a man? Kindness gentleness and generosity! What is the quality you most like in a woman? Honesty What do you most value in your friends? Loyalty Who are your favorite writers? Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Jane Austen, Dickens, Cooper, Bronte, Tolstoy… the list could go on and then today - Jeffrey Archer, David Baldacci Who is your favorite fictional hero? 007 - James Bond Who are your heroes in real life? My Dad – he was the greatest generation model What is it you most dislike? Curmudgeons & spicy foods What is your motto? No Whining!

Daufuskie Boasts Exceptional Tennis Director

s of 2012 Hilton Head Island had a population of 38,366 people. It is known as a tennis mecca with more than 4,200 registered USTA tennis players. Daufuskie Island has a full time population of roughly 450 people and currently has 100 USTA members. Hilton Head and Daufuskie teams compete against each other in the same league. How is it then, that for the past five years a Daufuskie team has defied the odds and advanced to compete in the South Carolina state tournament and twice won the state championship title? The answer is the instruction and coaching of Ron Gwyn, Haig Point Director of Tennis. In this role Gwyn not only acts as

summer job at a local tennis club. While working there, Gwyn had what he describes as an epiphany: “Tennis was something I really enjoyed in my spare time and I realized that I didn’t want to spend fifty weeks of every year working so I could play tennis for the remaining two. That’s when I first considered making it a career.” A similar realization caused him to move to the Low Country. Since he enjoyed spending time at the beach, he decided to move to Hilton Head in 1982 and began working at Shipyard Plantation where he met his wife Crane. In 1994 he heard about a job opening at Melrose and began working on Daufuskie. At neighboring Haig Point, the tennis program languished.

“I realized that I didn’t want to spend fifty weeks of every year working so I could play tennis for the remaining two. That’s when I first considered making it a career.” the island’s only tennis instructor giving lessons and clinics, but also running the club’s pro shop, overseeing all court maintenance, co-ordinating round robins and tennis social events, stringing racquets, and coaching the island’s USTA teams. Originally from Chapel Hill, N.C. Gwyn played tennis as a child, but never thought the game would factor significantly in his professional life. As a Business Administration major at the University of North Carolina, he planned on a career in finance or banking until his senior year when he got a

Gwyn explains, “Back then, there were only about 15 people who played on a regular basis. Every Monday an instructor was ferried over for a clinic. Since I was already on the island, I began teaching the clinics on a regular basis and that led to a part time position at Haig Point in 1996.” With over 250 people taking part, Haig Point’s program currently encompasses private lessons, adult and children’s clinics for all ability levels, round-robin socials and USTA competitive teams. Team Captain Debbie

Hull elaborates, “We now have six USTA teams when we had only one just a few years ago. Ron enjoys working with both beginners and advanced players. His tireless efforts to make tennis fun for everyone has helped the program become very successful and a key amenity for Haig Point. We are so lucky to have him.” Gwyn sites several reasons for the popularity of his program: “Certainly the early success of our teams raised our visibility. I also think many people want to take part in more than one activity each day and tennis allows time for that.” He credits Haig Point General Manager, Randy Page and the Haig Point Board for helping facilitate that growth, “They backed up their commitment to our program with the addition of cabana/seating areas on all courts, a new pro shop and new water stations.” In addition to accepting the USTA’s 2012 Outstanding Tennis Facility award for Haig Point, Gwyn has also been honored in recent years as S.C. Tennis Professional of the Year, Island Packet’s Tennis Professional of the Year and USPTA Southern District Tester of the Year. When not busy with the Haig Point tennis program, Gwyn goes home to Hilton Head where he lives with his wife, Crane and Labrador Retriever, Luna. In his spare time he enjoys boating and reading.

Daufuskie Front Porch | Spring 2014

Gullah Story Our

By Janice Gordon, Amelia Stevens and Cynthia Murray

When we were children growing up on Daufuskie Island in the late 1950’s, our grandmother Meme was the backbone of the Grant family. She was full of wisdom. Meme taught us how to survive the Fuskie way. She had what they called mother wit. She helped to deliver many of her grandchildren. She raised her own cows, pigs and chickens. Meme knew which plants and roots to use for treating wounds, high blood pressure, toothaches, fevers and just about anything that ailed you. She would make sure just before the cold snap each year that the children would be given a dose of the potion she created to ward off colds. Meme would put her axe on her shoulder heading out to locate roots like “Hoe Hound” used to treat whooping cough and “Amy Root” used to treat high blood pressure. Although our mom, Ellamae, knows many of these homemade remedies, she doesn’t regularly use them. Our grandmother was an active woman in the Daufuskie Gullah community. In her younger days she was active in church and served on the Usher Board at the First Union Baptist Church. We remember the days when someone on the island took sick, they would send for “Lemon”; the nickname non-family members called her. Before leaving home she would reach in her kitchen shelf to put a couple jars of ”Hoe Hound” and “Amy Root” that had been brewing in moonshine; plus a handful of dried plants like “Life fo Lassa”, most likely used for brewing herbal tea the Gullah way. This involves pouring some good ole moonshine in the tea for soothing what ails you. We called it a “hot toddy”. With her sack of goodies, Meme would head down the road with one or two of her grandchildren in tow. She and others would tend to the sick as best they could. Sometimes the potion worked, other times the Lord would call them on home to glory (we hoped). When the church bell rang out all the 12

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children knew that someone done died. About everyone on the island jumped into action heading to the departed one’s home. If the deceased was a man, den the men took charge of da body; if it was a woman (ooman), then the women folks had to style the deceased one’s hair as well bathing and dressing the body for the wake. The Gullah people called this the “sittin up”, because the family members and friends would sit up all night. The men folks would build a bonfire and sip moonshine while retelling the life story of the deceased. They kept that bond fire burning all night long. The women folk would be in the kitchen a cookin’ and singin’ and a sippin'; preparing the meal for the repast. The next day, the grave diggers went about their task with a half pint in their back pockets; they would be diggin’ and a sippin’, and the story telling would start all over again. Meme not only used the things in nature for healing, but she used everything that surrounded us to carve

out a living on Daufuskie. Crabs and shrimp were plentiful. Meme’s home was surrounded by plum trees bearing both yellow and purple plums. She had a grape vineyard behind her house that produced an abundance of juicy black grapes. All these fruits were used to produce the best homemade wine you wanna taste. We can’t forget to mention the blackberry wine that was Janice’s favorite. It was the grandchildren’s job to pick the blackberries; it was a thrill to collect the berries because more were eaten then placed in the pail. During tourist summer months when the excursion boat rides from Savannah would come to Daufuskie for an evening of partying, “eatn” and “drinkin” the Gullah way, Meme and our mom would cook up a batch of fresh boiled crabs, fresh boiled shrimp and delicious deviled crabs, she would pack several half pint bottles of homemade wines and a dozen or so of the moonshine (scrap iron) for those special customers. Meme and Ma would load up

the wagon for the approximately 3 miles trip to Cooper River to meet the Bessie M Lewis River Boat. On the way down to the dock, Meme had already counted how much money she was gonna make that night. Meme knew that nothing went together better than her spicy devilled crabs and some good ole scrap iron. The scrap iron was sold only upon request. She kept the bottles wrapped up in brown paper bags under the table until requested. The cost for a half pint of scrap iron was one dollar. Sometimes after a burial folks would stop by Meme’s house to restock up on some scrap iron. Meme’s house was only one of several on the island that sold moonshine, but she always had a steady flow of customers. A small glass sold for .25 cents, medium size glass sold for .50 cents and the local could by a half point for .75 cents. Christmas Day and the day after Christmas was when all the young people made their rounds to the dozen or more houses on Daufuskie. This was a long time tradition celebrating Christmas Day by visiting each household; eating and drinking were just as exciting as getting presents. Each house was filled with the aroma of the traditional Gullah holiday meal: baked coon, chitterling, ham, candied yams and collard greens. Each house had a spread prepared on their

table to include sliced pound cakes, fruit cake, apples, oranges, grapes, hard candies and homemade blackberry wine. When the grown folks weren’t looking we the children would take a swig of wine from most of the homes; by the time we made our rounds we were falling down in the sand trying to get home. For the grown folks there was nothing better than a bowl of chitterling along with a good shot of moonshine to get the blood pumping. By night fall the spirit of the season was in full gear. The grown folks were shoutin’ and singin’ and sippin’; women folks were holding up their dress tails with hip bones in motion, men folk making music with the broom sticks while patting their feet. This was celebrating Christmas on Fuskie Gullah style. Even though the moonshine still

was hidden deep in the woods beyond Mary Field cemetery; the “revenue” men finally discovered our Uncle Junior’s still and destroyed it, thus bringing Meme’s moonshine business to an end. Uncle Junior and his partners were big time “bootleggers”; they operated the largest moonshine still on Daufuskie for years. They turned out approximately 30 barrels a day. The boat captain from Savannah would bring the sugar and the corn and off load the goods on the shore for my uncle to pick up. When the moonshine was ready, Uncle and his partners would bottle the moonshine and then packed them in cardboard boxes like grocery and send it back by the captain to Savannah for sale. The moonshine business was good to our family while it lasted.

Daufuskie Moon Shine from Meme’s Fuskie Gals

Meme’s Fuskie Gals, LLC are three sisters who are native Daufuskie Islanders. Janice Gordon, Cynthia Murray and Amelia Stevens are the daughters of Ellamae Stevens Jenkins and the grandchildren of Cornelia Grant, known affectionately as “Lemon” to islanders.To her grandkids she was simply Meme. A little more than a year ago, Jeff Gould of Sea Pines Liquors approached their mother Ellamae with the idea of going into the moonshine business. Now that it is legal, the girls decided to follow in Meme’s footsteps. Meme’s Fuskie Gals partnered with Gould to share how

moonshine was made and used in the Gullah culture. Their Black Spirit Blackberry Wine is now available at Sea Pines Liquor Market. Other ‘shine’ products will be available in March. Look for Black Spirit Shine, Ole Red Eye, and Fuskie Mysteek. These products will first be available at Sea Pines Liquor Market. The sisters expect to have their merchandise in other liquor stores soon and plan to have them sold nationally as well. Their goal in the near future is to have their moonshine products available for sale on Daufuskie.

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Daufuskie Island Phone Directory A

African Baptist Church .....................(843) 686-4824 Art Glass & Studio............................. (843) 341-5765 Assessor’s Offifice............................. (843) 255-2400

Barge- Bull Island Freight ................ (843) 321-0119 Barge- Freeport Marina ................... (843) 290-9336 Barge- Hutchinson Island ................ (912) 232-1836 Barge- New River Transport ............ (843) 341-5765 Beaufort County(General)................ (843) 255-2000 Billie Burn Museum.......................... (843) 842-2435 Bloody Point Golf Pro Shop.............. (843) 341-5566 Builder- Cambridge Homes.............. (843) 842-2444 Builder- Chuck Hunter...................... (843) 290-1845 Builder - Geoff Brunning ................. 843) 341-9133 Builder- Ken Cras.............................. (843) 671-1109 Builder- Tidewater Co....................... (843) 842-8313 Builder- Tony Cucco.......................... (843) 384-2291

Calibogue Cruises.............................. (843) 342-8687 Campbell Insurance.......................... (843) 686-5051 Community Farm.............................. (843) 842-8999 Computer Tech. Zack Morgan.......... (843) 368-0264 Critter & Bug Control- P. Sams......... (843) 842-6164

Daufuskie Community Farm & Artisan Village............................... (678) 897-0942 Daufuskie Island Water Taxi............. (843) 384-4354 Daufuskie Island School................... (843) 842-1251 DI Historical Foundation.................. (843) 384-6363 Dept. of Motor Vehicles.................... (843) 815-6981 DIRECTV (Existing Customer)......... (800) 531-5000 DIRECTV (New Customer)............... (800) 783-1376 Dish Network (Satellite)................... (888) 899-2064

Eagle’s Nest Restaurant.................... (843) 341-5522 EMS.................................................... 911

Farmer’s Market................................ (843) 684-0326 Fire Department............................... 911 Freeport General Store..................... (843) 785-8242

Haig Point Tennis (Ron Gwyn)......... (843) 384-0553 14

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Handyman- David Helmus............... (843) 247-5940 Handyman- Jeff Winholt.................. (843) 842-5990 Handyman- Ron Jones..................... (843) 684-2344 Hargray (Business)............................ (843) 341-1501 Hargray Telephone Service............... (877) 427-4729 Home Maint.- Nancy & Monica....... (843) 842-6942 Hutton Construction (General)........ (843) 842-9452

Iron Fish Gallery............................... (843) 842-9448 Island Accommodations (Rent)........ (843) 540-7650 Island Activities Inc.......................... (843) 671-4386 Island T-Shirt Shop .......................... (843) 686-4058

Marshside Mama’s Restaurant......... (843) 785-4755 Massage Therapy .............................. (317) 694-7685 Melrose Beach Club . ........................ (843) 341-2640 Melrose Equestrian Center .............. (843) 341-2894 Melrose Golf Pro Shop ..................... (843) 422-6963 Melrose Main Office . ....................... (843) 341-2922

Nature Tours & Water Sports .......... (843) 686-6996 New River Barge Service .................. (843) 341-5765

Old Daufuskie Crab Company ......... (843) 785-6652

Propane- Ferrellgas .......................... (800) 734-8053 Propane- Palmetto Propane . ........... (843) 540-6273

Renovations- Ted Richardson . ........ (843) 842-4560

SCE&G (Change Service) ................. (800) 251-7234 SCE&G (Power Outage) ................... (888) 333-4465 Silver Dew Pottery (Seasonal) ......... (843) 842-6419 Silver Dew Winery............................. (843) 684-4445

Taxi (Diamond) ................................ (843) 247-2156 Taxi (Palmetto Taxi) ......................... (843) 683-4279 Taxi (Yellow Cab) .............................. (843) 686-6666 The Daufuskie Front Porch .............. (843) 341-2304

Yoga- Laura Winholt ........................ (843) 842-5990 Yoga- Nancy Hunter . ....................... (954) 243-1325