Sapelo Island

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Sapelo Island is a state-protected island located in McIntosh County, Georgia.

1 The island
2 Hog Hammock
3 History
- 3.1 Reynolds Mansion
4 External links

[edit] The island

Over 99% of the island is owned by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. The site, known as Sapelo Island Reserve and Reynolds Mansion, includes the island and the 13 miles of marsh surrounding the island. The University of Georgia Marine Institute has a permanent research station on the island, with residential facilities for the faculty and staff. There are two places for visitors to stay on the island. One is a primitive camping site on Carbetta Island, which is a small island connected to Sapelo. The camp site is very popular, and it is booked full for over three years at the time of this writing (2005). The second place to stay is the Reynolds Mansion, see below.

[edit] Hog Hammock

The village of Hog Hammock includes a general store, bar, and other small businesses. There are two active churches in the town. Most inhabitants of the town are African Americans, part of the Gullah or Geechee community, and have been living on the island for generations. The villagers must bring over all supplies from the mainland or purchase them in the small store on the island. The children of Hog Hammock take the ferry to the mainland and take a bus to school.

[edit] History

During the 17th century Sapelo Island was part of the Guale missionary province of Spanish Florida.

[edit] Reynolds Mansion

In the early 1800's Thomas Spalding bought the island and developed it into a plantation. Spalding sold live oak for shipbuilding, introduced irrigation ditches, and cultivated sea island cotton, corn, and sugar cane.

By the early twentieth century the International Road Races were attracting notables from the motor world to Savannah. One attendee was Howard Coffin, founder of the Hudson Motor Company in Detroit. In 1911, he and his wife purchased Sapelo Island. Like Spalding, the Coffins embarked on numerous projects. Miles of shell-covered roads were laid, creeks were bridged, old fields were cultivated and large tracts were set aside for cattle grazing. The Coffins also renovated and enlarged the Spalding house, creating an island paradise unsurpassed on the coast. Richard Joshua Reynolds, Jr., of R.J. Reynolds Tobacco, owned Sapelo from 1933 until 1965, and continued the tradition of agricultural experimentation of the previous owners.