St. Marys Magazine Issue 24

VOLUME 12

COVERING THE LOWCOUNTRY FROM SAVANNAH TO NORTHEAST FLORIDA

Wilderness Wonder Cumberland Island

ISSUE 24

PAGE 8

PAGE 22 The River’s Promise

St. Marys Rocks

PAGE 69

PAGE 87 When Shrimping Was King

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Letter from the Mayor

S

ummer 2017 Marys fared thanismost ourlazy coastal when Hurricane Matthew swept St. Summertime in better St. Marys filledof with daysneighbors of kayaking down our rivers and marshes through last fall. Our beautiful city and neighboring Cumberland Island were back in and fishing off the piers or at favorite secret spots. But for those interested in a little more business almost immediately following the storm. If you are thinking of visiting in these action, our summers are filled with music events at the beautiful Waterfront Park, festive cooler winter months, our weather is still warm and inviting so we encourage you, your First Friday evening gatherings dozens of small special events throughout the week friends and relatives to come onand down! designed to the attract entertain from all corners of our city as Or up, as caseand may be as welocal haveresidents many visitors arriving from Florida as well well. The as our visitors.

Georgia Welcome Center at Exit 1 just as you cross from Florida into Georgia has been Thanks to downtown merchants and someall energetic and dedicated volunteers, the First re-furbished and has re-opened to welcome to our great state and offering dozens of ideas Friday of every month finds our downtown streets filled with people enjoying music, for spending time in St.now Marys.

Whilefood our and waterfront, rivers and entryway to mingle Cumberland Island and remain our most popular attractions, we enjoy special drink options a chance to with friends neighbors. year-round entertainment venues like steam train rides and community theatre presentations at Theatre For visitors, it is a great time to meet our friendly local residents and learn a bit more about living here. by the Trax.

Kayaking continues to grow in popularity as do bicycle touring and races.

Our History Walk For returning visitors, we have just completed Phase 1 of a plan to create a marsh walk designed is to proving capture to thebe an enjoyable historical stroll through the long history of our waterfront village.

We are known for our family friendly peacefulness and beauty of our waterways and marshlands. The first open section begins at the Gateway property at the parades with and February own version of the Mardi Gras.

Our historic modern corner ofand St. festivals Marys Street Readyfeaturing Street onour thevery waterfront and meanders along the waterfront tohotel, the boat dock. It’s a motels, and charming bed and breakfasts provide lodging for all tastes and budgets while restaurants in midtown, great place to catch a sunrise or sunset, watch the dolphins play or spot a sea lion. downtown and the west side offer a variety of casual dining options.

We enjoy our easy, laid back lifestyle in St. Marys but we also know how to have fun. The summer calendar is filled Whether you are here for an outdoor adventure or just want to enjoy time in a peaceful, quiet, laid back and with activities, adventures and is relaxing venues for every taste.

Check out our Visitors friendly community, St. Marys the place to spend a week, weekend or longer.

Many Bureau will fall website in love and move here (visitstmarys.com) for a complete schedule. to call St. Marys home.

Welcome!

I hope to see you at one of these fun events into and you say on the And if you have time, please stopor bybump City Hall “hi”waterways. or “hey” depending on where you are from.

Sincerely,

John Morrissey, Project1John 1/8/17 12:52 Mayor PM Page 1 City of St. Marys

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FEATURES 8 Wilderness Wonder: Cumberland Island

55 Keeping the Faith

10 Written in Stone: Orange Hall Secret

62 Georgia’s Official Tall Ship Homeport

16 St. Marys Boat Leads America’s Cup

66 Girls Gone Pickin’

18 Serenity on Safari

69 St. Marys Rocks

22 The River’s Promise

74 Those Were the Days

28 Company Not Strictly for the Birds

76 Battle for a White Apron

32 Spaceport Camden: Making Moves

80 You Never Know Who You’ll Meet on the Train

36 Downtown Merchants Welcomes New Businesses

84 Get Lost With Us: Brackish Beer Company

41 Cover Contest Winner

87 When Shrimping was King

42 Move Over Hollywood

90 Nature Through the Lens of an Artist

48 Expecting the Unexpected: Live Theatre

92 River Walk at Woodbine

DEPARTMENTS 31 Mailbag 58 Around Town 60 Magazine Party 23 65 Media Darlings 73 LowCountry Events 78 Literarily Speaking

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Publisher’s Note Publisher Barbara Jackson Ryan Creative Director & Designer Jerry Lockamy Contributing Artists Steve Saley Editor Robin Cross Director of Public Relations Kristen Lockamy Contributing Writers Alex Kearns Herb Rowland Holly Yurchison Gordon Jackson Contributing Photographers Eli Rose Photography Evelyn Hill Roger Graw Kyle Richardson Jennifer Highsmith Karen Preble Glenda Barber L. J.Williams Mike LIllis

Historic St. Marys Magazine is a LowCountry Publishing publication. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the prior consent of official representatives of LowCountry Publishing. All contents Copyright 2017. All rights reserved.

Letters to the Editor or other Correspondence Email: info@stmarysmagazine.com 511 Osborne Street St. Marys, GA 31558 For general information, advertising, or subscription service, call 912-729-1103 or visit www.stmarysmagazine.com

For all those spine readers out there, note that this issue’s spine message is “JUST DO IT!” All of us have something we would like to achieve and if there was a 100% guarantee that we would succeed at it, we would plow right into it. My life successes have been based on the premise that I didn’t know that I couldn’t do something. I didn’t know for sure that I could. But I didn’t know for sure that I couldn’t either. So, long before Nike created this iconic slogan in the 80s, I was a “Just Do It” kind of girl. Well, off and on. But when I was on, I was blazing.

These days, I’m more of a “just done it” kind of girl, but I’m seeking new challenges that will keep me ever growing, ever learning, ever doing.

Back when I was on the lecture circuit, I did workshops called “Whack on the Side of the Head” and “Kick in the Seat of the Pants.” (Yes, total rip-offs of Roger Oech’s business and personal growth books. If you haven’t read them, you really should.) At the end of each workshop, I would ask everyone to write their phone number on a piece of paper, wad the paper up, and throw it across the room. Everyone then would pick up one of the wadded balls, and for the next seven days they were supposed to call that phone number and without any other introduction, say “Just Do It” and hang up.

I had a lot of feedback from those workshops that this really worked and prompted many people to get off their behinds and start that project they were putting off, or change jobs, or write a book, or visit their parents.

Procrastination is the enemy of achievement in all areas of life. We waste a lot of time talking and thinking about something when what we ought to do is JUST DO IT. JUST DO IT is not about making excuses. It’s a battle cry to the war between you and yourself.

Doubts, fears, the unknown will always be there. We just need to make sure they don’t stop us.

If you always do what you’ve always done, you will always get what you’ve always gotten. If you’re one of those very few people who is 100% content with how your life is going, sorry to have wasted your time. But if there is just a little room left for making your life totally fulfilled, think of what could help do that and JUST DO IT!

Barbara Jackson Ryan Publisher

Email me anytime with your thoughts or ideas for the magazine: Barbara@stmarysmagazine.com.

On the Issue 24 cover Eco Statement St. Marys Magazine is committed to the highest environmental standards, printed in the USA

by The Drummond Press, Inc., recycling 100% of excess paper and using non-petroleum vegetable oil-based inks.

Cover photo courtesy of White Oak Center.

Cover photo from Issue #23 (c) 2017 APhotography

t’s easy to get to St. Marys no matter what mode of transportation you use.

By land, St. Marys is located just 8 miles east of I-95 off Georgia Exit 1 or 3.

By sea, an easy sailing up the Intracoastal, and into the St. Marys River just north of Florida, gets you right into St. Marys’ Downtown Historic District.

By air, visitors have two great choices: St. Marys’ own little airport situated just minutes from the waterfront. Or Jacksonville International Airport—a mere 30 minute car ride away.

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ou wake in the opalescent light of a south Georgia dawn with butterflies in your stomach, sensing that something extraordinary awaits you just beyond the horizon. You’ve read the books and listened to the tales. You’ve asked people to describe the potent spell that this elegant sliver of land weaves, and they say “You can’t understand until you’ve been there.” You’ve spoken with those whose eyes fill with light and tears when they describe what can only be called a “pilgrimage” to the Wilderness, and you’ve seen the photographs of a thousand artists who have tried to harness the magic of Cumberland Island.

As the park ranger regales the small crowd gathered by the ferry dock with facts and figures, you check your knapsack for supplies and then gaze out along the shining pathway of the St. Marys River. Past that last curve of land lies a place of mythological status, stunning natural beauty, and intriguing history. Or so

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you’ve been told.

The ferry ride from the St. Marys waterfront takes about 40 minutes. Ten minutes in and you’re already lost in the mystic: dolphins, rays, egrets, the golden expanse of the salt marsh. And then there it is—the tip of the Island emerges from the sea and marsh like a promise from the time before time.

You arrive, and as your footsteps clang down the metal boat ramp you suddenly realize that that may be one of the last manmade sounds you hear while “on Island.” Live oaks arch overheard and join arms as if engaging in an ancient dance. You are enfolded in the misty green luminescence of a primordial old growth marine forest and you pause to allow your eyes, ears, and mind to adjust. What you mistook for silence is actually the sound of Life: the far-off brontide of the ocean, the rustle and breath of white-tailed deer, armadillos, raccoons, wild boars, countless species of

By Alex

birds, the murmur of the sea wind in the tree canopy, and the beating of your own heart as it fine tunes its rhythm to a deeper song.

This astonishing 17.5-mile, 36,415-acre island (including 16,850 acres of marsh and tidal creeks) was populated as early as 2000 BC. Four thousand years ago the tall and graceful members of the Timucua tribe of the Mocama people walked along the trails. The Spanish, the British, the Colonialists, the Industrialists, the wealthy plantation owners— throughout the eons, many have tried to claim and master Cumberland Island, to greater and lesser degrees of success. You feel them gather close—the conquerors and the vanquished, the wanderers and the homesteaders—and you realize that all of mankind’s fleeting and feeble machinations will eventually be shaken off by the Island.

From within the verdant hush of the maritime forest,

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you see the light at the end of the tunnel and, upon reaching it, you step onto the blinding expanse of the dunes that stretch along Cumberland’s eastward coast. The small mountains of white sugar sand are crisscrossed with the runners and blossoms of railroad vines and pocked with the hoof marks of the feral horses that roam the Island.

You walk out onto the beach and gaze north and south along a curve of earth so grand and sweet that it takes your breath away. You are alone with the sea and sand and sky—standing on the edge of a continent.

For the rest of your life you will try to find the words to capture the transcendental essence of Cumberland Island. National Seashore, Global Biosphere Reserve, holy place of natural beauty, fragile gift that must be protected and honored, benison to our soul? It is all that and more. You depart. Forever changed. And forever a member of Cumberland Island’s true Family.

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By Robin

I vow I am the maker’s son and profit.

“I vow I am the maker’s son and profit.” (SIC) In July 1980, during renovation work at Orange Hall, St. Marys’ Greek Revival mansion that serves as a house museum, this mysterious handwritten message was discovered beneath sheetrock on an original plaster wall. The marking was found on the first floor in the south kitchen above the fireplace mantle. Upon discovery, work stopped immediately, and Carleton Roberts of the “Tribune” newspaper was summoned to photograph the writing. It has since been removed and privately archived. The author remains unknown.* However, during research by Robin Cross seeking the source of the writing, another mystery was revealed.

Cross’s discovery inspired the writing herein. *Sources: Lord, Aeck and Sargent Architecture, Inc. 10

N

Cross

ightfall in a Coastal Georgia town. Dappled in purple shadow, a three-story Greek Revival mansion dreams beneath a great bleached harvest moon. Orange Hall is an Antebellum home with 9,500 square feet of space, 12 fireplaces, 11 previous owners, and one heartbreaking family secret.

Our story begins one Sunday morning in 1821 when amber eyes seek hazel across a deacon’s bench. With one glance from the pulpit, Horace Southworth Pratt—a humble minister—falls hopelessly in love with Jane Farley Wood, a visiting parishioner. Raised in luxury on a sprawling Bahamian sugar plantation, she is the only child of John and Laleah Wood, destined to change the life of this humble minister.

A devoted missionary to his first congregation in the dusty little town of St. Marys, the Reverend continued ... www.StMarysMagazine.com

Gravesite behind First Presbyterian Church framed by oak tree branch recently felled by storm. Inscription claims Jane F. Pratt was “The only child of her Mother.�

www.StMarysMagazine.com

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Horace Pratt was originally from Saybrook Connecticut.

He was educated at Princeton and Yale. In spite of their vastly different cultural experiences, Horace and Jane soon became inseparable. They were married February 25, 1823. On this glorious day, a secret crouched quietly between them—a secret known by the bride, known by the bride’s mother and father, not known by the groom.

Within three years, Horace and his father-in-law, John Wood, purchased a four-acre plot (#43) in Downtown St. Marys, across the street from the home of Archibald Clark. Mr. Wood also presented the newlyweds with an elaborate blueprint for the building of a future home—a home that would become a St. Marys icon— Orange Hall.

Upon the birth of their first grandchild, Laleah Geor gianna Wood Pratt, on December 16, 1823, the grandparents moved permanently to St Marys. They enjoyed their other grandchildren including John Wood Pratt, born in St. Marys on May 12, 1827, and Isabella Jane Pratt was born in St. Marys July 23, 1829, the year that yellow fever struck St. Marys. Many died that year, including Jane’s father. Jane and her mother cared for him until his death on March 2. Mr. Wood was buried behind the Presbyterian Church. On September 27 of that same year, Jane Farley Wood Pratt was laid to rest beside her father in a private ceremony with her grieving husband and mother in attendance. Standing over an open grave, one person suffers in innocence, while the other looks on, guarding a family secret.

The inscription on Jane Farley Pratt’s tombstone reads: “Jane F. Pratt, Wife of Rev. Horace Pratt, Died September 27, 1829 AE 29.

No marble can record her worth, but it will live in the memory of Bereaved friends till they like her lie down in death.

To remember all her love is now the sacred duty and the sad but Precious privilege of him who erects this monument.

Daughter, wife and mother, in these several relations Who that she left behind can boast a brighter name?

The only child of her Mother, and she was a widow.”

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Research tells us it is not.

These inscribed words appear to be part of a complex deception, promoted by John and Laleah Wood, to eradicate any written record of their first child. After years of marriage into the family, the Reverend Pratt was unaware that his wife, Jane Farley Pratt, was not the “only child of her mother.” She was not even the first.

The First child of John and Laleah Wood was a son— George Matson Wood, born in the Bahamas on March 5, 1797, and raised with his little sister in the privileged atmosphere of his parents’ Caribbean sugar plantation.

At the age of 17, he was sent to attend Eton College in London, and later to St. Johns College at Cambridge, under the guardianship of his enormously wealthy uncle continued ... www.StMarysMagazine.com

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and namesake, Sir George Wood.

In the year 1818, something epared Meals unspeakable happened in the life of young George Matson Wood. To this ities day, his story is shrouded in deepest secrecy.

Probate records state that at the death of Sir George Wood in London, July 7, 1824, his estate included wealth of approximately 300,000 pounds. In his will, Sir George left his brother John an annual annuity of 500 pounds to be charged on his estate at Mowthorpe in Yorkshire, and in the event of John’s death, 200 pounds a year to John’s widow, and 200 pounds to his daughter Jane. In subsequent codicils, Sir George left John an additional legacy of 1,000 pounds and released him from any money owing. For reasons he took with him to his grave, Sir George deliberately cut John’s son out of his will, erasing his name from nior.com the family “because he was wild.”

After his disinheritance, George Matson Wood struggled to survive in Europe, while—unknown to him—his father and his sister die of yellow fever in America in 1829.

After the death of Jane Wood, the widowed Reverend Pratt removed himself from his congregation at the Presbyterian Church, becoming a traveling missionary for the next three years, coming to terms with his grief.

In 1832, he married Elizabeth Drysdale, the dearest friend of his late wife. They lived in a small home with his three surviving children, eventually having other children.

During this time after the death of her husband John, the widow Laleah Wood became even closer to Horace and his children, perhaps seeking his guidance in financial matters. Still, no mansion had been built on Lot 43.

One sunny afternoon in 1836, Laleah Wood died. The Reverend Pratt buried her in the small church graveyard beside her husband and her daughter, the long held family secret traveling with them, into eternity.

A period of crushing grief followed for the next several months of Pratt’s life. During this time, the Caribbean plantations were sold and a huge continued ... www.StMarysMagazine.com

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inheritance was transferred from a Bahamian bank to a bank in St. Marys for Horace Southworth Pratt and his small children.

After prayer and contemplation, Pratt made a decision to fulfill the promise of his late father-in-law to build the long-dreamed of mansion, using his 10-year-old blueprints.

Pratt traveled to Connecticut to visit Isaac Slayton—a master builder—who took a sailing ship south to Georgia, agreeing to take on this historic project.

The house was completed in the autumn of 1838. By 1839, the assessment of Pratt’s “Lot 43 and improvements” in St. Marys was $12,000.

A number of sources state that prior to the completion of Orange Hall, Pratt received an invitation to accept the position of Chair of the English Literature Department at the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa. Pratt left St. Marys for Alabama shortly after the completion of his magnificent new home—Orange Hall. He was installed in his position at the University in 1839.

In the summer of 1840, he fell ill while traveling from Alabama to Georgia. He traveled to the home of his brother, Nathaniel, in Roswell, Georgia, where he died August 3, 1840. The Reverend Horace Pratt was only 43 years old.

But back to this story’s mystery.

After his mother’s death, news traveled across the Atlantic to George Matson Wood that his mother Laleah was buried with his sister and his father in a small Georgia town. With the last of his funds, he boarded a sailing ship and crossed the stormy seas, ultimately arriving at the town of St. Marys, where he found the small graveyard behind the Presbyterian Church. Three headstones greeted him.

As the orphan, George Matson Wood, stands under a massive live oak, he reads the headstone of his father—then, of his mother, and finally, the inscription of his sister, Jane: “The only child of her mother…The only child of her mother…The only child of her mother.”

Staring at the cold words carved in the marble, it dawns on him in continued ... www.StMarysMagazine.com

stunning incomprehension that for all the years he cherished the memories of his family, he had been dead to them since 1818. He kneels down to place wildflowers on each grave, then sits in the small graveyard until darkness comes. His tears fall on the earth beneath tiny stars that hang sparkling through the old oak tree.

“Forgive me,” he whispers, as he rises to leave.

Nightfall in a Coastal Georgia town.

An outbound tide carries a four-masted schooner far, far away, following the silver path of a full moon, transporting an orphan son toward his destiny.

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he Insetta 45 was the Official Chase Boat of the 35th America’s Cup, the iconic sailing competition that combines technology and luxury with the world’s best sailors and innovative sailing machines.

The 45-foot center console catamaran, which runs at highway speeds, was designed and built by family owned and St. Marys-based Insetta Boatworks.

During the competition, which took place in Bermuda from May 26 through June 27, the Insetta 45 followed and ran with the America’s Cup Class race boats competing in the 35th America’s Cup events.

“Our Insetta 45 was the perfect fit as the Official Chase Boat for this high-speed competition,” said Insetta Boatworks founder Victor Insetta. “She has an offshore racing catamaran heritage, coupled with today’s most advanced construction, technology and design. This is one bad cat.”

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W

hite Oak, the home to one of the world’s most prolific and impressive collections of endangered and threatened species, is perhaps Southeast Georgia/Northeast Florida’s best kept secret.

For those who have experienced Safari in Africa, you would be surprised to know that just minutes from Downtown St. Marys, there is a wildlife realm filled with more animals that you would expect to see on a Serengeti safari. And those who are familiar with White Oak might think it a destination for only the privileged. But happily, continued ...

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www.StMarysMagazine.com

the White Oak team has created outreach programs that give the public an opportunity to be a part of an extraordinary experience in an extraordinary setting.

At any given time, there could be as many as 35 imperiled species housed at the White Oak Conservation Center as part of the conservation breeding program designed to save some of the world’s most iconic species from extinction.

On 13,000 acres straddling the St. Marys River in two states, this vast center is where creative science, education, training and collaborations come together to make a significant global impacted on the survival of wildlife.

There is a layer of seductive serenity over all that science and learning, and there are several ways one can participate in the White Oak experience.

Private tours are available for groups of up to 60 people by special arrangement.

Summer camps at White Oak get the young people involved in wildlife conservation at an early age and in a fun way as their White Oak adventures teach them about “Conservation across the Continents.”

“Safari from the Saddle” is another outing that people are finding fascinating and relaxing. Imagine riding on horseback (on one of the center’s seasoned guest horses) and finding yourself within a few feet of a rhino, continued ...

www.StMarysMagazine.com

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cheetah, antelope, or giraffe.

Business and social groups are looking at White Oak more and more for their conferences noting the atmosphere at White Oak that energizes creativity and analytic thinking.

“Many groups use our conference center as a catalyst for the development and implementation of new ideas,” said Stephanie Rutan, Senior Education Specialist at White Oak. The White Oak golf course is another opportunity to immerse one’s self into a lush landscape where you feel like you’ve traveled to another world.

Those who are planning a wedding might consider a fairy tale destination like White Oak that promises a “happily ever after.”

Whatever event or occasion might bring one to White Oak, one thing is for sure—a sense of “specialness” will prevail when you take your leave.

In a world of hardwood hammocks, pine forest and tidal wetlands, those who answer the call of the wild that is White Oak are sure to connect with nature and come away with a renewed sense of wonder.

For more information, visit www.whiteoakwildlife.org.

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L

ong before anyone first looked upon its coursing waters and dreamed of what it would become, the St. Marys River was carving its route and making promises to be a source of food, of navigation, of recreation.

For at least 13,000 years prior to the 16th century and the appearance of European explorers, soldiers, missionaries and colonists, the Timucuan Indians occupied the St. Marys River basin. They called the river Thlathlothlaguphka or Phlaphlagraphgaw which means “rotten fish.” But the white men couldn’t pronounce it. Jean Ribault—upon finding it on May 1, 1562, called it the Seine. Its present name originated from that of the early mission.

With its marsh, tidal, stream and estuary ecosystems, the river basin provided the Timucuans with an ample source of food—fish, shellfish, deer, diamondback terrapins, water and wading birds, and even sea mammals made for a protein-rich diet. By 1763, the Timucuans were no more, due to warfare, disease and relocation.

During the 1600s and 1700s, Spanish and British explorers established settlements in the area and brought commerce to the region including crops like cotton, sugar cane, indigo, and rice, which were shipped from river plantations to Europe. Forests were harvested to mast royal navy ships and to frame mills in New England. During this period, schooners and sloops were used to transport cargo up and down the river.

Then in the late 1800s, steamers were introduced to the river, carrying passengers, cargo and mail. By this time, the St. Marys River had become an active shipping route for numerous lumber mills located along its banks.

According to Eloise Bailey-Thompson’s book, “Wandering in Camden,” the proliferation of commercial shipping on the river brought with it a bit of skullduggery as those with eyes for a quick profit saw the river brimming with opportunity. Even more unscrupulous tradesmen surfaced when the Embargo Act of 1807 was passed. Bailey-Thompson wrote: “This act was aimed primarily at England and France, who were at war. America was neutral, but with both British and French vessels continually attacking American shipping, President Jefferson and Congress had no recourse but to close American ports to foreign trade.

“Local merchants sailing out the St. Marys River faced ruin, and in 1808, the Camden County Grand Jury appealed in vain for relief from ‘the burden of embargo’, citing the effect on both merchants and local landowners. To curtail smuggling of goods and slaves across the river from Spanish Florida, U. S. Revenue boats were stationed in the St. Marys, and the troops at the Point Peter fort were strengthened. Ft. Tammany continued ...

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had also been built in St. Marys to aid in the enforcement of customs regulations.

“Smuggling with its companion business—pirating and hijacking, heightened so greatly that Commodore Oliver H. Perry, later to gain fame in the Great Lakes battle with the British during the War of 1812, was sent to aid the revenue boats. He had orders to seize all ships raiding American shipping and any American ships involved with French and British ships in any manner whether by supplying, repairing, or piloting.

“The St. Marys River, with its inlets and isolated landings up and down the river, was the perfect setting for smuggling operations. At the very mouth of the river sat the Spanish port of Fernandina. No embargo rules applied there. In no time, the busy port of Fernandina became even busier with warehouses and docks so packed with contraband that an appeal went to East Florida’s capital, St. Augustine, for permission to build more warehouses.

“Boatyards along the St. Marys were crammed with construction projects. Small boats were especially in demand to maneuver the winding streams down the Spanish Florida coast to load forbidden cargo and elude the revenuers. Ft. Alert (now Trader’s Hill in Charlton County) near the headwaters of the St. Marys was one of the major transfer spots. This fort had been built continued ...

earlier as a haven for settlers on the fringe of Indian lands with government military forces manning the fort.

A scheme was devised by smugglers to ease the move of contraband slaves or goods across the river from Florida by leaving moccasin tracks through the woods and spreading word that Indians were nearby. As soon as the nearby families were safe inside the fort, the “Moccasin Boys,” as they came to be known, slipped their merchandise into their Georgia market.

“Tradition also places a slave trading post at Cat and Kittens, south of today’s Kingsland on Catfish Creek.

Today the stream is little more than a sluggish slough, and does not run as freely as it did when sloops moved in from the St. Marys River to unload the slaves for an overland march to their buyer. St. Marys became the port of entry for smuggling captured slaves into Georgia.

“Finally, in 1819, John Quincy Adams as Secretary of State signed a treaty with Spain turning all of Florida over to the United States. By 1821, negotiations were completed, and the St. Marys River offered a new appeal to planters and timbermen.

Today, most of the land in the St. Marys River basin is used for the production of forest products. And with few river crossings and little development along its banks, the river itself is now used mostly for sightseeing and recreational purposes including canoeing, boating, continued ...

www.StMarysMagazine.com

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Philip L. Hooton, DMD

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Susan Prater, DMD

206 Arnow Drive • Saint Marys, GA 31558 t. 912-882-2005 • f. 912-882-2342 • www.camdensmiles.com

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fishing, camping, and waterskiing.

The St. Marys River actually acts as three rivers because of the three distinct physical changes it goes through on its path to the ocean.

The river’s headwaters, from the Okefenokee Swamp and the Pinhook Swamp, are narrow and winding. Here, the scenery is dominated by cypress and tupelo trees and snow-white sandbars.

In the middle portion, from Trader’s Hill to the U.S. 17 Bridge, the St. Marys becomes wider and is characterized by bottomland swamps and sandy bluffs.

The lower portion of the river, from the U.S. 17 Bridge to Cumberland Sound, is tidally influenced, with reverse flows occurring twice daily.

Freshwater and saltwater marshes dominate this area.

Bald cypress, longleaf pine, black gum, southern magnolia, red maple, American holly, poplar, black willow, river birch, and a variety of oaks are indigenous to the river’s banks and basin. Wildlife along the river includes osprey, bald eagle, white-tailed deer, black bear, bobcat, raccoon, manatee, otter, beaver, gopher tortoise, alligator, and indigo snake. And more than 65 species of fish have been identified in the river including an abundance of redfish, spotted sea trout, and flounder (where the river current meets the ocean tide).

For kayakers and canoeists, the 130-mile journey down the river serves up stunning landscapes, sunsets, and a sense of tranquility that is almost unmatched.

The St. Marys River is ever-changing and ever changing its banks that rise on both sides in the states of Georgia and Florida. As ancient Greek philosopher Heraclitus once wrote, “You cannot step twice into the same river for other waters are continually flowing in.”

When the dark blackwaters of the St. Marys River empty into the saltwaters of Cumberland Sound and the Atlantic Ocean just 40 air-miles from its headwaters, a new cycle begins.

Just as it has for eons, the St. Marys River’s promise lives on with its awesome strength, its unsurpassed beauty, and a sense of mystery. The river is calling. Answer the call. www.StMarysMagazine.com

Kelley Jackson, Physical Therapist, Mary Gillin, Resident and Jim Irwin, Physical Therapy Team Leader

Whether You’re 22 or 102, We Can Help You Make a Comeback.

If you or a loved one need short-term skilled nursing or rehabilitative care after undergoing surgery, stroke, or any other serious condition requiring hospitalization, our Senior Care Centers can help get you back to your routine. The goal of our in-house rehabilitative therapy team is to return you to your highest level of functioning.

If you would like to take a tour of one of our Senior Care Centers, please call 1-855-ASK-SGHS (1-855-275-7447).

2611 Wildwood Drive Brunswick, GA 31520 805 Dilworth Street St Marys, GA 31558 Notice of nondiscrimination: sghs.org/notice-of-nondiscrimination

sghs.org

6/2017 Š 2017 SGHS

By Barbara

Jackson Ryan

I

n a building that stands just minutes from St. Marys’ waterfront, leading-edge technology is driving a concept that could help increase yields of certain agricultural products by as much as 40 percent.

A pepper farmer in Florida was losing the battle with the birds that helped themselves to his young crop, effectively costing him as much as $25,000 a week in lost revenue. Wildlife Defense Systems, Inc., a growing company that has chosen to domicile in St. Marys, came to the rescue.

John Royall, Chair and CFO for Wildlife Defense Systems, said agriculture is not the only industry that can reap the rewards of the systems being built in St. Marys. Other industries that are challenged by wildlife pestering and/or destruction include landfills, airports, aquaculture, cell towers, and solar and wind farms.

Royall, who had been a government and defense contractor for more than 30 years, got involved with the technology currently employed by his company while doing bio-acoustical research for the Army on how to protect soldiers from concussive noises. He knew he was on to something when an impromptu experiment caused birds to scatter, seemingly disoriented. When co-founder Frank Woodward stepped into the picture in 2015 and convinced Royall that the technology needed and deserved to be productized, Wildlife Defense Systems was born.

Testing, of course, is a crucial step in any product development process, so a call was placed to the continued ...

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www.StMarysMagazine.com

person in charge of the Camden County landfill to inquire if birds were a problem for them. The answer was emphatically yes.

Birds, like most animals, will choose the least resistant path to a food source, and landfills are brimming with juicy treats that appeal to many kinds of birds. Unfortunately, these feasting birds pose a problem health and safety wise for workers and for area residents.

The decomposing material can be a source of disease that the birds can pass on—actually there are 60 potential avian related diseases.

The bird deterrent works this way: electrically produced sounds jam the navigation system of the birds, causing havoc in the air and a confusion that requires more energy than it’s worth to stay around the food source.

Wildlife Defense Systems’ technology is “green” in that it does no harm to the birds/animals nor to the environment.

Royall said that the Camden County landfill will always have the latest technology and equipment because they remain a testing station for Wildlife Defense Systems.

But it’s not just birds that present lucrative client opportunities for Wildlife Defense Systems.

Royall and his team are currently looking to a potential client in a foreign country seeking a solution to the destruction caused by monkeys on their cell towers. It’s a company that is about to launch a building program of more than 100,000 cell towers.

Happily, because of its “green” environmentally-friendly nature, the Wildlife Defense System’s product could easily solve problems facing the Jane Goodall Foundation, the world’s foremost expert on chimpanzees, as they search for alternatives to lethal electric fences around cell and power line towers.

Royall is confident that the untapped market for his company’s product is massive.

“In Louisiana alone, there are 965,000 acres of rice farms,” Royall said—another crop susceptible to bird damage. “By 2030, the world will need 50% more yield per acre to just meet our current food levels.”

Those kinds of statistics emphasize continued ...

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EXPLORE the OKEFENOKEE SWAMP

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We cater to individuals as well as groups including Elderhostel’s, Tour Groups, Scouts, Schools, Churches.

Same Planet - Different World!

Just 40 minutes from the heart of St. Marys!

Okefenokee Festival 2017 Saturday, October 14 Downtown Folkston, Georgia (22 miles west of I-95 on Hwy 40

The “Folkston Funnel” is a double track which serves as the main artery for railroad traffic into and out of Florida.

From the viewing platform in Folkston, visitors can see trains passing on their way to and from Jacksonville, Florida in the south, and a split north of town where trains go west to Waycross, Georgia, and north to Savannah.

Robert West

The platform features lights, ceiling fans, and a scanner to listen in to radio traffic between trains.Adjacent to the platform are picnic tables, a grill, and a new restroom facility for our guests.

Across the street is the restored Train Depot that houses the Train Museum (no admission charge), gift shop, etc.

For further information: www.folkston.com or 912-496-2536 30

the importance of maximizing agricultural yields and minimizing expenses for farmers at all levels.

“No other technology can increase net agricultural yield to the degree that our systems do,” Royall said.

Farms that produce fruit, nuts, cotton, sweet corn, and vineyards are just a few of the candidates that could benefit by being a client of Wildlife Defense Systems. Aquafarming is also a potential market including crawfish farms, according to Royall.

“Seagulls have driven Coastal Georgia crawfish farms out of business,” Royall said.

Wildlife Defense Systems’ non-lethal sound energy platforms work on other pests as well including gators, bear, and for Georgia, the ever-increasing threat of feral hog damage.

The systems are simple to run and can be controlled by a smart phone from anywhere in the world, making them especially attractive to timechallenged farmers. Twelve to 18 speakers mounted in a 360 degree configuration comprise the system which can be programmed with different tones that affect different animals and even different types of the same species. The sounds don’t harm the animals; they merely make them not want to hang around.

So where do the birds or animals go when they leave the area, one would ask.

“To our next customer, of course,” Royall said with a sly smile.

Impressive technology cleverly marketed from a small town in Coastal Georgia may have a significant impact in the future of wildlife management around the world, and the best part— every system will carry the name of St. Marys, Georgia with it, telling the world that this little town can make a difference.

Royall and his team love St. Marys.

“The nicest people I have ever met live here,” he said.

Having a company aimed at international trade headquartered in St. Marys is a good thing all around.

Wildlife Defense Systems is poised to help spur economic development for St. Marys and Camden County, and that is not “just for the birds.” www.StMarysMagazine.com

Send letters to: St. Marys Magazine 511 Osborne Street St. Marys, GA 31558 barbara@stmarysmagazine.com

Just read the Historic St. Marys Magazine Issue 23.

I loved this issue! I could not put it down. Loved the story about the two cannons. I know who shot the cannons in the story. It was a story that has been passed down in our family all my life. You have done a great job capturing my imagination. Thank you.

Michele Donini Bellisle

Let ’s CeLebrate at

a CLassy, CooL oasis

Thanks for publishing such a wonderful magazine.

You are a talented woman and a mover and shaker.

And, we GREATLY appreciate that you have “adopted” the Humane Society and support our important mission.

Madonna Marx

What’s more beautiful than life imitating The

Hosted by tHe inimitabLe

Cindy deen Chubb signature CoCktaiLs • montHLy brunCHes

Located in the historic riverview hoteL on the st. Marys waterfront

ST. MARYS LITTLE THEATRE Enriching LivEs Through ThE

PERfoRMIng ARTS UPCoMIng ATTRACTIonS UPCOMING ATTRACTIONS

THE SECRET gARDEn september 15-24

CHRISTMAS SHoW december 15-17

Since 1986, Georgia Power has given more than $201 million to non-profits across the state. Our commitment to improving the cultural landscape is just one of the many ways we’re working to support our communities.

THE CHIMnEYS February 23-25, 2018 P e r f o r m e d

a t

Theatre Trax 1000 osbornE road • sT. Marys, ga

georgiapower.com ©2017 Georgia Power. All rights reserved.

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912.729.1103

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Vector-R rocket at proposed Spaceport Camden site.

Commissioner Ben Casey, County Administrator Steve Howard, Commissioner Jimmy Starline.

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W

hile the Federal Aviation Administration wraps up its environmental impact assessment that will determine if rockets can be launched at the proposed Spaceport Camden site, much progress is being made in preparation for the Spaceport dream to become reality.

In May, Governor Nathan Deal signed HB1 endorsing the “Georgia Space Flight Act,” a piece of legislation seen as integral to Georgia becoming a competitive player in the commercial space industry.

About the signing, Spaceport project lead and Camden County Administrator Steve Howard said, “Commercial spaceflight is the next great space race.

It is a $320 billion industry that offers tens of thousands of good, high paying jobs. By signing this legislation, Governor Deal just sent a message to the global space industry that we are open for business.”

Howard went on to say that the passage of HB1 by the General Assembly had already had immeasurable impact on Spaceport Camden.

“I receive inquiries weekly from companies interested in launching from our site,” he said. “HB1 put Georgia on the radar of the industry and Governor Deal’s signature only reinforces to those companies that Georgia wants their business.”

The Georgia chapter of the National Defense Industrial Association endorsed the Spaceport Camden project earlier this year. Georgia Secretary of State and governor’s candidate Brian Kemp announced his support.

The former commander of the U. S. Pacific Submarine Fleet, Retired Vice Adm. Al Konetzni, joined the Spaceport Camden steering committee. Officials from Vector Space Systems visited the proposed Spaceport site in March and brought a 43-foot Vector-R rocket with them to show how quickly the company could set up continued ...

www.StMarysMagazine.com

33

operations—a lot of action that is propelling the Spaceport project forward.

Immediately on the horizon is a re-visit by Vector during which an actual test launch of a Vector-R rocket will take place on the proposed site. Vector has already had a successful test of the rocket in Mojave, California earlier this year. Vector officials have said that their company could spend as much as $100 million to establish a commercial spaceport and assembly plant in Camden County.

Vector is a micro satellite space launch company that uses leading edge technology to push their position as a leader in the small satellite market. According to Howard, “The small satellite market is already a $2.2 billion sector of the space economy and expected to grow to $5.3 billion over the next five years.”

Howard’s hopes are that Camden County will be the home of not only Vector, but dozens of small satellite manufacturers, technology support providers, and sub-component suppliers. According to a report in “Bloomberg Businessweek,” small satellites are revolutionizing the space industry.

The report states that typical satellites are about the size of a bus and take years to design and build, weighing as much as 7,000 pounds and cost about $300 million. Satellites are now being developed that continued ...

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are small enough to fit into a very small case and inexpensive enough that they verge on being disposable.

One gets the sense that Spaceport Camden would play a major role in the launching of these future macro satellites.

In the meantime, Vector will conduct a sub-orbital flight test of their full-scale Vector-R this summer at Spaceport Camden’s proposed site. The flight test in Camden County is part of a series of incremental launches which will enable Vector to validate technology, mature launch vehicle design and operations, and evaluate candidate launch sites for the future.

“Vector is an ideal partner for Spaceport Camden,” Howard said, though other companies have also expressed an interest in the Camden site because it would be totally commercial and they would not have to schedule launches around government flights.

As Howard and his team proceed to the next chapter of space exploration and innovation, interest in the possibility of Georgia playing a major role in future space exploration continues to build, and Camden County will be at the heart of it all.

“It’s about job creation. It’s about Georgia’s next generation,” Howard said. “We are prepared to immerse ourselves with our partner space flight companies to put Georgia ahead in the race for the stars.”

4450 Highway 40 East St. Marys, GA 31558 From I-95 take Exit 3 (Hwy. 40 E.) and turn left. Brant Creek will be approximately 3 miles on the left.

• • • • • • • •

Phone: 912-729-3101 www.brantcreekapartments.com

Offering BOTH Convenience and Affordability Voted #1 in Camden County since 2010 NEW Fiber Internet and Updated Directv www.StMarysMagazine.com

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Award winning community On-site storage available Detached garages available Washer/dryer rentals On-site maintenance One stop shop convenience Outdoor dining with grills located throughout the community Club room with flat screens, DVD players and surround-sound system Free WiFi at clubhouse and pool Playground Clothes care facility Car care center Pet walk area(s) Resort style swimming pool State of the art fitness studio with cardio equipment Community clubhouse with fully equipped kitchen and social areas 35

W

hen you walk into The Zen Den in downtown St. Marys, you feel an instant sense of relaxation.

Owner Whitney Crawford has purposefully created an atmosphere that invites a re-awakening of the spirit and a soothing of the soul.

With a Zen-like state of mind, you find it easy to explore the many aromatherapy products and systems that Whitney has spent years studying and now proudly displays in her store just a block and a half from St. Marys’ waterfront. continued on page 38

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P

am Jones has always had a passion for “treasures”—antiques and collectibles that tell a story. Her longtime dream of turning her passion into a business came true recently when she opened The Merry Mermaid located adjacent to The Goodbread House on Osborne Street.

“About 35 years ago, my husband came home from a trip one day and told me that I needed to become a picker because I loved the adventure of shopping and discovering unusual things,” Pam continued on page 39

C

indy Deen Chubb is a St. Marys icon, having been written up in travel books and spoken of in boating circles for years. For more than 20 years, she’s been a fixture at Seagle’s Saloon in the Historic Riverview Hotel, and she still is.

That is when she’s not behind the bar at the recently opened Speakeasy on the waterfront side of The Riverview.

Cindy had always told Jerry and Gaila Brandon (owners of The Riverview) that if and when she continued on page 40 37

The Zen Den continued from page 36 The art of aromatherapy dates back to 3500 B.C., to a time when aromatics were first recorded in human history. Essential oils are mentioned in more than 200 verses in the Bible. Everyone who has read the Bible recognizes the words “frankincense” and “myrrh”—both were essential oils. But it wasn’t until 1910 when French chemist René-Maurice Gattefossé discovered the virtues of lavender that modern day aromatherapy began to take its place in the world of healing.

Gattefossé badly burned his hand during an experiment in a perfumery plant and plunged his hand into the nearest tub of liquid, which just happened to be lavender essential oil. He was later amazed at how quickly his burn healed and with very little scarring. This started a fascination with essential oils and inspired him to experiment with them during World War I on soldiers in military hospitals. Fast forward to today when the essential oil industry is a $6 billion business.

Whitney has a Masters in Education and Bachelors in Environmental Science. Although she had been interested in the healing power of plants since she was a little girl, when she and her husband, a submariner, discovered their son had high-functioning autism, she wanted to support him

38

in every way she could and became intensely interested in the potential healing effects of essential oils.

“Aromatherapy has a grounding effect,” Whitney said.

She discovered that essential oils also healed her husband’s psoriasis and eliminated sinus infections as well. This led to her studying with the internationally-renowned Aromahead Institute where she became a Certified Aromatherapy Practitioner.

During her education with Aromahead, she did 20 case studies—one of which led her to the development of her own formula for Relief Butter. As with The Zen Den products, the healing butter is made of all natural and organic ingredients.

It was interesting to see a book about animal aromatherapy in Whitney’s store, and she explained that animals also respond to aromatherapy, especially for reducing stress.

Reducing stress, allergies, sleep problems and a desire for a better overall sense of well-being drives customers into The Zen Den seeking a more homeopathic approach to living.

In addition to the essential oils and lotions, Whitney sells organic clothing made in the USA, chakra bracelets, and continued ...

books for children about gardening, sustainability, and yoga.

She conducts “Sensory Art” sessions for kids with special needs and donates some of the proceeds from those sessions to benefit autism. Whitney has also been called upon to create comforting and grounding blends for hospice care.

Essential oils are extracted from the flowers, leaves, bark, roots, stems, or fruit of a plant. The oils are either inhaled, used with a diffuser, or diluted in carrier oil and rubbed in the skin. The Zen Den is an oasis of calm energy where one can go to relax, refresh, and re-invigorate. It truly is a sensory wonderland.

The Merry Mermaid continued from page 37 said. The thought languished in her mind for some time, then she established a booth in the St. Marys Antique Mall. It wasn’t until this recent year when family events reminded her that life was short, that she was prompted to make the move to her own stand-alone store.

Now, Pam has become the ultimate picker, finding “special somethings”—lots of special somethings that are unique and she feels desirable for her customers.

In the cozy shop just a block and a half from St. Marys’ Waterfront, The Merry Mermaid is brimming with unique finds—a collection she feels includes “something for everyone.”

She has many WOW pieces including a recent find of a desk off an old ship. Of course, there are numerous mermaid-related items to pay off the whimsical name.

“To me, mermaids are mystical,” Pam said. “When I go picking, it is that mystical mindset that inspires my choices.”

For her shop, Pam is focusing on coastal, retro, vintage out-of-the-ordinary finds—“things that jump out to me as different,” she said.

Inventory at The Merry Mermaid is constantly changing so if you shop on Tuesday, you might want to come back Saturday and look again.

Helping out with the St. Marys Antique Mall, Pam says she learned a lot from the owners.

“Al Chapman taught me the art of the deal, and Mary Chapman taught me the business side of it,” Pam said.

She will forever be grateful for the Chapmans’ guidance and the experience she had at the antique mall.

Born in Missouri, Pam grew up in Wyoming. While she and her husband were looking for a place to retire in Florida, they accidentally ran into St. Marys and fell in love.

“We loved the quaintness, the friendly people, the village atmosphere we found here,” she said.

That was 15 years ago. Today you will find Pam among her many treasures at The Merry Mermaid. For a preview, visit The Merry Mermaid page on Facebook.

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Speakeasy continued from page 37 ever slowed down, she wanted to make something of the little bar on the other side of the hotel. We’re not sure she has slowed down, but nevertheless, the Brandons gave her the opportunity to realize her dream, and now on the nights you don’t find her at Seagle’s, just go through the lobby and enter the quieter, cozier Speakeasy.

Upon entering the intimate bar, you immediately get a sense of relaxation and a feeling that you’ve come to an undiscovered oasis. Don’t worry; you won’t be required to give a password like for the old speakeasies of the prohibition era.

The living really does seem easier in Speakeasy. And though the conversation is just as lively, it’s tempered by surroundings that bespeak a more sophisticated ambience.

The eclectic decorations are engaging, and Cindy gives a lot of credit to her husband, Bob Chubb, for that.

“He was a big help during the whole process of setting up,” Cindy said. “He’s easy on the eye and was instrumental in making Speakeasy easy on the eye as well.”

Cindy’s prowess as a bartender shines ever so bright as she prepares martinis and other adult cocktails with the confidence and stroke of a master.

Often, diners from the adjacent Captain Seagle’s Restaurant will venture into Speakeasy for before or after dinner beverages.

“Some of our customers have been with us for years and

like to go back and forth from the saloon to Speakeasy for a quiet respite,” Cindy said.

Cindy is expanding the offerings of Speakeasy with monthly brunches to offer up dishes not on the regular menu.

“The brunches are catching on,” Cindy said. “And are becoming a tradition for some of our regulars.”

Visitors play an important role in the Speakeasy trade, and are entertained by the stories that Cindy and her regular customers parlay.

“People come for the atmosphere,” Cindy said. “But they return because they have been made to feel welcome—that is what hospitality is all about.”

Whether you’re visiting or you are a local, an evening at Speakeasy can be just what you need for some relaxing attitude adjustment and a softening of the day’s edges.

Bed & Breakfast

For Sale

St. Marys, Ga

912-227-2026

We provide quality, reliable electricity at competitive prices for residential, commercial and industrial services for customers in Southeast Georgia and Northeast Florida since 1939.

We also offer Youth Leadership Programs and Scholarship Opportunities

We meet the needs of our member/owners, while supporting the communities we serve.

HeadquarterS OFFice: Nahunta, Ga 912.462.5131

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www.oremc.com area OPeratiON ceNterS: Kingsland, Ga & Hilliard, FL 800.262.5131 www.StMarysMagazine.com

I

n the most recent issue of “St. Marys Magazine,” people were asked to vote for their favorite cover out of the 23 prior issues. Interestingly, votes were spread out pretty evenly across all 23 issues which tells us that people like all the covers. The one cover that got just one more vote than the others was the Pirate that graced the cover of Issue 23. Out of all the entries, a name was drawn at random, and the Cover Contest Winner is (drum roll)...NICOLE PORTWOOD. Congratulations, Nicole, and thank you to all you readers who took the time to enter the contest. We hope to continue to entertain you with beautiful and inspiring covers.

Barbara Ryan, Publisher PDF Settings - Drummond

1/8/17

1:48 PM

Page 1

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912-576-9801 Julie Clark-Blount, DVM • Amanda Rodger, DVM Your pet’s home away from home

Laurel Oaks Animal Hospital 5775 Laurel Island Parkway • Kingsland, GA 31548

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A

ccording to a recent report by FilmL.A., 17 feature films were shot in Georgia in 2016, beating California as the top location for feature film production and making it the number one filming location in the world.

FilmL.A.’s annual Feature Film study revealed the United Kingdom came in second for shooting with 16 feature films, with Canada taking third place with 13. Meanwhile, California was in fourth place with 12 feature productions, and New York and Louisiana tied for fifth.

The study analyzes the 100 highest-performing U.S. feature films released theatrically during 2016. It also examined how much money it took to make each film and how much of that money was spent in the filming location.

Coastal Georgia remains a strong player in the production of films and television projects, and St. Marys continued ...

www.StMarysMagazine.com

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A

wonderland of compelling locations, Coastal Georgia serves up verdant marshlands, wilderness islands, the Atlantic Ocean, the Intracoastal Waterway, three rivers, the Great Okefenokee Swamp, quaint waterfront villages, and majestic maritime forests—captivating vistas at every turn. Add in the mystique of historic cemeteries, a world-class Navy Submarine base, the charm of antebellum mansions, the friendliest people you’ll ever meet, plus film-friendly city leadership, and you’ll discover the makings of a great film.

We call it “Cinemagical”!

and the surrounding area is holding its own as filmmakers are returning to the community and new filmmakers are discovering it for the first time.

With stars like Donald Sutherland and Helen Mirren gracing the Low Country landscape of Camden County with their recent film, “The Leisure Seeker,” Film Commissioner Doug Vaught said word is spreading that Coastal Georgia is film-ready and can maximize production values for films of all sized budgets.

“We’re rich in natural beauty that makes cinemagical backdrops to any good story,” he said. “And the people here bend over backwards to make sure film crews and actors feel welcome.”

At the recent 4th Annual Coastal Georgia Film Alliance FilmFest, three filmmakers were honored for their filmmaking talents. continued ...

912-729-1103 Visit Coastalgeorgiafilm.org to hear what other producers have to say about filming in Coastal Georgia.

Birthday Parties Swim Lessons

Private Park Rentals Season Passes

(L-R) Filmfest honorees Rozina and Mahmoud Shoolizadeh, Brandon Herron, Steve Royer

Find Your Love At

HumaneCamden.org

912-673-8118

301 Herb Bauer Drive • (just off Hwy 40, minutes from waterfront) St. Marys, GA 31558 • www.funatsmac.com

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International filmmaker Mahmoud Shoolizadeh was present at the FilmFest to receive his award for the fourth film he has made in and around St. Marys.

Shoolizadeh’s “The Lover,” a FilmFest main feature, has garnered numerous awards since its first entry into film festivals last year.

Up and coming filmmaker Brandon Herron also accepted an award at the FilmFest for two of his films including “Riverview” and “Not for Sale.”

“Riverview” is the namesake of the Historic Riverview Hotel on St. Marys’ waterfront where the movie was filmed using all local actors. “Riverview” is Herron’s first entry into the horror genre.

In “Riverview,” a young woman’s stay at the historic hotel becomes increasingly unnerving when the appearance of a strange man seems to be more than just coincidence.

Herron’s “Not for Sale,” a quirky little film with a twist on humor, was filmed at the St. Marys Antique Mall.

Steve Royer’s second film produced in continued ...

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the area, also featured at the FilmFest, addresses the disturbing elements of PTSD as experienced by a military man home from combat overseas. The film is called “Trapped,” and viewing it brought home the reality of how victims of PTSD can feel trapped inside their head.

Another returning filmmaker, Kim Murray, produced “Stand Up” in Camden County, and its teaser was featured at the FilmFest.

While Herron and Royer’s films are “shorts,” Shoolizadeh’s “The Lover” is a full length feature film.

Whether short or full-length, Coastal Georgia welcomes films by the famous and the someday-to-be-famous filmmakers. If the area can continue to get just a small sliver of the film production that has made Georgia the number one film location in the world, area businesses will reap the benefits and filmmaking will continue to contribute to a vibrant economy for Coastal Georgia.

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D

uring St. Marys Little Theatre’s (SMLT) recent production of “Camelot,” in the middle of a rather serious love scene, Horrid (King Pellinore’s dog), ambled to center stage and proceeded to scout the audience for his mommy and daddy. It was not his time to go on, but he was on a mission.

During SMLT’s “Sweetgrass,” three-year-old actress Natalyah Williams slipped quietly from her station behind stage and returned to the stage to place her baby doll in the little chair onstage because she wanted her baby to watch the show.

In both cases, there was no editor in the house who could snip out that scene for a re-do. Welcome to “live theatre.”

For St. Marys Little Theatre and other community groups, every night onstage presents a new set of obstacles and unanticipated occurrences. Thankfully, the audiences at Theatre by the Trax where SMLT makes its home, have made a familial connection with the actors and tech crews, and feel they are a part of the journey. They are sharing the action with the continued on page 52

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Honesty • Integrity • Excellence • Family

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actors as it happens, and therefore, become part of the action onstage.

No other art form puts the audience in the same room with real human beings to observe first-hand their frustrations and successes. Those onstage must deal not only with the conflicts the characters are handed, but also with the problems found on the stage on any particular night.

Art is a representation of life, an interpretation, a way of exploring its boundaries on both its high and low side. And live theatre possesses the very element that art strives to capture: life.

And, of course, life isn’t always perfect.

When it comes to entertainment, there is just nothing that compares to the thrill of live theatre. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry—you will be captivated by the stories enacted by people of the community who have sacrificed hundreds of hours of personal time purely for your entertainment.

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AMELIA COMMUNITY THEATRE 2017-18 Season uncertainty of remembering that next line, or bringing out the proper prop, or starting a song in the right key.

Truly “being there” with the actors as they take their journey, watching them develop their characters, expecting the unexpected, can be simply electrifying.

And the reward of being there when true inspiration strikes is hard to beat.

St. Marys Little Theatre compounded its former accomplishments by adding a bonus show during its most recently completed fourth season.

“Grease” opened the season last fall. “A 1940 Noel” was the holiday show. This year’s Black History Month’s commemorative production, “Sweetgrass,” was met with thundering applause as local writer Gaila Brandon’s story of the Gullah Geechee unfolded.

The original play is set in Sapelo Island’s Hog Hammock, one of the last remaining Gullah-Geechee settlements in America. The script encompasses a connection of a young professional African-American woman living in New York City to her ancestral roots in southern Georgia. In this original heart-touching drama, audiences witnessed the transformation of several lives and the central actor’s discovery of a new sense of place. Poignant tributes to 9-11 victims segued into the soul-stirring sounds of the renowned Geechee-Gullah Ring Shouters in a lament of slave life on the island. As are many of SMLT’S productions, Sweetgrass was a musical, a drama, and a history lesson all rolled into one.

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When SMLT Chair Barbara Ryan had the chance to get stage veteran Sophia Rose Loveday to direct a production at Theatre by the Trax, she jumped at the opportunity. Loveday, who has appeared in professional productions at Alhambra Theatre and other venues, is what one would call a “quadruple threat.” She acts, sings, dances, and continued ... www.StMarysMagazine.com

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directs. Her choice of “The Musical of Musicals” for SMLT’S third production of the season, was brilliant, giving her the opportunity to assemble a small cast of Coastal Georgia’s and Northeast Florida’s most gifted performers.

Audiences were treated to musical excerpts from the world’s most respected artists including Rodgers and Hammerstein, Stephen Sondheim, and Andrew Lloyd Webber among others. The fast-paced show left little room for audiences to catch their breath as Loveday and her cast swept the stage in style and grace with a cadre of favorite songs that came with a decidedly different twist.

Perhaps SMLT’s most ambitious production to date came alive with its season closer—“Camelot.”

A cast and crew of more than 50 dedicated individuals transformed the old train building into a magical kingdom complete with castle for this timeless tale of legendary King Arthur and his knights of the Round Table.

It was an epic story, an epic cast, and an inspiring orchestra in a production that dazzled audiences night after night, capped off by standing ovations and “best show ever” comments from people leaving the theater, humming the songs of the evening.

St. Marys Little Theatre will open its 5th season on September 15 with the Coastal Georgia debut of “The Secret Garden,” endeavoring to continue their mission of “enhancing lives through performance arts.”

Community theatre exists to foster community pride and cultural enlightenment. Film enthusiasts might disagree, but theatre fans will tell you that live theatre is the greatest adventure because it takes you on the journey along with those onstage in real time to a place of suspended belief and the thrill of “expecting the unexpected.”

Editor’s Note: Anyone who would like to get involved in community theatre on any level should visit www.stmaryslittletheatre.com and click on “contact” for more information.

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Up and coming model Faith Mortier has big plans for her future.

A

resident of St. Marys, GA, Faith just graduated from Camden County High School and is looking to make her career as an Orthodontist.

“I want to help adults and children get the perfect smile they’ve always wanted,” Faith said.

To help fund her education, Faith hopes to have success as a model while she works locally.

“There is so much ahead in life, I can’t wait to experience it while being surrounded by my friends and loved ones,” she said. “I put my trust in God to lead me the way to my success and happy, blessed life.”

Faith is one of many young people of our community that St. Marys Magazine hopes to recognize in the coming years. We applaud Faith and her fellow graduates for planning a future in which they make the world a better place to live.

Photos by Joseph Mullins.

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SWEETGRASS MARDJA GRAY STEVE ROYER REGINA ADKINS LINDA LOVE PAT CHIARELLI ADVANCE LEARNING ACADEMY NORMAN COVERT DOUG & JOY COOPER P. J. JORDAN BILL & LINDA VECERA BOB & CINDY CHUBB KEYONNA BROWN & STEPHANIE NATHAN DAVE & BETTY REILLY HERB & KATHIE ROWLAND ERIK & KIMBERLY NESTERUK ARLENE NORRIS CAROL MOORE MICHAEL LOYD

THE MUSICAL OF MUSICALS FRANK & ROSEMARY SHOBER CAROL MOORE HERB & KATHIE ROWLAND DAVE REILLY KAREN GRECO REGINA ADKINS

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CAMELOT AL & ANN BEACH ALLAN HANEY ARLENE NORRIS CAROL MOORE CRAIG & MAUREEN MILLER DAVE & BETTY REILLY DIANE BROWN DOUG & JOY COOPER DR. PATTI DUNN-CARTER ELAINE POWIERSKI JOHN TUCKER KAREN GRECO LINDA LOVE LINDA WILLIAMS MARK & JOY SULLIVAN MAUREEN MCGRATH MICHAEL LOYD P. J. JORDAN REGINA ADKINS STEVE ROYER TANIA OWENS TOM & CHERI RICHTER BRUCE & VIRGINIA PEARSON

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Around Town Ethel Dawson was crowned Ms. Senior Care-St. Marys 2017. Finalists pictured (l-r) Annie Roberts, second runner-up; Theresa Budzinski, first runner-up; Ethel Dawson, Ms. Senior Care Center-St. Marys; and Joyce Garcia, third runner-up.

Patty Martin displays her artistic talents in the recent Chalk Art Walk at St. Marys’ Waterfront Park.

Employees of Southeast Georgia Healthcare System were honored with a complimentary ride aboard the St. Marys Express in appreciation of their dedication to the community.

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Around Town

First Fridays in St. Marys have become a hit with locals and visitors.

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Meagen Portwood and Christa Abel were models in the Cottle & Gunn fashion show that occurred during a First Friday weekend in St. Marys.

Guided Tours

Eco-Tourism

St. Marys Garden Club held its annual Arbor Day Celebration in conjunction with the Go Green Club, a Junior Garden Club, at Mary Lee Clark Elementary School. The tree was planted in the wildlife habitat started by the Garden Club’s Earth Angels working with the Go Green Club several years ago.

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I

n 1767, the Colonial Council decided that St. Marys, Georgia was a desirable site for a port city.

As the southernmost port in the United States, St. Marys was soon recognized as a shipping center with as many as 300 square rigged vessels occupying the local waters.

Ships from around the world patronized the port taking on loads of cotton, lumber, hides, furs, rice, and other products for which Coastal Georgia had become known. In exchange, salt, sugar, gunpowder and shot were offloaded as imports.

It was an era of prosperity for the fledgling settlement of St. Marys that was yet to be incorporated as a city.

Today, there are aspirations to revive that “era of prosperity,� making St. Marys, once again, a hub of tall ship activity.

With the establishment of St. Marys Tall Ship Alliance, a new awareness of the economic continued ...

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The legendary Pinta and Nina would feel right at home in the harbor at St. Marys.

potential for St. Marys’ Maritime Heritage District is awakening.

Organizers John Royall and Frank Woodward have collected more than 1,000 signatures supporting the establishment of St. Marys as the “Official Tall Ship Port of Georgia.”

Royall, who has been a sailor since he was seven years old, said that merchants, banks, and other places frequented by the public continue to collect signatures to strengthen the case for the Alliance.

“We know there is great potential to attract eco-tourism, historical tourism, and marine tourism,” said Royall. “The creation of the Tall Ship Alliance can propel the process forward and help to revitalize economic development.”

St. Marys was the first port in Georgia dating back to 1585. In 1836, more tall ships were built in St. Marys than any other place in Georgia.

“Our goal is to ultimately have 10 to 12 tall ships homeported here to assure that 2 to 3 would always be in port,” Royall said.

Advocates of the Tall Ship Alliance strongly believe that establishing St. Marys as the Official Tall Ship Port of Georgia will not only bring living history to St. Marys, but also attract new investment to the community, create jobs, and boost property values.

The plans are to propose enabling legislation, partner with civic and business groups, and attract federal and state grants.

“We want to teach our citizens and visitors about St. Marys’ rich maritime history and its importance in the economic growth of America,” Royall said.

Recently, much excitement was created when replicas of Christopher Columbus’ ships “Nina” and “Pinta” made port in St. Marys’ harbor.

Royall envisions a time when the sight of a tall ship pulling into the harbor is a familiar sight just as it was in the 1700s and 1800s when St. Marys represented the last stop before sailors entered the Spanish waters of Florida.

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Many are contributing toward the furtherance of the Tall Ship designation including master ship maker James Crawford who is making and donating a model of the “USS St. Marys.” The DNR and Corp of Engineering are being brought into the picture for input about pier placement as well.

Clearly, the passion and energy needed to make St. Marys the “Official Tall Ship Home Port of Georgia” are there.

Kudos to those who have set their compass toward capturing the untapped potential of a new tall ship era for St. Marys. Thinking small never got anybody anywhere. Thinking big (and tall) could be the ticket to placing St. Marys, Georgia on the world map of maritime importance—again.

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“St. Marys Magazine” makes a great travel companion.

We’d like to know where you’re taking us.

To become one of our media darlings, simply have your photo taken in a distinguishable location, holding a copy of the magazine, and email the photo with names and location to info@stmarysmagazine.com.

Charles and Valerie Giumarra at Harvest Caye, Belize

Lori and Bill Floyd and Deborah Maynard in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands.

Eric Williams, Sumter, South Carolina. www.StMarysMagazine.com

Theresa and Don Chamberlain in Italy.

Maureen and Craig Miller in St. Marys, Tasmania.

Karin and Rick Lundgren in Caesarea, Israel.

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ntiquing takes on a whole new meaning when Deb Cottle and Maria Riebe hit the road with an empty pick-up truck and trailer. They are on a mission that might take them a thousand miles or more through rural America, seeking the “treasures-in-waiting” that less seasoned treasure hunters might mistake for junk.

Cottle and Riebe comprise the “Girls Gone Pickin” duo birthed out of their Rustapalooza affiliation and tandem trails of searching out old barns, garages, attics and junkyards for that next major “score.”

“It’s an addiction,” Cottle admits. “The anticipation of discovering a hidden gem is half the fun.”

Cottle said the rest of the fun comes from meeting quirky characters, hearing their stories, and relieving them of some grimy junk that the pair had already envisioned as a fixture at the Cottle & Gunn Store in St. Marys, or a continued ...

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fulfillment on a client’s wish list.

Cottle and Riebe encourage their clients to give them lists of what they might fancy, and it is highly unusual that the pair do not fill the order.

Gadding about the countryside in a “Thelma and Louise” state of mind, Cottle and Riebe return again and again to some of their favorite “honey holes,” the location of which is sacred.

“Just like a good fisherman never reveals his favorite fishing spot, we’re not inclined to divulge our best sources of cool stuff,” Cottle said.

During a recent odyssey that took them on the “world’s longest yard sale” from Michigan and Ohio to Alabama, the girls packed the truck and trailer to the brim with relics begging for transformation or just a little cleaning off.

Bee boxes, garden gates, chicken hutches—every piece tells a story.

“We are all about re-purposing and buying in America,” they said.

Great examples of the duo’s talent for “re-purposing” stand inside the walls of Cottle & Gunn—a chicken coop and an old barber’s chair make handsome merchandise displays as well as a baby bed. A chandelier made of old paint brushes is a testament to the pickers’ whimsical side. continued ...

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Clearly Cottle (Thelma) and Riebe (Louise) are kindred spirits.

They both sometimes have a difficult time giving up a piece and often have to “have a moment” with a special pickin that has spoken to their heart before they let it out the door.

“They become like our children,” Riebe said.

Both have their own collections. While Cottle gravitates toward refrigerators and globes, Riebe has a hankering for unusual signs. Both women love old general stores.

Pickin is in their blood. Cottle’s upbringing taught her to live frugally and if she wanted pretty things, she had to “re-purpose” something already on hand.

Two days of the month, you can find St. Marys’ Thelma and Louise displaying their “pickin’ finery in the courtyard of Cottle & Gunn. The dates usually coincide with the weekend of First Fridays in Downtown St. Marys. It’s kind of like a “mini” Rustapalooza.

Riebe has been organizing Rustapaloozas for five years around the region. But now Rustapalooza has moved permanently to St. Marys.

Last year, thousands of treasure seekers swarmed the streets of St. Marys during a two-day junkin’ bonanza that helped contribute to the local economy and gave first time visitors a chance to discover the magic of St. Marys. There were vendors from six states and attendees from 24 states. The 2017 Rustapalooza in St. Marys takes place November 11.

When Cottle and Riebe are in town tending to business, they have other pickers who know their style out hunting for them. They have been known to host a “truck and trailer unloading” whereby shoppers can actually buy as the goodies are unloaded.

“We have a massive network,” said Cottle. “So whatever is on someone’s wish list, there’s a good chance we can get it for them.”

Girls Gone Pickin have fully embraced their “Thelma and Louise” identities even going so far as having a “Thelma and Louise” candle made for them to sell. The scent is chocolate caramel bourbon—of course.

And each candle is graced by a miniature gun that the real Thelma and Louise would have found quite endearing.

The Cottle & Gunn brand has been expanded into Blackshear with a new location there. But Girls Gone Pickin has no borders. Thelma and Louise are now recognized on the highway, but unlike their infamous silver screen counterparts, they are not tailed by dozens of backcountry law men. Rather their entourage consists of folks who just love found treasures and the stories they tell. www.StMarysMagazine.com

The Acosta family displaying some of their painted treasures.

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f you’re wondering what that family of four is doing at the St. Marys Waterfront Park at 7 a.m., look closely. You will note that they have their eyes to the ground and from time to time you hear a joyous “found one” emanating from one of the little ones.

What you’ve just witnessed is an experience that is being duplicated in hundreds of cities across the country as the “kindness rocks” phenomenon has swept a nation thirsting for good news and a connection to humanity.

Here’s how it works. You paint some rocks with scenes or objects or sayings, then hide them in a place where the public can find them. They get found and then hidden again. And so the cycle continues.

Camden County resident Sarah Acosta can be credited for starting the “St. Marys Rocks” movement mere months ago. Her sister-in-law, who continued ... had participated in the “rock” movement in her

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hometown of Lakeland, Florida, showed up for a visit with two bags of rocks and paints. Noting the enthusiastic response of Sarah’s two daughters, she suggested that Sarah start a Facebook page to get others involved.

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Animals are a favorite graphic for rocks like the one Catina Nesheim painted.

“It’s a thrill to find the rocks,” said Sarah, “but painting them and hiding them is just as thrilling.”

Sarah said that the experience teaches children about creativity and generosity.

“They paint the rock then let it go and they realize it’s okay to put a lot of work into something and then give it away without ever getting credit for it,” Sarah said. “The entire goal is to share.”

Many of the rocks are thoughts expressed by simple art, but some are true masterpieces.

“The beauty of it is that there are no rules or restrictions—whatever strikes your fancy,” Sarah said.

“Some people convey messages of encouragement.”

The idea is to inspire creativity in all ages and energize people to explore the area they live in. Most people take a photo of the rocks they paint before they continued ...

Whimsical rocks such as this one

by Whitney Crawford are a real hit with kids. www.StMarysMagazine.com

hide them and post the photo on Facebook. According to Sarah and others, the Rock movement is getting people out and bringing people and families together.

Parents often love to paint rocks as much as the kids do. The joy comes full circle in the hiding, finding, and re-hiding, anticipating someone else’s joy in finding them.

Camden County residents are starting to write “St. Marys, GA” on the back of the rocks and sending them out of town or taking them to hide when they travel.

There are several other “Rock” groups on Facebook that cover the local community including “Kingsland Rocks” and “Camden County Rocks.”

Businesses are also starting to get in on the trend, painting and hiding rocks that offer a reward when they are returned to the business. The volunteers for St. Marys Express that runs train excursions in downtown St. Marys recently hid rocks that related to their themed ride at the train station, rewarding

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Delays in your child’s development could mean learning problems later.

St. Marys Express passengers were thrilled to find these rocks hidden at the train station during their recent Rock ‘n’ Roll Express excursions.

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Seniors at the local Senior Center get in on the act, exploring their creativity through rock painting.

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WINNER

Tina McDaniel painted this masterpiece earning her first place in St. Marys Magazine’s MOST AWESOME ROCK contest. passengers who found them.

No one knows for sure exactly how the “Rock” phenomenon began, but one post to a California group page told this story: “An Oregon couple lost their two daughters in 2013, when they were hit by a car in front of their house. In April 2014, the couple launched the “Love Rocks” Facebook page to honor their memory with heart-decorated rocks similar to how the couple had decorated their wedding mementoes.”

Some people call them “Kindness Rocks,” and the name suits the experience. This world could sure use a little more kindness and to have hundreds of thousands of people out sharing that kindness with heartfelt messages and paintings on simple rocks is a good start.

Even before the rock craze started, most people who live in or visit St. Marys would have agreed that “St. Marys Rocks!” And now, this little town literally does ROCK!

To learn more, please visit www.camdencountypsa.info 72

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2017

All Events in St. Marys unless otherwise noted.

August 12 ...................... Starry Nights Concert at Waterfront Park

November 18 ................. Kingsland Catfish Festival

September 1 .................. First Friday Downtown St. Marys

November 25 ................. Santa Express Train Rides

September 9 .................. Starry Nights Concert at Waterfront Park

November 28 ................. White Lighting Parade & Ceremony

September 15-24 ............ The Secret Garden at Theatre by the Trax

December 2 ................... Christmas in the Park

October 6 ....................... First Friday Downtown St. Marys

December 2 & 9 ............. Santa Express Train Rides

October 7 ....................... Rock Shrimp Festival

December 9 ................... St. Marys Christmas Tour of Homes

October 7 ....................... Railroad Days Train Rides

December 12 ................. Live Nativity at Orange Hall

October 9 – 31 ............... Hay Days

December 15-17 ............. Christmas Show at Theatre by the Trax

October 10 ..................... Scarecrow Scroll October 14 ..................... Okefenokee Festival, Folkston October 27 ..................... Haunted History Tour November 3 ................... First Friday Downtown St. Marys November 3-12 .............. St. Marys Children’s Theatre “Hair Spray”

2018

February10 ................................................. Mardi Gras Festival February 10 & 17 ....................................... Wild West Express Train Rides March 24 & 31 ............................................ Peter Cottontail Express

November 11 ................. Rustapalooza in Downtown St. Marys

Every Saturday ............................ St. Marys Community Market at Waterfront & Royal District Market in Kingsland Every Friday & Saturday Evening ... Woodbine Opry

For additional information about other area events, visit these websites www.stmaryswelcome.com (St. Marys) www.visitkingsland.com (Kingsland) www.woodbinegeorgia.net (Woodbine) www.folkston.com (Folkston) www.goldenisles.com (Brunswick and The Golden Isles)

www.mcintoshcounty.com (Darien) www.savannahvisit.com (Savannah) www.ameliaisland.com (Amelia Island) www.visitjacksonville.com (Jacksonville & surrounding area) www.floridashistoriccoast.com (St. Augustine & Ponte Vedra)

Train Ride information at www.stmarysrailroad.com

www.StMarysMagazine.com

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By Herb

Rowland

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efore the grassy greens of Osprey Cove and Laurel Island Links, before their fine air-conditioned clubhouses and well-stocked pro shops, before multiple tennis courts and Olympic size pools, there existed in St. Marys a local center of social life and the great sport of golf, a 9-hole course—St. Marys Golf and Country Club.

Located southeast of the current Gilman Building Products building on what is now the green of Osprey Club’s golf course was a relatively small concrete block building that served as clubhouse and pro shop for the club. Adjoining the clubhouse was an outdoor pool and four tennis courts enclosed by a chain link fence. Each of these had been added to when the club was in its heyday from 1968 to 1981. In 1987 the club’s dollar-a-year lease from Gilman Paper Company was not renewed in anticipation of the pending development of Osprey Cove, and St. Marys Golf and Country Club became a part of gone but not forgotten history.

Memories abound, recalling a time when just about everyone knew almost everyone and Saturday night at the club was the most anticipated time of the week for a couple’s evening out after a family afternoon by the pool, or enjoying golf or tennis. Adding to that enjoyment, being a private club, adult beverages were available seven days a week in Hilda’s Bar. Madonna Marx remembers: “I began my employ as the Lifeguard at St. Marys Golf & Country Club after my brother, Gregg, resigned the position to go off to college. I worked there for two summers and I have to say it was a perfect job for a teen who grew up either in the pool, river or beach.

Most days were enjoyable and uneventful. There was a steady stream of moms and young children. Two brothers, who will remain unnamed but they know who they are, were holy terrors. Reprimands and timeouts meant nothing to them. I eventually banned them from the pool for a week. That got their attention and almost got me fired. continued ...

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I saved one child during my employ. To this day, his older sister reminds me of the episode; however, at the time she said, ‘Why did you have to jump in after him?’”

Gene Johnson remembers: “There was the time the caretaker’s truck was enclosed within the chain link fence as it was being installed and a portion of the completed fence had to be removed to get the truck out. Also, there was the time the pool was drained for cleaning without regard for the fact that engineers had warned it was below ground water level and needed well points. As the pool began to rise above the ground, draining was stopped and a Gilman repair crew summoned to patch the cracks and refill the pool which settled into the ground never to be drained again.”

Jim Jordan remembers: “I was being recruited for a management position with Gilman Paper by Pete Petersen. He had called me to come to St. Marys and tour the facilities and, being an avid golfer, one of the first things I asked was, ‘Is there a golf course?’ to which he replied, ‘Of course there is.’

I thought I caught a brief hesitation in that answer, but decided to make the trip and see what the company had to offer.

Arriving in St. Marys, we toured the plant then I asked when we would see the golf course. Saying, ‘If you insist.’

Pete began driving west on highway 40, coming to a

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two-rut dirt road just past the iconic Pop’s Place. Turning left, we drove between rows of pine trees for what seemed like miles before emerging into a clearing where sat a small, cinder block building that Pete proclaimed was not a clubhouse, but the Whispering Pines pro shop. We then proceeded to drive around the worst nine holes of golf I had ever seen. He broke the silence with a question, ‘Is this a deal breaker?’

Needless to say, it wasn’t, and almost 50 years later, I still think about the dedicated group of golfers who created a very good nine-hole golf course for St. Marys.”

It wasn’t all about golf. The Ladies Golf Association organized social events for all members whether golfers or not. Waldene Lassiter and her dedicated group provided many unforgettable events including themed suppers, a luau, steak dinner with $1000 give away, oyster roasts (one of which introduced Rock Shrimp), golf tournaments, dances, the infamous “Womanless Wedding” (which will not be detailed), fashion shows, and many events for children and teens.

These are a few of many memories of times when simplest pleasures were the best with many of these memories made at the old golf club among friends and neighbors.

Editor’s Note: Thanks to those who shared their memories and Barbara (Pilgrim) Smith for her photos.

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Jennifer Caywood Williams, St. Marys resident, earned her white apron on television’s “Master Chef.”

W

hen you meet Jennifer Caywood Williams, you get a sense that she has never backed down from any challenge. She’s bold, bodacious, and filled to the brim with life. She’s at home delivering a heart-thumping rap song at Pirate’s Point in St. Marys, but she’s most at home in the kitchen. And her culinary skills recently put her in the limelight when she was chosen to compete on the Fox Network’s “MasterChef.”

As of press time, Jennifer had made it up to the top 20 as a Master Chef competitor for Season 8 of this highly popular foodie program.

The June 21 episode opened with her being chosen team captain for the “Blue” team with a challenge to feed 101 lifeguards on a beach.

Jennifer was influenced at an early age by her “adoptive” Pops who owned a jazz club in New Orleans. She was always artistic, and when Pops showed her how food preparation could be an art, she was inspired. Jennifer’s family owned an oyster business, so food was all around her.

She often serves as “Guest Chef” at Pirate’s Point in St. Marys, so local residents got a chance to enjoy her culinary skills (and her rapping skills on karaoke night). Friends convinced her to try out for “MasterChef” and her “battle for the white apron” began.

“I met the most amazing people on the show, continued ...

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and the experience helped me gain confidence,” Jennifer said. “I’m very proud to have won the apron.”

Remembering the many dishes she prepared on the show, Jennifer was very pleased with her “Grand Marsala Shrimp Po’ Boy with ginger yogurt.”

“I like to do Indian and Cajun dishes,” she said.

Jennifer admitted that some of the ingredients were very challenging especially the cactus which she had never prepared before and had no clue what to do with it.

“It’s really cool to see the experts go to work,” she said.

“I learned a lot from them.”

Jennifer is a Navy wife and loves St. Marys where she feels right at home.

Her advice for aspiring chefs? “Just do it! If you have the feeling inside you, just jump in head first.”

Jennifer loves her Pirate’s Point “family” and hopes to branch out to other restaurants, offering her talents as a guest chef. And now, we can even say “Celebrity Guest Chef.”

Earning the “white apron” has been a big deal for Jennifer, but really, she “just wants to cook.” And rap.

And start a revolution to help people discover what a cool place St. Marys is.

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ocal residents like to say that St. Marys “isn’t very The founders of St. Marys, whose names grace the wide but it sure is deep.” Opening the oversized hard streets of the downtown area, were not the honorable, cover of Kay Westberry’s recently released “In the Eye of upright leaders one might imagine. For the most part, the Storm” proves the point. they were scalawags—pure and simple.

Subtitled “A Look at the Turbulent History of Saint “Osborne and Ashley and his two sons were all Marys, Georgia,” the 380 pages within tell a story of crooked,” Westberry contends. “The Ashleys stole cattle scalawag founders, forgotten battles, prosperity, plague, and horses and did illegal timber cutting. Osborne rigged peril and piracy. Thirteen chapters and an extensive an election by getting Robert Seagrove and Bryant to index offer history fans a rich accounting of life in St. re-open and stuff the ballot box after the polls had closed.”

Marys chronologically, from

Nathaniel Ashley was the European expeditions in a murderer. In the spring of the mid-1500s to the last City 1788, Captain Henry O’Neil, Council meeting before the the Spanish magistrate on the launch of the Civil War. The St. Johns and St. Marys Rivers first part of a planned trilogy, went to Cumberland Island “In the Eye of the Storm” in search of Ashley, who was precedes a second book that known to smuggle stolen will cover the period from the cattle. The Camden County Civil War to World War I, and Grand Jury made this report: book three will cover the time “Nathaniel Ashley, late of from World War I to the the county of Camden, not heydays of the paper mill. having the fear of God before Why would someone spend his eyes, but being moved and four years of their life seduced by the instigation documenting the history of a of the Devil on the twenty small town? Westberry says fourth day of April, which was there are many sources for the in the year of our Lord, one history of Camden County, but thousand seven hundred and no one book comprehensively eighty-eight, at the house of covers the history of St. Marys.

James Cashen on the South “I wanted to get viewpoints end of Cumberland Island did that had not been explored Kill and Murder against the before,” Westberry said. “I peace of the state.” wanted to hear the ‘other

Now, think about that as side’ of the story like Admiral you take your tranquil evening Cockburn’s take on why the stroll down Ashley, Seagrove, burning of the White House Bryant, or Osborne Streets. was justified.”

“In the Eye of the Storm” is Kay Westberry, author of “In the Eye of the Storm,” Page 196 reads, “While the perfect title for spent four years researching and writing the Americans compared Westberry’s book given the newly released history of St. Marys.

Cockburn to Attila the Hun, very nature of St. Marys’ they tended to disregard how the United States had turbulent times that emanated from smuggling raids, earlier left hundreds of people out in the cold after deserters, outlaws, displaced Indians, plague, war, piracy burning down an Ontario town in the dead of winter.” and unsavory characters as role models.

Other ironies fill the pages of Westberry’s voluminous “There was always a storm of one nature or another chronicle. brewing,” said Westberry. Ergo the title. continued ...

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But not all was doom and gloom in the southernmost tip of Coastal Georgia.

Westberry writes of prosperity and peace, opportunities and triumphs.

A highlight for many readers will be the “block by block” tour of the city as it was in 1840 which guides one by historic homes, churches, the Oak Grove Cemetery and the iconic waterfront, giving deep detail of those who occupied these spaces and their influence on the development of St. Marys.

Westberry plans to feature such a tour in the remaining two books of her trilogy as well. She has already started on book two which is tentatively titled, “Up from the Ashes.” Book two speaks of the city’s resiliency that led to more prosperous times.

To chronicle the rich history of St. Marys is a daunting task in itself. To move along 300 years at a pace that keeps a reader engaged and eager for more is a feat of which to be proud.

When you pick up your copy of “In the Eye of the Storm,” don’t be too eager to rush through it because as you turn the last page, your yearning for the next chapter will begin. And that might not get here for a couple of years. So savor the stories and share them with others.

You don’t need to be a history buff to love this book. You just need to enjoy a good story.

Editor’s Note: Kay Westberry has written and published two family history books, ​and in 2013, she published her first St. Marys history book entitled “Oak Grove Cemetery— Quiet Reflections on the History of Saint Marys and Its People.”

“In the Eye of the Storm” can be found at Once Upon a Bookseller in Downtown St. Marys or visit Kaywestberry.com for more information.

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atman, Superman, Wyatt Earp, Johnny Cash—you really never know who you will meet on the St. Marys Express train rides. Good guys and bad guys, villains and heroes, hobos and Uncle Sam—the characters that entertain passengers who ride St. Marys Express special excursions love to put a smile on people’s faces.

Lots of folks ride the train to venture into yesteryear. Some just want to enjoy the great outdoors. Many have been train fans from childhood. No matter the reason one opts to climb aboard the St. Marys Express, one thing is for sure—there will be lots of fun!

“It’s a great adventure,” said Justin Jones, a visitor from Boston. “I got continued ...

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swept up in the story that came alive on the train. It’s high entertainment, for sure.”

Families are especially grateful to have such a family-friendly experience in downtown St. Marys.

The St. Marys Express is a product of St. Marys Little Theatre in partnership with St. Marys Railroad.

“Every time you purchase a train ticket, you are helping our community,” says the narrator on the train. St. Marys Little Theatre is a nonprofit performing arts group that stages shows at Theatre by the Trax, the building that doubles as a train station. Actors from St. Marys Little Theatre participate in short dramas on the train and at the turn-around point that match the theme of the day.

Train rides are always fun, but sometimes they are inspirational as well.

When a 90-year-old World War II veteran was presented a memorial flag and thanked for his service by an active duty Navy Master Chief on bended knee, there was not a dry eye on the train.

When an active duty Senior Chief recited the soul-stirring “I am the Flag,” 200 people bonded in a swell of patriotic pride.

Less than six percent of the population has ever ridden a real train, but the St. Marys Express and its volunteer staff are changing that one railcar load at a time.

Most all of the St. Marys Express train excursions sell out ahead of time. And many of the passengers have ridden before. Al and Ann Beach from St. Johns, Florida, have ridden every excursion since the inception of the train several years ago. Al was recognized as the “earliest serving veteran” on one excursion, and still qualifies for the honor on most train rides, but these days, he acquiesces to others. All military active and veterans are honored on every train ride.

Upcoming excursions for St. Marys Express include Railroad Days (an old-fashioned celebration of the glory days of railroading) and the Halloween Express in October. In November and December, the very popular Santa Express returns for three weekends.

Then February brings back the Wild West Express. continued ... www.StMarysMagazine.com

st. marys Downtown merchants association presents

Willy Whiskers, published author and member of the Cowford Regulators, always writes the drama for the Wild West Express that usually encompasses a re-enactment of a real-life event from the 1800s. Like all the entertainment for the St. Marys Express, the Wild West Express is filled with humor and excitement.

St. Marys Express offers open air railcar rides, locomotive rides, and for the true railfan, an “at the throttle” experience that includes actually running the locomotive.

St. Marys resident Fred Maynard was one of the first people to take advantage of the “at the throttle” offering. It was a surprise gift from his wife, Deborah.

“I actually operated the diesel locomotive under the direction of a licensed engineer, of course,” he said. “It was great fun and besides the thrill of being the engineer, I learned some interesting facts and regulations about trains.”

People come from hundreds of miles away to ride the St. Marys Express.

“Every excursion is different,” said Paul Pleasant, St. Marys Railroad General Manager. “Our goal is to leave passengers with the sense that they have experienced something magical and unique. I believe our volunteers do a great job at fulfilling that goal because all you see are smiling faces when the passengers dis-embark.”

Whether you’re looking for nostalgia, action, or just a relaxing way to spend some time, the St. Marys Express is a great option for all ages. Weddings and special events have also been staged on the train, and it’s a favorite for family reunions. For more information, visit www.stmarysrailroad.com.

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t. Marys residents Jon and Karen Preble are hitching their star to an industry that has literally exploded over the last few years—craft beer brewing.

Craft beer breweries are contributing more than $60 billion to the U. S. economy annually.

The Prebles’ “Brackish Beer Company” is growing organically as planned, but at a pace that gains ground every month in product development and distribution.

A craft beer is generally defined as “a beer made in a traditional or non-mechanized way continued ...

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by a small brewery.” In a small building on Dilworth Street in Downtown St. Marys, Brackish Beer Company follows its unique original recipe of malting grains to produce a beer that locals and tourists are giving a great reception.

Dozens of bars and restaurants from St. Marys to Savannah have embraced the Brackish Beer Company flagship product—Brackyard Ale. Bartender T. J. Stofflet said more and more his customers are coming in and requesting Brackyard Ale. “Locals are actually searching the bars here to see who has Brackyard on tap,” Stofflet said. “That’s how good it is.”

Jon Preble attributes the success of the brand’s distribution to his distributor, Savannah Distributing.

“They have a staff dedicated to craft beers,” Jon said. “We’ve had a great experience with them since starting distribution in March 2017.”

Jon Preble has learned a lot about the beer industry in the past several years, first as an amateur and now as a professional brewer. So, how did it all get started?

Karen Preble was raised in New England where the true micro-brewery explosion happened. She and Jon were beer fans when they met in college. One day, when they were visiting a brew pub, they discovered a brew supply shop across the street. They spent some time talking to the staff and ended up purchasing a home brewing kit. That was in 1992.

At first, they made batches for their friends, starting out simply and advancing to all-grain brewing. They home brewed religiously for several years, prodded by the approval and enjoyment they noted from their friends.

“I never made a bad batch,” said Jon. “But when I made this beer—the Brackyard Ale recipe—it would always go fast, and my friends started requesting it.”

When they made a career move to St. Marys (Jon is an engineer by profession), the Prebles started to think of the small town as a great place to start a brewery.

As he turned 40, Jon’s thought was, “If not now, when?” And so the process began. www.StMarysMagazine.com

continued ...

St. Marys is the perfect storybook setting to begin your new life together. From breathtaking vistas and antebellum mansions for your ceremony to our charming bed and breakfasts and inns for a romantic honeymoon, your happily ever after is just a click away.

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Incorporation, permitting, licenses— the whole gamut of procedures that it takes to run an alcohol-related business took about two and a half years. By December 2016, they were ready to launch.

Their first keg was tapped at J’s British Pub. Customers described the ale as “very drinkable, light bodied and thirst-quenching.”

People often ask how the name came about.

“Karen came up with the name because it really defines our area,” Jon said. “St. Marys is all about fishing, boating, having fun.” The Brackish tagline, “Get Lost with Us” also pays tribute to the brackish environment where one can easily get lost—“but in a good way.”

With the successful launch of their flagship product, Brackish Beer Company is moving on with new brews including a “Pecan Porter” seasonal beer to come out in the fall of 2017.

“So far, everyone who has tasted this one loves it,” Jon said. “It’s a bolder darker beer that incorporates brown sugar, honey and pecan.”

With recent State of Georgia legislation that will enable breweries to sell directly to the consumer, plans are on deck for an on-site tasting room at the Dilworth Street location. There are also plans to launch a bottled product as well.

“Bottling will expand our market three-fold,” Jon said.

Down the road, the Brackish products will be sold in cans which Jon says are easier to recycle, easier to transfer, and cheaper. “Craft breweries are going more and more toward cans,” he said.

With the opening of the tasting room, Jon and Karen Preble see a new community gathering place. Breweries, taprooms, and bars have always been about more than beer, serving as community hubs, gathering places, and sources of local identity and pride.

The hallmark of craft beer and craft brewers has always been innovation.

Coastal Georgia looks forward to future innovations of Brackish Beer Company as they develop new beers with unique twists that have no precedent.

Visit BrackishBeer.com for more information. www.StMarysMagazine.com

S

By Gordon

www.StMarysMagazine.com

Jackson

hrimping has been part of Calvin Lang’s life for more than 90 years.

His father was one of the early shrimpers in the 1930s in St. Marys, when the fledgling commercial industry was first established. His father worked as a carpenter for about six months a year during the off season until he quit altogether in 1945.

When it began, commercial shrimpers in the region caught their catches by hand. By 1930s, bigger boats were built, which enabled fishermen to drag nets along the sea bottom.

Lang said he remembers the early days when he and his father established a close bond during summer vacation, shrimping up to three days at a time.

“They had small boats, 35 to 45 feet.

They didn’t have a lot of capability,” he said.

Lang’s experience on his father’s boat

Calvin Lang stands next to a wall with pictures of all the shrimp boats he has owned.

continued ...

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led to his duty assignment in the Navy piloting landing craft in the Pacific theater during World War II. After the war, Lang decided to try his hand shrimping, and the timing could not have been better.

Bigger boats were being built in the late 1940s, capable of dragging four 90-foot trawler nets at a time, which enabled crews to stay at sea longer and haul in larger catches.

The industry was still seasonal, from the end of May through December, until shrimp were found near Key West and in the Gulf of Mexico. At the time, commercial shrimp fishermen believed there were no shrimp in the Gulf. What they didn’t know was shrimp in the Gulf buried in the sand in the day and only came out at night.

“That was pink gold that they found,” Lang said.

“That was the best thing that happened to the shrimping industry.”

Pete Brandon was six years old when he said he accompanied his father, who owned the shrimp boat “Sallie.”

“I was just along for the ride then,” he said.

By the time he was in high school, Brandon said he was part of the ship’s crew.

Perhaps Brandon’s most memorable experience was continued ...

Calvin Lang with his last remaining shrimp boat.

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after a big wave knocked him overboard during a trip to Mexico. Luckily, Brandon, who was not wearing a life jacket, said his father, who was in one of the holds at the time, heard him yelling for help.

Brandon said shrimping off Coastal Georgia at the time was variable, but the competition was always friendly.

“Everybody got along. We cooperated with each other,” he said.

Local shrimpers would often load their catch onto one boat that was headed to port. They would also unload or deliver supplies to each other.

Before the boats had refrigerated holds to keep the shrimp fresh, a crew member would have to go below about once an hour to mix the ice and shrimp.

In its heyday, as many as 30 boats operated from St. Marys, delivering their catches to one of three docks downtown.

Other varieties of shrimp were farther offshore, but there were challenges that made it problematic.

Royal Reds, for example, are a deep-water shrimp caught in at least 1,200 feet of water. The challenge is fighting the Gulf Stream, which runs about six knots — powerful enough to capsize a shrimp boat.

“It was too risky going after Royal Reds,” Brandon said. “A lot of rigs got lost out there.”

Lang is credited for making rock shrimp a local delicacy back in the early 1980s, when he began harvesting them in about 200 to 300 feet of water 30 to 40 miles offshore.

The shells were so hard, Lang built a peeling plant and shipped processed rock shrimp to locations throughout the nation twice a week.

“We did real good business,” he said.

Lang created local interest in rock shrimp by working with the St. Marys Kiwanis Club to establish the annual Rock Shrimp Festival, held the first Saturday in October each year. The festival, now in its fourth decade, is one of the most popular annual events in Camden County.

Commercial shrimp farms across the world and increasing rules and regulations had forced most shrimpers out of business in the 1980s.

Lang, who had as many as seven boats at one time, is down to one vessel because of the demands and time away from home.

“I didn’t spend much time here,” he said. “I was gone a lot.”

Nowadays, the Georgia Shrimpers Association has created a marketing program to promote the region’s unique brand of shrimp. The association has also worked hard to encourage local restaurants to promote the local catch they serve to customers.

Jerry Brandon, owner of Riverview Hotel, said he tries to serve local shrimp to customers in his restaurant, but it has become more difficult the past two decades.

“At one time, it was easy to find local shrimp,” he said. “We do try to get them locally when we can.”

While he can’t always find enough local shrimp to satisfy the demand, Brandon said he prefers to serve a local catch for a number of reasons.

Farm raised shrimp doesn’t taste as nearly as good, and the shrimp caught in the Gulf has more iodine, making it taste different.

“People would rather have local shrimp,” he said “Georgia shrimp tastes better.”

continued ...

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is photographs hang in Governor Sonny Perdue’s office, former US Representative Jack Kingston’s office, and have been featured in magazines and newspapers all over Georgia.

Former President Jimmy Carter has all five of his books. His photos grace the cover of phone books, and one is the feature visual on the front of a bank debit card.

Wayne Morgan has six books in print—books that bespeak such beauty people love showcasing them in their living rooms and in office lobbies. He is a Brantley County resident whose nature/wildlife/scenic photographs have garnered numerous awards including recognition by the One Hundred Mile organization as one of Georgia Coast’s top ten photographers.

Wayne’s love of nature inspired him to hone his craft and share his talents and also serves him well as a serious environmentalist. Often, he can be spotted along the Satilla River, removing trash.

Wayne loves country scenery and dirt roads as evidenced by his memoir photography book titled “Zirkle to Alaska, My Unforgotten Path.” The beautifully rendered photo collection captures his travels along the back roads of his trip from his favorite spot on the Satilla River all the way to Alaska.

The gallery of photos shown here are but a few samples of Wayne’s stunning work. To treat your eyes and soul to more, visit WayneMorganArtistry.com.

www.StMarysMagazine.com

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By Holly

Yurchison

oastal Georgia is full of “river towns” but Woodbine, Camden’s county seat, boasts a unique river boardwalk along the bank of the Satilla River. It hugs the riverside marsh under the US Highway 17 bridge, then climbs onto an old railroad bed to wind along a 1.25 mile tree-lined concrete path.

Strolling along the wooded path, under Spanish moss-draped live oaks, beside historic homes, you may feel like you have gone back in time. Children play among the trees, families pose for photos at the Jackie Walls Memorial Gazebo, and couples amble along continued ...

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the river boardwalk at sunset. You may even be a surprise guest at a wedding along the Riverwalk.

Wedding officiant Lynsey Thomas loves the elegant, romantic and serene location that many couples choose for the weddings she performs there.

“My husband proposed to me under the Highway 17 bridge, because it linked our two states,” Olivia Varnadore said. Olivia’s husband Preston is from Georgia, but she is from Virginia.

They chose the river walk dock for their June wedding because Preston’s mother and stepfather, whom he loved, had also married there.

Ashley Williams tells of growing up fishing along the river with her father and sisters. “Since I was a little girl in Woodbine, the dock and the river were part of our lives. It was my daddy’s favorite place to be.” When her father passed away her family gathered at the dock to spread his ashes. She met her husband Jack a year after her father’s death. “When we decided to get married it was important to include the dock,” she said. “My Dad would be proud that Woodbine is still making memories for our family.”

Connie and Nathan Douglas say they “eloped to Woodbine” from a neighboring county. “We had a short, simple, evening ceremony with only my father and my mother in law attending.

We chose the waterfront because I love the water and because it was a very romantic, quiet, relaxing setting,” Connie said.

Jose Martinez’s family has lived in Woodbine for 19 years. In 2001, his mother Christine Martinez jumped into the river to save her grandson after he fell in. She saved the boy, but lost her life. When Jose and his wife Karleen decided to marry, they were visiting from Texas, and held their ceremony on the river walk. “Christine made the

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greatest sacrifice out of love. I wanted to make better memories for the family at the river; another act of love,” Karleen said.

“When people talk about Woodbine they always talk about the river walk,” Woodbine Mayor Steve Parrott said.

Families gather to fish or launch their boat from the dock. Some just watch the river from the old railroad trestle jutting out over the water.

Woodbine hosts the annual Crawfish Festival in April along the river walk, with vendors clustered along the wooded path. Bands play in front of the dock, while couples and children dance.

Long lines of patrons wait for fresh crawfish dinners prepared by the Woodbine Lions Club. Food trucks offer alligator on-a-stick, funnel cakes, shaved ice and fluffy fries. This is small town living at its finest.

The Woodbine Riverwalk became part of the East Coast Greenway In 2007. The 3000-mile trail stretching from Maine to Key West allows non-motorized access for most of the route. The river walk is also part of the Coastal Georgia Greenway, a 155-mile bike and foot trail, and of the Rails to Trails Conservancy, a nationwide network of foot and bike trails built on former rail beds. The Satilla Riverkeepers, a river advocacy and education group, is headquartered in Woodbine. The organization monitors the river water quality and promotes conservation activities in the wetlands.

“The river walk is not only an asset but a calling card for so many people, organizations and businesses. We hope to only increase the use of the trail and continue to make it better for all who use it,” Mayor Parrott said.

Visit Woodbine and make your own memories on the Satilla Riverwalk this year.

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