Dec. 19, 2023 • Volume 26, Issue 24 • Complimentary • BlufftonSun.com
INSIDE • Bluffton Christmas Parade Highlights 10A • Local Leaders To Converge For Economic Development Summit 15A • Cross Schools To Host Anne Frank Exhibit
16A
• Youth Group Reminds Drivers To Avoid Alcohol This Time Of Year 17A • Christmas Eve Under The Stars Worship At Oyster Factory Park 21A
Deer Tongue Warehouse To Receive New Life As Gullah Cultural Center By Gwyneth J. Saunders CONTRIBUTOR
Historic structures sometimes have “legs,” as in they can continue to on after their original use has faded away. Old hotels are turned into apartments, churches into stores or restaurants, newspaper buildings into distilleries. Often the renovations are made so as to preserve the architectural characteristics as well as the history of the building. In some cases, however, they literally have legs because they have been moved from their original location, such as the Deer Tongue Warehouse, which will have more Bluffton addresses than many of its twolegged native neighbors. Built in Savannah of corrugated metal and wood, the building was first brought to Calhoun Street in about 1940 where it served as a site for processing deer-tongue witchgrass. The plant was grown by Gullah farmers and was processed for a variety of purposes. “It had many uses. People used to smoke it like tobacco, but it was something that was extracted for medicinal purposes as well,” said Bluffton Town Councilwoman Bridgette Frazier, a life-long Blufftonian. “Natives were known to- when it was grow-
The Deer Tongue warehouse that stood at 1257 May River Road will have new life as the Bluffton Gullah Cultural Heritage Center when its reconstruction is complete in late 2024.
ing wild in their yard- they would bring that deer tongue and sell it to those who were extracting the product. They would make a very small profit from those who were processing the wild weed. There were drying racks inside for drying. People said it would
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be a very strong pungent scent that would hit you walking through the area.” In 1983, it was moved to 1257 May River Road where it was turned into a popular local restaurant and event site called Pepper’s Porch. The restaurant had a few owners until
it finally closed in 2015. It remained empty ever since and was bought in 2021. Despite its age, mileage and multiple uses, the sturdy building has managed to survive. It was identified in 1994 under the town’s survey of historic properties and contributing structures as a contributing resource to Bluffton’s heritage. As such, it stayed untouched by any demolition team, and will soon find new life as the Bluffton Gullah Cultural Heritage Center. Designated a 501(c)3 nonprofit cultural and educational organization, the center will “cultivate community experiences through education, preservation, and celebration of the region’s rich Gullah history and culture,” according to the documentation submitted to the Bluffton Accommodation Tax Advisory Committee (ATAC) when the nonprofit requested funds to support the project. A request for $350,000 was granted to support the exterior deconstruction and stabilization costs of the deer tongue warehouse. Repurposing the building was approved and reviewed by the Historic Preservation Commission, the town’s Development Review Committee, and the town’s preserva-
Please see DEER TONGUE on page 13A