The Bitter End

The World is Your Oyster!

By Captain J. Gary "Gator" Hill

The world is your oyster. Although many of you have likely heard this phrase, even fewer may know its origins, or even the connotation behind it. This line was spoken by Falstaff (I always thought that was just a beer!), in The Merry Wives of Windsor, written by The Bard, William Shakespeare. I hope you’ll allow me to wax poetic on this delectable morsel, given oysters are the focus on this issue.

As always, this will be a rambling mess that leads nowhere, so here goes.

First, I’ve always wondered who was the first person to open an oyster, look at the inhabitant and say, “Mmm! That looks yummy!”

For many, just the sight of a raw oyster is a no-go, let alone the consistency, or the way it feels sliding down your throat when eaten raw on the half shell. I am not one of those, thankfully. I love oysters most anyway you set them in front of me, from raw with a splash of hot sauce, to fried.

Here in coastal Georgia and South Carolina fall means many things, most especially football and oyster roasts. An oyster roast in the lowcountry is synonymous with family and friends, and sometimes even fundraisers. However, it seems early First Nations peoples were doing oyster fests, long before Europeans ever showed up. Oyster middens found on many of the barrier islands stand as a testimony to the role this tasty bivalve has played, going back centuries, from nutritional sustenance, to the shells being used in construction and for roadbeds. From Fort Frederica to Daufuskie and beyond, I have encountered tabby construction in everything from homes to walled barriers.

Thomas Spalding, the builder of Chocolate Plantation on Sapelo Island was a staunch advocate of tabby construction. Spalding wrote that equal measures of three key ingredients was all that was needed to create this durable material. Shells, lime and sand, by volume and not by weight; he goes on to say that 10 bushels of each of these mixed with water will provide about sixteen cubic feet of tabby material. Walls typically ranged from about 14 to 16 inches thick at ground level, could be over two feet thick for anything below ground level, and about 10 inches for second floor walls. Seldom would tabby walls be higher than two storys. One excellent example of tabby construction methods is at the Wormsloe Plantation Museum, as well as the tabby remains of the Nobel Jones house.

As mentioned earlier, coastal Native Americans have been harvesting oysters well in excess of three to five thousand years. In the Greek and Roman times oysters were considered a delicacy. From Neolithic man to the present this mollusk has

An example of early tabby construction, on Ossabaw Island. Photo by Amy Thurman

found its way not only onto the dinner table and buildings, but the shells were used as implements such as spoons and knives. There are so many rabbit holes we could go down in talking about the uses of the oyster!

Building on the remains of your ancestors is the motto of the coastal Georgia and South Carolina oyster, and in particular the cluster oysters which, as the name implies, attach to other oyster shells, creating clusters, which in turn make up oyster beds or rakes. Unlike singles these require a bit more work to extract the delicious morsels.

Which brings us full circle from my opening sentence, the world is your oyster. One might interpret this to mean you get out of it, that which you put into it. You can struggle to open an oyster shell and be content with the reward of just the meat to sustain you, or you can open many shells in search of that ever elusive pearl, that will elevate you.

Maybe I’ll see you at an oyster roast soon!

In the meantime, peace and love, shrimp and grits … I'll see you on the water.!

Email: TheOriginalCaptainGator@gmail.com

9369 Whitefield Avenue

Southside

What a special property. Tucked away but still very convenient to everything. Wonderful open floorplan from GR to Kitchen. Beautiful Savannah grey FP in the GR. Two bedrooms, two baths and a sunroom are also on the first floor. Upstairs is a huge master bedroom with a large bath and two closets. Also an office or additional bedroom. Outside is a great private deck, detached 2 car carport and a large workshop. Inground sprinkler for the great garden area. Whole house deep well shared with adjacent property. New pump. Really special and unique. $345,000

1217 Bay Street, Unit A 232

REDUCED

Recently updated and interior painted

1 Emmet Court TYBEE ISLAND

Relax and enjoy in this recently converted 1 Bedroom, 1 Bathroom vacation condo. All new updates including a brand new King-Sized Bed, and a new in-unit Washer and Dryer. The living area features updated furnishings and a well-equipped kitchen with breakfast bar seating for 2, additional table seating for 4, stovetop and oven and full sized fridge/freezer. The living room is furnished with a sleeper sofa and a 32in flat-screen TV, with DVD player. Furnished private balcony with a glimpse of the ocean.

$239,900 GEORGETOWN

Spacious 3BR and 2BA home on corner lot. This neighborhood is located close to all roadways. Shopping and amenites close by. Georgetown amentites very close. Elementary school even closer. This home has a very open floorplan with a separate master on one side and the other three bedrooms on the other. Easy access to the hall bath from all three secondary bedrooms. One has a double entry door which would be a great office if needed but has a closet. The neighbors are looking for some amazing new next door buyers. Great community. $239,000

DOWNTOWN

Under Contract!

26 State Street $299,000

THUNDERBOLT

Excellent buildable lot in Thunderbolt. Build a single family home and have the conveniences of living in Thunderbolt.

$49,500 6349 Abercorn St. Savannah, GA 912.352.1222

Find me on:

GORDONSTON

Located on a huge corner lot with welcoming open arms. The main home has four bedrooms and two baths. Large open floor plan. Living Room with FP opens to the DR and then Kitchen with breakfast room. A full wrap around screened porch. Beautiful staircase to upstairs with two large bedrooms and a full bath. There is a carriage house that is ready for your guests. Studio apartment on second floor of garage. Washer/dryer hookups for main house on one side and for apartment on the other. Great area for walking and biking. Very close to downtown and the beach. $424,900

BURNSIDE ISLAND

Total renovation, 3BR, 2BA! New electrical, plumbing, foam insulation in exterior walls and attic. Interior walls has additional insulation. Open with a fantastic new gourmet kitchen. Huge GR, Sun Room, Covered Patio, Butler’s Pantry and separate laundry room. Wait til you see the master bedroom and bath. Luxurious shower and sitting area in master. Fenced backyard and two driveways with access to backyard for the larger “toys”. Great storage over the carport with a pull down access. Golf cart approved!! $335,000

WHITEMARSH ISLAND

This incredible Low Country home sits on a secluded 3+ acre lot on the edge of Tom Thumb Creek in the Savannah Yacht Club area. Chef kitchen has a Wolf gas cooktop, Viking ovens, porcelain farm sink and new counter tops. The sunroom was recently updated with tile floors and new windows. New carpet in the 4 bedrooms on the top floor. The multi-level deck has a private gazebo to enjoy the views of creek. Heart pine floors through out this open floor plan. Added bonus is the Briggs and Stratton Generator. $795,500

MONTGOMERY

Build Your Dreams on this Vacant Lot in Established Beaulieu/Montgomery Area! Property Features Gorgeous Oaks and Mature Foliage with Private Well & Septic. Located Near Bethesda, Burnside Island, & Rio Vista, Yet Convenient to Truman Parkway. Offering Desirable Frontage on Ferguson Avenue, The Two Adjacent Lots “0 Lehigh Ave” and “10001 Bethesda” MUST Be Sold Together as One for $125,000. The Property Features Combined Acreage Totaling 1.32 Acres. So Much Potential!! Make Your Appointment Today! $115,000

Lyn McCuen 912.224.0927

lyn@coldwellbanker.com www.lynmccuen.com @lynmccuen

!! NEW !!

101 Edgewood Road

435 Hunt Road

105 Bradley Point Road

We Prepare and Install Living Shorelines

Living shorelines provide a natural and stable alternative to sea walls. Zulu is pleased to offer installation where stabilization and shoreline restoration is needed. • Assembled with bags of recycled oyster shells • Stabilizes eroding shorelines or failing bulkheads • Plantings of native grasses enhance stabilization • Encourages growth of oysters, which provides water filtration • Provides habitat for multiple fish and crustacean species • Increases resistance to flooding

For more information or to discuss your shoreline stabilization project, email us: rusty.batey@zuludiscovery.com.