The newly-renovated Hickory Plantation Apar tments are the PERFECT choice for those seeking easy living in a storybook setting.
Nestled among ancient oaks, Hickory Plantation’s enviable location is within easy walking distance to the enchanting St. Marys’ Waterfront.
granite counter tops, pool, picnic and BBQ area enhance your carefree lifestyle.
No other downtown proper ty offers this oasis setting and picturesque Low Country architecture.
CALL TODAY for special offers and military discount.
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Dear Friends and Visitors, It is my pleasure to extend a warm welcome to you on behalf of the City of St. Marys, Georgia, as you join us in this edition of the St. Marys magazine.
As you turn the pages of this publication, I hope you will catch a glimpse of the unique spirit and beauty that makes our small, coastal town so special. Whether you are a lifelong resident, a newcomer, or just visiting, we are delighted to share our community with you.
Tucked away along the stunning shores of Georgia’s coast, St. Marys is a place where time stands still, and the rhythm of life is dictated by the tides. Our town may be small, but it is bursting with history, natural beauty, and a warm, welcoming atmosphere that draws people from far and wide. From the charming historic homes and lush marshlands to the picturesque waterfront, every corner of our town has a story to tell – a story of resilience, community, and good old-fashioned southern hospitality.
This magazine is a reflection of the heart and soul of St. Marys, showcasing the incredible people, businesses, events, and history that make our town truly one-of-a-kind. As you read through the stories and features inside, I hope you will be inspired by the pride and passion that drives our community forward.
On behalf of the City of St. Marys, I invite you to experience all that our town has to offer. Visit us, stay with us, and let us share our little slice of heaven with you. We look forward to welcoming you to our community and sharing the beauty and charm of St. Marys.
Warm regards,
Greg Lockhart
Mayor, City of St. Marys, Georgia
Next Time, Stay Here! Rockefeller Did!
Step into yesteryear at the newly renovated Riverview Hotel. This boutique hotel is the closest mainland accommodations to Cumberland Island, just steps from the Cumberland Island Ferry.
With a storied past that includes steel magnates, literary greats, and famed admirals, the Historic Riverview is a destination in itself.
Beautiful riverfront views from Captain Seagle’s, the main dining room, where fresh seafood, succulent steaks and creative cuisine abound…
Fun Entertainment in Seagle’s Saloon “Where Good Friends Meet,” and Sophisticated Evenings in the Speakeasy Martini Bar—it’s an overnight experience like no other.
Come for a day, a week, a month—at the Historic Riverview Hotel, you will discover, in full, what we mean when we say...
“You
PHOTO: Tilden L. Norris Marshwalk and Shelter, St. Marys, GA.
Publisher’s Note
A Journey of Transformation
If you’re one of those fortunate people who feels that you’re just perfect the way you are, please read no further. But, it has been my experience that everyone can use a little “overhaul” now and then. Which brings me to the point of “re-inventing oneself” a subject which absolutely fascinates me.
The concept of re-inventing oneself is both empowering and essential in the rapidly changing world we inhabit. Life is a series of transitions and experiences that shape who we are and who we can become. Whether prompted by external circumstances or internal desires for growth, the process of re-inventing oneself can lead to profound personal transformation, offering fresh perspectives, renewed purpose, and a deeper sense of fulfillment
One of my favorite sayings is “If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always gotten.” That certainly makes sense to me.
You don’t necessarily have to be dissatisfied with your current status to desire a revitalization. And at my age, that’s what I’m aiming for—a “revitalization.”
I’m gonna sit right down right now and revisit my values, beliefs, strengths, and weaknesses just to make sure I have clarity on setting goals and projecting an outcome.
I’m gonna visualize my ideal self (not perfect, but ideal). I’m going to embrace a new mindset that will spur me to play more golf, work less, and do more kind deeds. I’m going to celebrate every little milestone on my journey of re-invention. By embracing my transformation, I aspire to cultivate a richer, more meaningful existence, evolving continuously into the best version of myself.
Won’t you join me? Think of perhaps pursuing further education, seeking new career opportunities, or engaging in activities that promote personal development, such as volunteering or joining clubs? Or just slowing down as is my plan.
But wait…maybe a total transformation isn’t called for. Maybe I’ll just do a little “tweaking,” a little “fine-tuning.” After all, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. But if it’s cracked just a little bit, a smidgen of duct tape usually works just fine.
Self-improvement is the duct tape of life. Let’s get to tweaking!
Email me anytime with your thoughts or ideas for the magazine: Barbara@stmarysmagazine.com.
On the cover
St. Marys Waterfront Fountain as photographed by David Wyttenbach
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2500 Starling Street Brunswick, GA 31520
It’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. And by air, the Jacksonville International Airport is just thirty minutes away.
Few people have ever seen the inside of the Carnegie’s island Mansion, Dungeness, the way you can see it courtesy of quadcopter operator Steve Royer. At the end of this article, we’ve provided a link to aerial footage that takes you, for the first time ever, inside the walls of this fated landmark. But first, let us acquaint you with the majestic building that once presided over Cumberland Island.
Although the current ruins you see today do not go back that far, the origin of the name “Dungeness” goes back to 1733 when the English general James Oglethorpe landed on Cumberland Island. He founded a hunting lodge on the island which he named after a headland in the English county of Kent.
From there, the land went to Nathanael Green, the Revolutionary War hero who purchased the land to harvest its oak trees. It was his wife (and widow) Catharine Littlefield Greene who built the four-story mansion after her husband’s death and her remarriage ten years later, and named the mansion nostalgically after Oglethorpe’s hunting lodge. Dungeness was occupied by
continued ...
the British during the War of 1812.
In 1818, Lighthorse Harry Lee, father of Robert E. Lee, stayed at Dungeness until his death, and was buried on the island for a time. In 1913, his remains were moved to Virginia and buried beside his illustrious son.
Greene’s daughter, Louisa Catharine Shaw was the next owner. She left the plantation and all the slaves to her favorite nephew, Phineas M. Nightingale in 1832. The big freeze of 1835 followed by an infestation of purple mites put Nightingale in great financial difficulty. While he avoided complete bankruptcy due to the intervention of relatives he made several moves, taking many of his slaves to western Georgia to work on building the new railroad lines.
The mansion was abandoned during the Civil War and burned in 1866. The property and 90% of Cumberland Island was eventually purchased by Thomas Carnegie. Thomas and his wife, Lucy, began construction on a new mansion in 1884. Sadly, Thomas passed away before the estate was finished.
The design of the new Dungeness was inspired by castles that Thomas and Lucy had seen in Scotland. When it was finally finished a few years later, Lucy and their nine children moved into the mansion that included 59 rooms, an indoor pool, squash courts, a golf course, and other residences for the family’s 200 servants.
An icon of the privileged during the gilded age, the Dungeness estate flourished until the 1930s, and three other great estates (including Plum Orchard) were built elsewhere on the island for some of the Carnegie children. With the advent of the Great Depression, the homes were slowly abandoned, as the island had no continued
resources and everything had to be shipped in. Dungeness sat decaying until 1959, when a fire gutted the mansion, leaving only a skeletal group of ruins.
It was thought that a disgruntled poacher, who had been shot in the leg for trespassing, burned the house to the ground.
Since the burning, the remains of the mansion and surrounding buildings and quarters have slowly gone back to nature. The National Park Service acquired the land in 1972 and it is currently part of the Cumberland Island National Seashore.
The “bones” of Dungeness still serve up a visual feast that visitors to Cumberland Island cannot resist and today, the ruins of the main house, the pool house, the gardens, and various other buildings still stand as a ghostly reminder of the wealth the island once contained.
To view the aerial tour of Dungeness, go to this link: https://youtu.be/ct3yHHbk-3k
WHAT A DIFFERENCE A MAGAZINE CAN MAKE!
The meaning of SUCCESS depends on what a person deems worthy of this title.
We deem the Barbara Ryan-Harris publication of the Historic St. Marys Magazine as a SUCCESS, based on our personal experiences.
Our introduction to Barbara Ryan-Harris was in 2007. We attended a few of her introductory community get-togethers, in addition to having the opportunity to work with her when she was chair of St. Marys Visitor & Convention Center. We recognized her drive and dedication to promote the City of St. Marys. With the vision we had of St. Marys and the remembered mantra of Barbara Ryan-Harris pertaining to St. Marys as “the place where dreams come true,” we invested in St. Marys and built our home in 2009.
The home was built on a one-acre wooded lot in front of a picturesque lake within a new development called Cumberland Harbour. At the time that we started construction, the house was the tenth house to be built and the only house under construction at that time. About ten years later we refinanced, and the reappraised value of the house exceeded our expectations by nearly three times the value of the original costs.
The appraiser was very knowledgeable concerning St. Marys, and he knew about the St. Marys Magazine. We were pleased when he presented his appraisal that the promotion of St. Marys by the St. Marys Magazine was an element that contributed to the value of our house.
Thank you, Barbara Ryan-Harris, for your persistent dedication to the Historic St. Marys Magazine. We celebrate your proven SUCCESS in increasing the value of St. Marys and for the residents.
Lee and Margaret Bernasek St. Marys, GA
Send letters to: St. Marys Magazine
104 Bartlett Street • St. Marys, GA 31558 barbara@stmarysmagazine.com
By Skip Harris
Irecently had a guest staying in my St. Marys River cabin over in Folkston who told me they were coming to their family’s annual cane grinding, an event held the weekend before Thanksgiving going back generations. Not a day later, I ran across an ad for the Annual Pioneer Days, an event held the same weekend each year at the Old Homestead over at the East entrance of the Okefenokee Swamp.
With my interest piqued, I grabbed my phone and entered in “Cane Grinding” in the search bar. Turns out this is a southern tradition dating back over a century all across Florida and Southern Georgia.
Families and friends come together from around the area and points beyond to make batches of cane syrup and other delectable candies and sweets using antique equipment, including mule-driven grinders and large wood-fired kettles to boil the extracted cane juice into syrup.
My research shows cane syrup was one of the most popular sweeteners across the globe long before the granulated, processed sugar we commonly use today ever began production. The use of cane syrup traces back to Ancient China,
spreading across India, the Middle East, and Europe. From Europe, sugar cane cultivation spread to the Caribbean and the southern U.S. with early European explorers going back four or five hundred years ago.
During the 18th and 19th centuries, large sugar cane plantations grew throughout the Caribbean and Southern U.S. As processing methods and machinery became more modernized, sugar cane and sugar beets became the primary raw materials for the packages of granulated sugar we all get at the grocery store these days.
But long before you could grab a bag of sugar at Publix, making the year’s supply of cane sugar for sweetening your iced tea and homemade cakes and cookies would be an all-hands-on-deck affair for the weekend in late fall when the cane had matured. The process is simple but labor-intensive.
The stalks were stripped of the long, slender leaves, then cut and transported to the grinders. Early grinders were hand-cranked or larger ones were mule-driven devices. Later these would be replaced by attachments on old farm tractors. The juice crushed out of the stalks would be collected in buckets and poured into large iron kettles several feet across. Logs would be split and piled under the kettle and the fire lit. Under the watchful eye of an elder who’d done this before, the juice would be slowly boiled and strained until it reached the perfect consistency, caramelization, and color. Then bottles would be filled and split among the families and loaded onto the wagons for the trip home to the farms.
Even though nobody arrives by wagon these days, the rich tradition is still carried out each fall by events that draw numerous families and groups across Northern Florida and Southern Georgia. One such event is Pioneer Days held the week before Thanksgiving at the old Homestead at the Okefenokee. The Homestead still has a mule-driven grinder and a wood-fired kettle.
Charlene Carter (whose grandma was “born in the swamp”) and her mom are on-site each day to help guide the process, cook homemade biscuits on a wood stove, make a pot of hambone soup, and weave palmetto brooms.
The family staying at my river cabin during the last cane grinding event had friends and relatives traveling from all points each year to boil and bottle their Southern Cross syrup. They graciously left me a bottle of that sweet nectar, and it was absolutely delicious on my waffles this morning.
It’s easy enough to get a plastic jug of syrup at the grocery store, but if you run across a homemade bottle of cane syrup in a small local general store, or at some St. Marys downtown specialty store, or even at a country roadside stand, I recommend you buy one and indulge in the fruits of this old southern tradition. How sweet it is!
Some people think theatre is all about smoke and mirrors. And in some ways, it is. There is an understanding that as you watch a live onstage production, you experience “suspended belief.” That is, your mind opens to the story unfolding before you and it becomes real. Anything that happens onstage is real no matter that your brain is trying to process to the contrary.
Live theatre is magic. And community live theatre is even more magical because often the audience is watching people they know become characters they want to know or want to love or want to hate, depending on how good the actor is.
Dozens of stunningly talented actors and actresses comprise Camden County’s premier community theatre group, St. Marys Little Theatre.
Whether you’re witnessing a mild mannered doctor turn into a monster a la “Doctor Jekyll & Mrs. Hyde,” or losing yourself in the stirring melody of a song delivered through a voice like warm velvet, as a member of the audience at Theater by the Trax, you become part of the magic—transfixed and beguiled.
St. Marys Little Theatre (SMLT) has made its home at Theater by the Trax since 2010, bringing it into its 15th season. And what a season it is.
Starting out last October with “Gilligan’s Island: The Musical,” followed by December’s “Where are you Christmas,”—an original Christmas special.
SMLT’s repertoire of productions spans from down home local shows to show-stopping Broadway extravaganzas.
“Where are you Christmas” depicted the story of Little Susie Anderson who lives in St. Marys. She’s so sad because of what she’s been reading about The Grinch and how he was so mean because his heart was two sizes too small. She writes to Santa asking him to give Grinch a bigger heart, but Santa knows that “only a child can make a heart grow bigger.”
As it is with all of SMLT’s Christmas shows, there is a happy ending that brings tears of joy as the message of the true meaning of Christmas is revealed through beautiful music and inspiring words.
“Evening with the Stars” returns in February and March for the 5th time with a whole new cast of celebrity impersonators. Then April and March usher in “Deliver us from Mama,” a rollicking production that epitomizes southern thought and action through the drama of a “hot-mess” family.
Fall is always reserved for Broadway, and this year is no exception as SMLT will be performing “Little Shop of Horrors” just in time to bring out the Halloween spirit in everyone.
SMLT continues its mission of “Enhancing Lives thru Performance Arts”—enhancing the lives of the actors and crew, and the lives of the audience.
The smell of the greasepaint and the roar of the crowd can be addictive. Just ask the hundreds of theatre guests who attend every show put on by St. Marys Little Theatre.
Oscar Wilde said, “I regard the theatre as the greatest of all art forms, the most immediate way in which a human being can share with another the sense of what it is to be a human being.
Look for upcoming shows by St. Marys Little Theatre, and come join the crowd as you explore humanity. You’re sure to find what it’s like to be someone other than yourself, and you just might re-discover yourself.
Visit StMarysLittleTheatre.com for more information.
The Settlement Group, headquartered in St. Marys, Georgia, offers new options for making the most of your current life insurance policy. For more than 20 years, we have been helping people navigate the life insurance landscape and create the best outcome for their life insurance policies, ensuring our clients walk away with the most cash benefits possible.
Please visit our website to learn more about the life settlement process, then contact us to make sure you are maximizing the value of your life insurance policy.
GILLIGAN’S ISLAND
CAROL MOORE
DAVE REILLY
GAVIN ASHTON
JASPER KEENEY-TRAHAN
JOHN & ROZ TOSHACH
LARRY RATLIFF
LISA FLOYD
MARDJA GRAY
MARTIN TURNER
RICK LAWSON
SLOAN TINDALL
WILLIAM CREED
WHERE ARE YOU CHRISTMAS?
BILL & CANDIE DELOUGHY
BRANDILY OLIPHANT
CAROL MOORE
CHUCK EADIE
CORTNEY GRAHAM/CAMDEN HOUSE
DAVE REILLY
FREDDIE MACALUS & DEB JOHNSON
JOANIE MCKEY
JOSHUA ASKEW
LARRY RATLIFF
LISA FLOYD
LORI GOEWEY
LORI SANDERS
MARDJA GRAY
NITA GILBERT
ROBERT ULM
ROY & PEG NESS
SARAH STOVER
SHAELA WATKINS
SONYA DUQUETTE
TAMMY BRADLEY
TATIANA CRISPIN
TRAVIS & CASEY LAND
It’s no surprise to anyone that W. H. Gross Construction has, once again, elevated St. Marys’ standing as an ultra desirable place to visit. Bill Gross has long distinguished himself as Camden’s premier builder, and now his son, Andrew, is sharing the reins in their partnership developing Borne 605— the ultra fashionable collection of vacation rentals located just six blocks from the St. Marys waterfront. (The name? Borne is short for Osborne.)
Exuding the “cool factor,” Borne 605 is already enjoying much success as a traveler’s haven. Its adjacency to the highly-rated Firefly Restaurant makes it even more attractive for visitors seeking the latest and greatest accommodations when traveling.
Swanky, yet surprisingly affordable, Borne 605 features eight unique vacation rentals, each with its own captivating theme.
Paying tribute to St. Marys’ most popular destination—Cumberland Island—there are units that portray woodlands, the river/ aquatic scene, sand dunes, and even continued
one that pays tribute to the Carnegie industrialists who originally made their homes on the island and perpetuated a legacy of wealth during the Gilded Age. Spaces range from a one-bedroom to a three-bedroom.
Andrew, who has been working with his dad since he was 13 years old, has undertaken this epic project with a heavy “hands-on” attitude and you can see his handiwork in the smallest of details. From original design to interior décor to marketing, he’s crafted a triumph that only comes from vision and hard work. He physically participates in the actual construction, having spent much of the last two and a half years of his weekends swinging a hammer (and utilizing whatever other skills needed to complete the project).
When asked what’s the secret of succeeding with such a formidable undertaking, he said “creative ideas and persistence,” both of which the Gross duo seems to have much of.
They’re assembling parcels in downtown St. Marys to maximize the potential of every space, and more is to come for the block that includes Borne 605.
experience the kind of energy to which Andrew refers. continued ...
Just behind Firefly, cottages complimentary to Borne 605 will arise, another Gross vision. And at 611 Osborne there will come a much-needed event venue called Santa Maria (Spanish for St. Mary). Pine trees from another Gross-owned property will be milled to create a timber framed building for that location.
Famous for repurposing precious natural materials, both Borne 605 and Santa Maria are no exceptions.
The vacation rentals feature vintage doors and transom windows from an historic hotel in Waycross. And Santa Maria will follow suit with collected construction elements one could never find in Big Box stores.
“We love blending the old with the new,” said Andrew. “And just for fun, we will sometimes throw in touches like live green plants among our reborn materials.”
Andrew won’t deny that bringing this particular vision to life (since the property purchase in 2022) has had its challenges. But he says the City of St. Marys has been very supportive and helpful during the renaissance process.
“Our desire is to add vibrancy and excitement to the St. Marys downtown area,” Andrew said. “And hopefully, other businesses will be inspired to join in to bring even more vitality to the area.”
For more information, call Brittany Loper at 912-674-1432.
Local residents Jill Miller and Myrtie Schoychid know a thing or two about butterflies—specifically Monarch butterflies. They’ve been raising these enchanting creatures for years now, supporting each other in their quest to bring the beauty and magic of the “winged flowers” to our community. Between the two of them, they count at least 200 successful releases over the years.
You can feel the love they have invested in their endeavor and see the pride in the success of their numerous birthings as they hope to inspire others to cultivate the propagation of this threatened species.
Decades ago, monarch butterflies were so plentiful that the sound emanating from overwintering groves filled with the brightly colored insects flapping their wings was described by observers as being akin to a gentle summer rain or a rippling stream. In some cases, tree branches would even collapse under the weight of clusters of monarchs. But recent overwintering counts of the western and eastern migrating monarchs make clear that gatherings of that magnitude are part of a bygone era. Eastern monarch numbers are now down by two-thirds, impacted by climate change, pesticides, parasites, and habitat loss.
Monarch butterflies are some of the most recognizable and beloved insects in North America. Their vivid orange and black wings capture the attention of many nature enthusiasts, making them a favorite among butterfly lovers. According to Myrtie and Jill, raising monarchs can be an exciting and educational experience that connects you to nature while contributing to the conservation of this species. continued ...
The Monarch Life Cycle
The life cycle of a monarch butterfly consists of four stages: egg, larva (caterpillar), pupa (chrysalis), and adult butterfly. Each stage provides distinct experiences.
1. Egg (3-5 days) - Female monarchs lay tiny, round eggs on the undersides of milkweed leaves, as this plant is crucial for caterpillar nourishment.
2. Larva/Caterpillar (10-14 days) - Once the eggs hatch, the caterpillars emerge and begin feeding on milkweed leaves. A caterpillar may eat several hundred times its original weight and go through several molts, growing larger and shedding its skin.
3. Pupa/Chrysalis) 10-14 days) - After reaching a certain size, the caterpillars find a safe spot to form a chrysalis, where they undergo metamorphosis.
4. Adult Butterfly - After about 10 days, an adult butterfly emerges from the chrysalis, ready to start the cycle anew.
“Each fall, Eastern Monarchs make the incredible 3000 mile journey from the U.S. and Canada to Mexico,”
Getting Started Raising
Monarchs
Jill and Myrtie agree that the first step is to find milkweed as it’s the sole food source for the caterpillars. Look for native varieties in your area or consider planting your own.
Collect eggs and caterpillars. You can find monarch eggs and caterpillars on milkweed plants. Use a magnifying glass to spot tiny white or yellow eggs on the undersides of leaves. Alternatively, you can collect small caterpillars by gently removing them from the leaves. When purchasing milkweed at a local nursery or big box store, it is important to find plants with aphids on the leaves. That indicates very little—if any—pesticides. Create a habitat. Provide a safe environment for your caterpillars by using a spacious container, such as a butterfly house. Ensure there is good ventilation and that the container is cleaned regularly to prevent mold and pests. Place fresh milkweed inside for the caterpillars to eat then monitor their progress.
As the caterpillars feed, they will grow and eventually molt. This stage can be exciting to observe, as caterpillars can grow significantly in size.
Once the caterpillars are ready, they will crawl to a safe location to form their chrysalises. This remarkable transformation can take several days. Ensure their environment is quiet and secure during this stage to minimize stress. continued ...
Myrtie Schoychid an Jill Miller
Then the excitement really begins.
After the chrysalis has turned dark and the butterfly is ready to emerge, it will begin to split the chrysalis. This can be a fascinating moment, as the newly emerged butterfly will pump blood into its wings to expand them before taking its first flight.
Releasing the Monarchs. Once the butterflies have dried their wings – typically within a few hours of emergence – it’s time to release them into the wild. Choose a sunny day and a suitable location, ideally near milkweed plants where they can find food and shelter.
Jill and Myrtie hope to someday establish a public butterfly garden in St. Marys so that others can enjoy the beauty and fascination of butterflies that they have discovered.
Jill said, “Raising monarch butterflies is a rewarding experience that teaches patience, responsibility, and appreciation for nature. Whether you’re an aspiring entomologist or simply looking for a fun project, nurturing these exquisite insects can be both enjoyable and meaningful.”
Myrtie reminded people that as they embark on their butterfly journey, “You’re not just witnessing a beautiful transformation; you’re also playing a crucial role in supporting the survival of a magnificent species.”
In many societies, butterflies symbolize hope, transformation, and rebirth. Next time you see a butterfly, think of its unfaltering journey and be inspired by the mind-blowing miracle that you’re witnessing before you.
Visit MonarchWatch.org for more information.
Who doesn’t love being outside on a beautiful Coastal Georgia day or evening? We have an abundance of those, which is one reason more people than ever before are redefining their living space by creating outdoor environments that invite relaxation, inspire social interactions, deepen their connection to nature, and elevate their sense of well-being.
Fortunately, we have right here in our own backyard, a store that helps people embrace a transformative approach to outdoor living by offering stunning and functional furnishings to perfect any outdoor oasis.
Porch+Patio serves the entire Coastal Georgia area with stores in Kingsland and St. Simons Island. Proprietors Bob and Sissy Blanchard established the St. Simons Location in 2019, then in 2022 purchased the existing store in Kingsland that had been in business for 15 years. The Camden store is now their anchor location with 4500 square feet of noteworthy merchandise to fit all budgets—inventory ranges from $5.
Sissy grew up in Camden and Glynn Counties with parents and grandparents who had deep roots in Camden. Her grandfather owned the old grocery store in Woodbine.
Sissy and Bob did not set out to be major players in the outdoor furniture business—they were merely going to “dabble” in it. Then the pandemic came, and demand for outdoor furniture skyrocketed because people wanted to make their homes their ultimate refuge with style and comfort. Their Camden location is now the largest outdoor furniture showroom from Savannah to Jacksonville.
Entering the Camden location, one is easily transfixed into sensory alertness—the colors, the styles, and the vignettes of smartly arranged groupings give you instant ideas of what your own home could look like whether you’re a fan of traditional or contemporary styles.
Sissy is very proud of the many “Made in America” collections they carry—this is not the “Big Box” stuff that may fall apart in a few years, she said.
“People often come in thinking they know what they want, but after a brief time with them, they’re pleased to learn what they really want continued ...
and what best fits their needs,” Sissy said. “They quickly come to understand the importance of quality, and lasting value.”
Porch+Patio offers free consultations both on- and off-site which often launch longtime relationships with customers who return again and again as their needs grow.
“Oftentimes when someone sells their home and their outdoor space features a Porch+Patio set up, the buyer insists on the furniture staying with the home,” Sissy said. “So, here comes our client ready to outfit their next home. We love and appreciate our loyal customers.”
Bob and Sissy maintain a small staff enabling them to pass on savings to their customers—always 10% for all in-stock furniture. Sissy’s thankful that her Director of Sales, Becky Derrick, has been and continues to be a major contributor to the success of Porch+Patio. The two are a dynamic duo who complement each other perfectly.
They both agree on Sissy’s outlook on business.
“The way to fix our economy is by people shopping locally,” she says. “The money stays in our community and enriches our community.”
Both Sissy and Becky are diligent about staying on top of their industry. Sissy sits on the board of the International Casual Furniture Association. They participate in educational seminars and roundtables, know the CEOs of and have on-site reps at many of their vendors, and even visit the manufacturing plants to see how the products are made
“I won’t sell anything that I wouldn’t buy myself,” Sissy said.
The trend of outdoor living has blurred the lines between indoor and outdoor furniture. The days of your grandma’s green aluminum glider are long gone but motion is more prominent than ever—spring and swivel chairs, rockers, and modern gliders.
Porch+Patio is not just about furniture, however. Everything you would want to make your outdoor living space fun and functional can be found at both stores including fire tables, umbrellas, pillows, rugs, lighting, wall hangings, and tableware—even gift items such as games, puzzles, and unique accessories.
While a client relationship often begins when someone first visits the store, the team at Porch+Patio continues to be available to customers long after the furniture is delivered. Free local assembly and delivery are offered thanks to Bob and his team.
No matter what size your outdoor space is, your furniture plays a crucial role in making sure it’s a sanctuary your family can enjoy year after year. If you’re looking for easy solutions to make that happen, visit Porch+Patio.
While you’re there be sure to say hello to Dudley Longfella, the store’s captivating miniature dachshund mascot. You can follow him on Instagram as well.
Count on Sissy and Becky to create rooms without walls and help you bring your “indoors out” in a fashion you’ll enjoy long into the future.
Editor’s Note: For more information, visit PorchAndPatioStore.com, or call 912-729-1173.
Sissy’s grandpa owned the old grocery store in Woodbine.
By Barbara Ryan Harris
You know you’ve gotten something right when your opening week turns into the talk of the town. Real right!
Many weeks before Deborah Cottle opened The Café at Cottle and Gunn, customers started asking, “When, when, when?” Their expectations were lofty because they were already familiar with the awesome shop she had created years ago. Ever the consummate entrepreneur, Cottle knew her customers well and she knew just what would please them, so she couldn’t have been too surprised to see the opening day, week, and month’s impressive numbers.
Now that The Café at Cottle and Gunn is open, she is seeing many of the same people coming in several times a week. That says a lot about an eating establishment. It says, “The food is great. There’s so much variety, I never get tired of it. I’m very comfortable dining here often.”
With a degree in hotel/restaurant management and 25 years in the restaurant business, Cottle found it only continued ...
natural to make The Café a part of the 7500 square foot building she purchased a few years back.
But, on to the food, and the main reason people return again and again.
I will start by telling you that the soup I ordered the first time I went to The Café was, without question, the best soup I had ever had in my life. Every day, they feature “Yesterday’s Soup” because everyone knows that soup is better the next day. “Yesterday’s Soup” changes daily. The day I was there it was rich, creamy, and filled with flavors that made my taste buds very very happy.
“We are all about a ‘scratch’ kitchen, made fresh, local sourcing.”
Their Chicken Salad is another culinary star—shredded chicken with fresh apples, grapes, crushed pineapple, celery, toasted pecans, and poppy seeds. Oh my!
The banana pudding is to die for as are all her freshly made desserts and baked goods.
Cottle’s Muffaletta features home-made olive tapenade with smoked ham, salami, and provolone cheese served hot on a toasted Kaiser roll. This recipe she brought with her from her restaurant time in New Orleans.
In fact, Cottle says that most of the menu reads like a journal of her restaurant life, having kept all the best of each of her restaurant experiences to share at what she knew someday would be her own dining establishment.
“We are all about a ‘scratch’ kitchen,” Cottle said. “Even our whipped cream is made fresh daily.” With an emphasis on “local” sourcing, Cottle is proud to serve Wild Georgia Shrimp and as many other ingredients as she can get locally to assure freshness.
Flavored teas, local coffee, baked goods created daily by Ashley (formerly of Bug and Bean), mouth-watering quiche specials, and a variety of sandwiches you won’t find on other menus around town all add up to a dining experience where everyone walks away happy.
Cottle’s mission to make every meal a palatepleasing as well as an eye-pleasing occasion has been accomplished. She is a very detail-oriented person, and it shows.
Lunch on vintage china is a treat not often continued ...
experienced, but with Cottle’s vast collection of antique china—some given to her by customers—it’s only natural to fancy up the presentation with a little old-fashioned la-de-dah.
Cottle counts among her many blessings her “Rock Star” general manager—Amber.
“She’s a 20-year younger version of myself,” Cottle said. And that’s a good thing because having two creative thinkers and energetic doers on one wavelength can easily meld into the “the whole being greater than the sum of its parts.”
Cottle says her entire team—she’s grown from two to ten employees—is likeminded and seems to be having fun, enjoying the many compliments and kudos that come their way.
I think the whole experience of dining at The Café is great fun. You can sit at a community table—antique, of course—among beautiful room vignettes that make you feel like you’re dining is someone’s private home, enjoy a truly delicious lunch, and probably see several people of the community you already know. It’s that kind of place.
Cottle generously opens her doors from 2 pm to 5 pm as a gathering place for the community. People have had book club meetings there; they come to play board games or work on their computer, or spend time doing whatever is conducive to a comfortable, relaxing
atmosphere with the added benefit of sweet treats served during that time by Cottle’s staff.
But for Deborah Cottle, there is always more. She always has to have that next project in mind, and we can’t wait to see what that might turn out to be. She wants to spend more time with her crafts and her “Girls Gone Pickin’” projects are ongoing—they just raised over $3,000 at their last event that benefitted three women who were devastated by Hurricane Helene, and she aspires to continue to develop projects and products that contribute to the conservation of our planet. Only eco-friendly and biodegradable takeout containers are used in The Café. Her passion for upcycling stuff that might ordinarily end up in the landfills continues to show itself in the stunning furniture pieces she creates.
We are waiting, Deborah, for you to spring on us your next endeavor.
In the meantime, be sure and stop into Cottle and Gunn at 711 Osborne Street, and mosey on back to The Café where you will discover for yourself how “art meets food” and perhaps enjoy one of the most pleasurable lunches you have ever had.
Editor’s Note: The Café at Cottle and Gunn serves lunch Tuesday through Saturday from 11 am to 2 pm and is open for Gathering Hours from 2 pm to 5 pm on the same days.
Less than an hour from the heart of St. Marys lies the great Okefenokee Swamp—officially known as the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge—but folks around here like to just call it “the Swamp.”
The Swamp is a vast expanse of water, islands, and wetlands, a 700-square-mile natural wonder, straddling the Georgia-Florida border. It’s steeped in history, biodiversity, and folklore. Among the most intriguing tales to emerge from this murky labyrinth is that of Bigfoot, a creature as enigmatic as the swamp itself.
The legend of Bigfoot in the Okefenokee dates back centuries, with Native American tribes whispering of giant, shadowy figures that roamed the swamp’s endless waterways. These stories were passed down through generations, fueling speculation and mystery around the swamp’s supposed inhabitants.
In 1829, a bizarre account surfaced, detailing a harrowing encounter between a group of hunters and a “hairy giant” within the swamp. This incident, which allegedly resulted in several deaths, is among the oldest written accounts of continued ...
what we now call Sasquatch or Bigfoot. The tale has since become a fixture in the local lore, with many speculating about the truth behind the encounter.
The Okefenokee Swamp, with its dense vegetation and secluded waterways, provides the perfect backdrop for such legends. It’s a place where the line between reality and myth blurs, where the “Land of Trembling Earth” can give rise to stories as unstable as the peat underfoot. The swamp’s name itself, derived from the Creek language, evokes images of a land that is alive and constantly shifting, much like the tales it inspires.
Despite the lack of concrete evidence, the Bigfoot legend persists, bolstered by occasional reports of unexplained sounds, footprints, and sightings. Skeptics argue that these are merely the swamp’s natural inhabitants or the misinterpretations of overactive imaginations. Yet, for believers, Bigfoot remains a symbol of the wilderness’ enduring mysteries and the possibility of undiscovered creatures lurking in the shadows.
Former Camden County residents
Tom and Barbara Kramer are believers. Their many travels over the years are inspired by possible sightings and gatherings of like-minded people. As volunteers at the Okefenokee years ago, they heard a lot about the mythical creature. They continue to be involved with the Bigfoot culture, attending festivals and contributing to the preservation of Bigfoot’s story. Tom recently built a case for the casting of Bigfoot’s footprint made by Deputy James Akin at Elkins Creek in Pike County, Georgia in 1997. Another casting was made from a footprint continued
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discovered by Sheriff Dennis Hereford at Grays Harbor County, Washington in 1982. Both images are said to be about 18” long by 9” wide. (It is reported that Bigfoot’s stride is more than six feet.)
Anything does seem possible in The Swamp with its mystical canopy, the chorus of animal calls, and the remote nature of the swamp. According to Bigfoot enthusiasts, there have been more sightings of Bigfoot in the Okefenokee than anywhere else on Earth.
For those who venture into the Okefenokee, whether to search for Bigfoot or simply to experience the swamp’s natural beauty, the journey is one of discovery. The Swamp offers a glimpse into a world that remains largely untouched by human hands, a rare opportunity to explore a place where nature reigns supreme.
As the sun sets over the Okefenokee, casting long shadows across the water, the legend of Bigfoot endures. It’s a story that captures the imagination, a reminder of the mysteries that still exist in the wild corners of our world. Whether fact or fiction, the tale of Bigfoot in the Okefenokee Swamp remains an indelible part of the region’s cultural tapestry, a narrative as enduring as the swamp itself.
Editor’s Note: Vast resources await those who are interested in the quest for Bigfoot including numerous websites and museums. Many movies have starred the mysterious creature and Youtube is a fun resource for actual film footage of supposed sightings. There is an annual Bigfoot Conference that draws people from all over the world. It was most recently held in Ocala, Florida, in June 2024. Then there is the Sasquatch Museum located about 10 miles north of Ellijay, Georgia, in Blue Ridge. The Bigfoot Field Research Organization (BFRO.net) bills itself as the “only research center exploring the Bigfoot/Sasquatch Mystery.”
the Owls the Owls
Of Osborne Of Osborne Of Osborne
who will find the who will find the owls of osborne? owls of osborne?
follow the clues! follow the clues!
While enjoying our beautiful downtown keep your eye out for these bronze owls design by local artist Walter Palmer. Inspired by the history of Downtown St.Marys, the Owls are a result of a public art program between St.Marys Mainstreet and Rustapalooza.
St.Marys is a place where history walks around each corner and city block. I watch from above near the dearly departed right where you finish just as you started.
Shrimp boats and pirates, a Navy’s greet fleet- I’ve seen them pass at the end of the street.
A pillar of society, A belle of the ball, I perch above main street watching all of you all.
Seven seats and many doors. The peoples place and so much more. It’s the heart and it’s a hall. Tomorrow is shaped by all us all.
Starry Nights and sun-filled days, I wait by the river where the music plays.
Families and friends share meals neath my wings in this beautiful place where the fountain sings.
nter as strangers. Leave as Friends,” reads the welcoming sign over the door at the très Victorian Goodbread House, just two blocks from St. Marys’ waterfront.
This is the place where many people come to launch their adventure to Cumberland Island. This is the place where others come for pampering, great food, and to nourish their sense of well-being. This is the place where Goodbread House proprietor Mardja (yes, one name like Cher and Barbra) opens her arms to travelers seeking romance or adventure or history or all three.
Built in 1870, the Sandiford-Goodbread House, converted to a bed and breakfast inn in 1980, is steeped in echoes of the past—gentler and kinder times. Epitomizing southern hospitality, Mardja and her staff are diligent about delivering an experience that guests will remember and cherish long into the future which is why so many of them return again
and again, often asking for their same suite which they’ve become accustomed to calling their “home away from home.”
Sometimes newcomers have a difficult time choosing a suite because they all offer a unique sojourn.
Themed by storied couples, there are six accommodations from which to choose including: The Rhett & Scarlett, The Gable & Lombard, The Lucy & Ricky, The Bogie & Bacall, The Guinevere & Lancelot, and the Gabriel & Evangeline. Decorated to their individual theme, each suite tells a story.
One returning guest always requests the Guinevere & Lancelot as he appreciates and identifies with King Arthur’s most noble traits including honor and courage.
One couple insists on the Rhett and Scarlett and spends their stay immersing themselves in the roles of both.
Guinevere & Lancelot Suite
Gable & Lombard
Rhett & Scarlett Suite
FAST. FRIENDLY. LOCAL!
Mardja says it’s fun to see how the couples sometimes become the personality of their room.
“I’ve been hosting guests for more than 20 years and never cease to delight in the fun our visiting couples have just by nature of their room choices,” Mardja said.
Though owning a bed and breakfast has its challenges, Mardja admits, there is nothing more satisfying than having guests rave about their stay upon checkout and write heartwarming comments in her guestbook.
Reading the Goodbread guestbook comments or checking out the rave reviews on TripAdvisor, one sees that Mardja’s endearing care for each guest is what brings so many people back. She is the epitome of a southern belle—warm, enchanting, and every bit as pretty as Scarlett O’Hara herself. It’s like she was born to grace the romantic veranda, mint julep or fancy teacup in hand, enjoying the shade of the majestic magnolia tree.
Hosting in the cozy parlor where guests are treated to a complimentary social hour every day gives her a chance to regale travelers with stories as charming as the house itself.
It is often, however, the savory breakfasts that guests most often gush about. Mardja is a southern cook of the highest order and takes great pleasure in pampering them at breakfast time. It’s been said that Goodbread guests “sleep like a baby and eat like a king,” and no one would argue that point.
Sitting around the beautiful dining room each morning, guests boast of their good night’s sleep and sense of rejuvenation. One guest said, “Until last night, I hadn’t slept throughout the entire night in 25 years.” Guests often feel “embraced” by the warmth and comfort of the house, Mardja said.
If you desire to be seduced by serenity, fed like your mama fed you, and leave renourished and revived, consider a stay at the storied Goodbread House where smiles are guaranteed. Even for your furr babies!
For more information, visit Goodbreadhouse.com or call 912-882-7490. The Goodbread House is located at 209 Osborne Street in Historic Downtown St. Marys.
Editor’s Note: The Goodbread House suites are available for rent short-term or long-term, and the entire house is also available which is especially popular for family reunions and corporate retreats.
Mardja, Proprietor of Goodbread House
SERVING BREAKFAST 7 DAYS A WEEK!
8 am to 10:30 am
Southern River Walk
101 E. Stable Alley
By Barbara Ryan Harris
In this hustle and bustle world—yes, even in St. Marys—we sometimes forget to nourish our own soul and feed the spirit within. And nothing can do that so well as a good book.
An escape from the ordinary is just a couple of blocks from St. Marys’ waterfront at Once Upon a Bookseller. Proprietor Louise Mancill invites everyone to drop by, browse, sit a while, and explore the treasures that fill her bookshelves. You’ll find every category imaginable—just like those giant bookstores of yesteryear.
Mancill, whose passion for reading ignited as a young child, managed several Waldenbooks stores for 12 years in Atlanta—her last one bringing in
$2.4 million in sales annually—so her retail savvy is well honed. She’s on top of trends, customers’ tastes, and the newest editions that come out weekly and agonizes over every purchase, making sure her customers are getting the best choices.
Louise Mancill has owned Once Upon a Bookseller for 29 years, making her establishment one of the oldest in town. Originally, the bookstore was closer to the waterfront on the other side of Osborne, but when she bought the building she is currently in, her Once Upon a Bookseller doubled in size.
Mancill says she has many customers who have been with her for 29 years and now bring in their continued ...
children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren to peruse the shelves and, inevitably, choose a book that answers their call for discovery.
“Classics came back in vogue during the pandemic, and today young people especially love the leatherbound classics,” Mancill said. “Children’s books are very popular as visiting grandparents look to take home something special for their beloved grandchildren.”
Her large display of locally and regionally themed books is also a big draw for both residents and visitors.
Mancill’s mother-in-law, Bessie Mancill, was the person who found the bookstore for sale nearly three decades ago.
“I visited St. Marys and was struck by what a storybook town it was,” Mancill said.
Her mom’s family is from England, and she was thrilled to visit Highclere Castle in Oxford, England, last year (the castle where Downton Abbey was filmed). Her love for history and mystery draw Mancill to stories set in the 20s, 30s, and 40s in Britain.
When asked what her favorite book was, her answer came after some deep contemplation.
“Pride and Prejudice,” she said. “I just love the language and the ideas are timeless.”
For anyone who loves to read, any bookstore is magical, but Once Upon a Bookseller is so much more continued ...
Louise Mancill, Proprietor of Once Upon a Bookseller
than a bookstore. Mancill and her team transform the interior constantly, paying tribute to every season in a unique way. With its winged back chairs and ultra-friendly employees, the bookstore has become an oasis—a setting of serenity and nostalgia as customers get a sense of bookstores from yesteryear.
For many years, the bookstore has served as a ticketing outlet for St. Marys Little Theatre, and many customers use their ticket visit as an excuse to treat themselves to another literary adventure, often using their special “Book Bucks” that come with every purchase.
As Walt Disney once said, “There is more treasure in books than in all the pirates’ loot on Treasure Island.”
Yes, reading remains a timeless pursuit that transcends the boundaries of time and space. The act of reading has captivated minds and flamed imaginations for centuries. The best gift you can give a child is teaching them to love books, for through reading; they will always have companionship and learn empathy as they get a glimpse into other people’s lives.
For Louise Mancill, who is a “big fan of lifelong learning,” there will never be enough books. But they are aplenty at 207 Osborne Street “where adventure lives.”
IN THE SMALL SIZE CATEGORY OF GEORGIA TREND’S TOP HOSPITAL LIST
When you walk into Mary Durkin’s “Hello Mary” shop just seven blocks from the waterfront, it’s hard not to smile. The way she’s laid out the store and the colorful and eclectic merchandise appeals to everyone’s longing for more fun in their lives.
You can’t help but feel a lifting of your heart as you browse the different sections—art, jewelry, clothing, accessories, home décor, and lots of “this-and-thats.” It is not by accident that the store creates a vibe of whimsy.
“I wanted to bring to the community a place that evokes delight,” said Mary, who hailed from Texas before she and her husband discovered St. Marys and decided it was the perfect place to retire.
“We were looking for a charming little town and St. Marys is that and so much more,” she said.
“Surprising someone makes me happy and I continued ...
Mary Durkin.
strive to present items that will bring joy to the buyer or to the person the buyer gives it to.”
At the checkout counter, every smile means a lot to Mary because she is one of those unique individuals who practice “mudita,”—that is “getting joy by giving others joy.” And wouldn’t this be an amazing world if more people were like that?
Mary is the youngest of five kids and, of course, the artistic one in the family. Her original paintings grace the walls of Hello Mary, and each one captures the spirit of the shop.
Uniqueness is important to Mary as she shops for items that her customers won’t see anywhere else. And just as important is quality, she says.
At Hello Mary you can indulge yourself, buy a gift, and even rent a tuxedo as Mary has added that offering to her store’s collection.
“I count my blessings every day,” Mary said. “My fellow merchants have been so supportive, and my customers are the best!”
If you haven’t yet discovered the captivating wares of Hello Mary. be sure and make your way to 708 Osborne Street. Expect your day to be brightened by the charm of Mary Durkin, and expect to leave with something unexpected—and a smile.
People always gravitate to the new kid on the block, but when Kraken Coffee & Kitchen Co. took their place just steps from St. Marys’ waterfront, their first customers knew they would be coming back again and again. Word spread fast, and now when you enter the chic but cozy coffee shop, you feel instantly at home with dozens of your friends and neighbors who have discovered this irresistible gem of a gathering place.
Even the name is fun. Kraken proprietors Bill and Christine Lawrence and Colby and Christin Claflin wanted the name to be of marine origin in honor of St. Marys coastal setting and its Navy base. Kraken is a legendary sea monster akin to an octopus, and it seems fitting as Christine and Christin need many arms to run the establishment on a daily basis.
St. Marys had needed a downtown coffee shop for a long time, and Kraken definitely answered the need. When they found the perfect space, everything began to fall in place. After exhaustive research (they visited 12 coffee shops in Orlando alone in just two days), they came up with the formula that has continued
made Kraken so successful. Of course, it all began with choosing the perfect coffee supplier.
They discovered and chose Martin Coffee, Jacksonville’s oldest and most cherished specialty coffee roaster, not just because of their reputation for quality but also the fact that they are a family business creating exceptional coffee since the 1930s.
“We admire and honor family and tradition,” said Christine. “Our goal is to go on for generations just like the Martin family.”
Martin Coffee formulated a custom blend of coffee beans just for Kraken which the girls and their staff grind fresh daily, even the decafs. Beans from Brazil, Kenya, Costa Rica and other famed coffee origins fill the shelves of Kraken’s kitchen. You can even take your favorite beans home with you.
But Kraken is much more than just coffee. Serving fresh bakery goods, sandwiches, and salads, they are constantly coming up with new and unique culinary offerings—some taken from the family cookbook that Christine and her sister made in 2003.
Their flavored teas are popular as are their breakfast items that include Lox & Bagel, Yogurt Parfaits, and Kolache—a fruit-filled pastry from Czech culture. Their Chicken Salad is about the most oft requested lunch item along with their Paninis, Caprese and Cobb Salads, continued ...
Christin Claflin & Christine Lawrence
and Apple/Turkey/Bacon sandwiches. You have your choice of breads—sourdough, multi-grain, croissant, ciabatta, all freshly made. But back to the coffees.
There is not enough space in this article to list them all, but just know you will find your favorite featured on the Kraken chalkboard menu with a wide variety of flavor choices that change seasonally.
Kraken’s bakery case is a destination in itself packed full of stuff that dreams are made on. Cake pops are a favorite for the kids (cake on a stick), and their bread pudding is luscious. The cinnamon rolls alone are like a siren song to customers—many who come in two to three times a day.
Christin said that every offering is based on people’s affinity for “homemade.”
“We avoid additives and preservatives and most everything is made from scratch,” she said.
Someone once said that “Coffee is a hug for your brain.” If so, the Lawrences and the Claflins are serving up endless hugs wrapped in a comfy atmosphere with deliciousness all around at Kraken Coffee Kitchen Co. Now, go get your hug!
Editor’s Note: Kraken Coffee Kitchen Co. is located at 122 Osborne Street, Suite B. You can follow them on Facebook or call them at 912-510-6798 for takeout. Dr. Richard L. Spencer takes great pride in giving your family more reasons to smile.
P.J. Fields will forever be remembered for his kindness—by friends, former co-workers, and his extended and loving family.
There was always a gentleness behind his striking eyes (sometimes blue, sometimes green), and his quietness spoke volumes.
P.J. was, at all times, more willing to listen than to talk, though he could have taught so many of us so much.
Revered by those with whom he worked for 40 years, he was the “Big Boss,” Resident Director at Lockheed Martin, and he left his indelibly endearing mark on those who served under him.
P .J. loved nothing more than traveling with his beloved wife of 61 years, Lisa—attending hundreds of car meets where he showed and/or raced his classic cars. When P.J. and Lisa met, he was driving a 55 black Chevy. He and Lisa enjoyed water skiing, snow skiing, and they were known in St. Marys as awesome dancers.
Leaving a legacy of love for his beautiful family that includes 14 grandchildren, 7 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild, P. J. Fields was Lisa’s “True North.” She said he “did everything for me.” That defines an amazing husband. “He spoiled me,” she said.
Yes, we can see how that gentle giant would enjoy spoiling the beautiful brown-eyed girl he met while planning a Christmas party together more than six decades ago. And we can see, as well, how the shining light that will always be P. J. Fields will glow forever in the hearts of those who knew him.
In August of 1788, nearly one year after the Articles of Agreement that established St. Marys were signed, James Finley, county surveyor, laid out the lots that make up St. Marys in the area formerly known as Buttermilk Bluff.
As designed by Finley, the town had 90 lots. Each lot was four acres square.
The Articles of Agreement stated that 20 men formed the town, and each owned a square of four acres. The Articles went on to say that each of the acres was not to be sold for less than five pounds sterling, and the purchasing party was obliged to build a framed, log, or brick house covered with shingles within six months from the time of purchase, the dimensions of which house should be not less than 16 feet by 20 feet.
The original founders paid just $38 each for their portion of the town.
The Articles of Agreement were signed on Cumberland Island on November 20, 1787. Here is what we know—good and bad—about our founding forefathers for which many of the streets of St. Marys are named.
Isaac Wheeler
The first to sign the Articles of Agreement forming the town of St. Marys, Isaac Wheeler lived on Cumberland Island at the time. In 1791, Wheeler took up residence in Florida to find his fortune. Little is recorded about his life other than he married sometime around 1789 and died circa 1813 leaving his estate to his three daughters, Catherine, Martha, and Eliza. One of the longest streets in St. Marys carries the Wheeler name signifying his importance in the formation of the town.
James Finley
The second signer of the Articles of Agreement was James Finley, a revolutionary soldier born about 1760.
As a young man, Finley dreamed of owning a large estate of land, so as soon as he became of age, he appealed for land grants and was granted significant portions in what became Wilkes County. When learning about large tracts of land available in Camden County that were “fertile and covered with very large oak and pine trees,” he set out to stake his place in the history of Camden. Finley first secured a tract of land on Point Peter and built a small plantation named “Yankee Hall,” where his family dwelt for several years.
Finley’s financial coffers expanded with large land tract acquisitions in Brunswick, and then by his participation in the establishment of St. Marys. He achieved his dream of being a land magnate, but family came first. Eventually, he moved back to Wilkes County to be close to his children and grandchildren.
Some say that “old soldiers never die,” but Old Soldier James Finley met his appointment with death on March 2, 1821. His fame lived on, though, as people always recalled him as the land surveyor who laid out the town of St. Marys. Finley Street is a reminder of his presence 200 years ago.
John Fleming
Fleming Street is a short street that doesn’t quite do justice as a namesake.
John Fleming was among those who came to Camden County after the Revolutionary War to take advantage of the bountiful supply of land and forests that graced the banks of six rivers. He was appointed by the Governor of Georgia as a Justice of Peace for
Camden County in 1792 and in the same year was commissioned as a Justice of the Inferior Court, a position he held until his death in 1793—a tragic death.
Amid Indian outrages that year, it was reported that “20 or 30 Indians entered the store of Robert Seagrove at Traders Hill on the night of the 11th of March and murdered the storekeeper, Mr. John Fleming.”
After murdering Fleming, the Indians plundered his home, bound his wife with buckskin cords, and carried her to the banks of the river where they set their hungry dogs on her. Mrs. Fleming escaped the severe attack by biting through her bindings, and then ran 18 miles to the fort on the Satilla River for help. A party was formed to pursue the murderers, but they were never captured. The two Fleming children who were home at the time of the attack, were not injured, and grew up in Camden County.
The Fleming name is still prominent in both Camden and Charlton Counties.
William Reddy
Just one block east of Osborne Street you will find Ready Street. A misspelled namesake commemorating the fourth signer of the Articles of Agreement, William Reddy.
After the close of the French and Indian War with the Treaty of Paris in 1763, the province of Florida transferred from Spanish to English control. From East Florida records, it is surmised that William Reddy lived there with his wife between 1763 and 1771. He was a planter by trade and remained in Florida until he came to Camden County in the middle 1780s, settling on Cumberland Island as a mariner—Captain William Reddy.
Reddy was a close friend of Cumberland Island plantation owner Robert Stafford who presided as guardianship of Reddy’s estate in 1797.
Jacob Weed
Jacob Weed was another settler who came to the coasts of Camden County looking for suitable land after the Revolutionary War.
With his wife, Sarah, they landed on Point Peter and recognized the marshland and hammock land as a great place for a sawmill or a cotton plantation. From 1786 to 1788, Weed received 34 land grants in Camden County totaling over 80,000 acres. It was Weed’s original land grant on Buttermilk Bluff that made up the 90 lots laid out as the town of St. Marys. He was a visionary and saw the need of a town near the river, and he was responsible for selling others on the idea.
Weed developed a cotton plantation on Point Peter called New Town, and built sawmills with his partner, Henry Osborne.
He served on the Land Court along with other Articles of Agreement signers Nathaniel Ashley and Langley Bryant.
In 1788, Weed was selected as Delegate to the State Convention.
As a militia officer, Weed was involved in many confrontations with the Indians and once wrote in a letter to the Governor, “Frontier here attacked by Indians—one body from West Florida carrying off horses. Is there Indian War? Swarm of refugees will come from West Florida to help Indians.”
In the spring of 1791, while on a trip up the St. Marys River dealing with the Indian problem, he met his death at the hands of a violent storm. His boat was overturned by a strong wind and he, along with others aboard, drowned. Think of the life of this visionary pioneer when you stroll along the oak canopied street named Weed just a few blocks from the waterfront.
Thomas Norris
With Cole Street having merged into the wetlands, Norris Street is now the easternmost street
downtown, closest to the marsh and waterways. It’s named after the fifth signer of the Articles of Agreement— Thomas Norris, who was actually a resident of South Carolina when he signed the Articles.
Norris was a merchant in St. Marys. It is thought that he sold all his land and lots around 1793, but then acquired more. In the 1794 Tax Digest, Norris shows that he is the owner of 476 acres of salt marsh lands and 566 acres of pine barren lands adjoining inland swamp and pays tax on one free white male over 21 and six slaves under 60 years of age.
Norris was elected as Delegate to the State Convention and then appointed a Justice of the Inferior Court in Camden County. His son, William, was also one of the signers of the Articles of Agreement and was involved in his father’s business dealings.
Upon his death in 1800, his two remaining slaves were granted their freedom per his bequeath.
Prentiss Gallop
Prentiss Gallop sought no public acclaim during his lifetime. Yet his name has been viewed by thousands of people who have traversed the St. Marys Railroad over decades because the street that bears his name runs parallel to the railroad.
Evidently, Gallop was a good friend of another St. Marys founder, Simeon Dillingham, because Gallop signed for Dillingham on the Articles of Agreement document in Dillingham’s absence.
One of the first businesses to be established in St. Marys was a trading firm known as Gallop & Wheeler, a joint partnership between Gallop and Isaac Wheeler.
During those early days on the frontier, money was scarce. Businesses often traded one article for another with the hope of making a fair profit. As a result, a large inventory could be built up without a cash flow to pay creditors and suppliers. Gallop & Wheeler Trading ran into this problem.
The public records show legal proceedings were undertaken to collect debts owed by the firm.
Simeon Dillingham
Simeon Dillingham was traveling and unable to make the meeting on Cumberland Island when the Articles of Agreement were signed, so Prentiss Gallop signed for him.
Dillingham had seen the Revolutionary War fought and the high price men had paid to gain liberty for the people of America. He knew that people had a responsibility to take part in their government and as much as his business would permit, he was involved in the political life of Camden County. He, too, was elected as a delegate to the State Constitutional Convention.
Dillingham helped raise money to fund an army to defend Georgia from the Spanish. He enlisted himself and took part in the planning of an invasion of Florida. In 1793, Dillingham served as Lieutenant, but President Washington and Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson stepped in and smoothed relations between Spain and the United States thereby avoiding the need for the invasion (for a few years, at least).
In 1799, Dillingham was living as a mariner in Philadelphia, but his Camden legacy will be honored forever by the street that bears his name just four blocks from St. Marys’ waterfront.
William Norris
Son of Thomas Norris, William Norris, came with his father to America from Jamaica where many British planters made their home during the late 1700s. After serving the family business for several years in Camden County, the younger Norris returned to Jamaica to look after their interests there. When his father died, he came back to Camden County with his wife, Sarah, and took up his father’s business once again.
Norris eventually moved to Savannah where he foresaw more business opportunities.
James Seagrove
Seagrove Street runs south to north just a couple of blocks from Osborne. It was named after the man who was once referred to as “Camden’s most prominent citizen”— James Seagrove. Famed novelist Eugenia Price made reference to Seagrove, paying him this esteemed honor, in her bestselling book, “The Lighthouse.”
We know that Seagrove came to Camden County from New York where he served in the Revolutionary War. He, too, was elected as a delegate to the State Constitutional Convention, elected to the first St. Marys Town Council, and appointed collector of customs for the port of St. Marys and Justice of the Camden County Inferior Court—all in the same year, 1789.
Recognizing his leadership and influential position, George Washington appointed Seagrove a federal agent to the Creek Indians and, as such, Seagrove was a signer of the Treaty of Colerain in 1796.
Seagrove was instrumental in raising money to build the First Presbyterian Church and played a role in the development of Brunswick and its school system. He was captain of the artillery company in the Georgia Militia, circa 1807. Seagrove became sick and died some time after his resignation from public service in 1810.
Robert Seagrove
James Seagrove’s brother, Robert, was also a leading citizen in Camden County. In 1791, he was an election manager at the congressional election. He took part in an activity that election day that later caused his friend, Judge Henry Osborne, to be impeached by the Georgia Legislature.
(See Osborne’s details.)
Seagrove owned a trading post at
Trader’s Hill where the tragic Indian murder of the storekeeper took place in 1793. He served as a private in the Georgia Militia, willing to do his part to defend his adopted county from the marauding savages who were inflicting heavy damage upon the settlers.
Seagrove didn’t believe in taking the “free land” offered by the government, and always purchased his land, never becoming a large landowner.
In December 1795, Seagrove became severely ill and succumbed to the illness in death, and with no surviving family, his brother, James, became his sole inheritor.
Henry Osborne
The most noted and most travelled street in St. Marys is named after a man with somewhat of a checkered history.
During the year 1787, Henry Osborne appeared before the Land Court nine times and received a total of 29,515 acres in Camden County.
Osborne served as representative from Camden and Glynn Counties in the State Legislature in 1786, 1787, and 1788. In 1788, he was elected as a delegate to the state convention that would ratify the United States Constitution. He had great influence in Georgia. And though he was appointed by the governor as Chief Justice of Georgia in 1788, he resigned after a few months in office. He then became Judge of the Superior Courts of the Eastern Circuit.
Judge Osborne made his home in Augusta—then the state capital—but he maintained his home in St. Marys and spent quite a bit of time there.
In Augusta, Osborne met and fell in love with Catherine Howell and married her in 1791. Though the year 1791 was a high point in securing his bride, it was also a low point for Osborne. What happened that year stripped him of his judgeship in the judicial system. He was charged with fraud and irregularities growing out of the congressional race. It seems the election returns showed that
in Camden County, Gen. Anthony Wayne received 79 votes and Gen. James Jackson received 10 votes. The returns were certified by Osborne, but the sheriff said that he didn’t believe 70 voters resided in the county. Osborne had gotten the election clerk to re-open the polls after which results of the elections were changed. It was alleged that 25 votes were legally and actually cast in the election, but through the insistence of Judge Osborne, 89 votes were certified. Articles of Impeachment were preferred against Osborne but he was never brought to trial since he had been suspended by Governor Telfair and had not protested.
Osborne’s death was chronicled in the Augusta newspaper on November 22, 1800 which read: “At St. Simons Island on the 9th, Henry Osborne, Attorney-at-law, former Judge of the Superior Court and a patriot passed away.” Osborne was visiting St. Simons at the time and is believed to be buried on the estate of Major Wright.
John Alexander
It was in May 1787, that John Alexander first appeared in the Land Court to make his first request for land in Camden County. Shortly afterward, he took a wife.
Little is in public records about John Alexander, but it is known that he died sometime before April 6, 1800, for that is the date that the Savannah Advertiser said Archibald Clark, the administrator of John Alexander, was granted leave to sell the property of the estate.
Alexander Street, his namesake, is located five blocks from the waterfront and connects Dilworth to Osborne.
Jonathan Bartlett
Bartlett Street is one of the few streets in downtown St. Marys that makes its way through untouched lowlands where often you can witness the spreading of wings by a regal and beautiful snowy egret. Other than the historical record
that notes Jonathan Bartlett as a signer of the Articles of Agreement for St. Marys, there is scant mention of him in public records. Documents show he moved to Savannah to take care of business interests there where he was overtook by sickness and passed away. It is believed that before his stint as a voting citizen of Camden County, he resided in New Hampshire and Massachusetts.
Richard Cole
Cole Street was once the easternmost street in downtown St. Marys, but it no longer appears on the map. One can surmise that it ceded into marsh waters. Nonetheless, Richard Cole is remembered as one of the original settlers of St. Marys who acquired a considerable amount of wealth. In a book by Rembert Patricks entitled, “Florida Fiasco,” the author implies that Cole’s acquisition of such wealth came about as proceeds from his lucrative smuggling trade along the St. Marys River. If this was so, that accounts for the fact that he didn’t want his name in the records.
He died in Charleston, South Carolina, in 1800.
Nathaniel Ashley
One of the oldest men to sign the Articles of Agreement for St. Marys was Nathaniel Ashley. He was the father of two other signers—William and Lodowick Ashley.
Ashley served as Representative in State Legislature from Washington County, Georgia in 1788. It was Jacob Weed who invited Ashley to the signing on Cumberland Island in 1787.
In Camden County, Ashley served as Justice of Peace and a member of the Land Court in 1789 as well as sheriff and tax collector.
Like Osborne, Ashley had a bit of a character flaw. A serious charge leading to an indictment for murder came shortly after his term as sheriff ended. The Grand Jury’s True Bill shows that on April 24, 1788, Ashley “not having the fear of God before his
eyes, but being moved and seduced by the instigation of the Devil” shot Spanish official Henry O’Neal with a load of buckshot at the home of James Cashen on Cumberland Island. It seems Officer O’Neal, who was hired by the Spanish to uphold the law along the St. Marys River, chased Ashley and his cohorts across the river after they were witnessed rustling cattle in East Florida.
Perhaps Ashley’s foray into cattle rustling came about in the face of financial difficulties around 1788 when some of his debts had to be collected through the court system. He sold hundreds of acres of land under duress as well. Court records from the period were lost, so there is no evidence that Ashley ever came to trial, but many of Ashley’s descendants who are still living in Camden County would be interested in knowing the outcome.
Nathaniel Ashley died around 1800. He may have been a bit uncouth in some of his actions, but still he is one of our founders and as such has his name on the street eight blocks from the waterfront.
William Ashley
The younger of Nathaniel Ashley’s sons, William Ashley was born in Anson County, North Carolina, about 1763. As a teenager, he served in the South Carolina militia.
Soon after his family arrived in Camden County, he began to build an estate beginning with a grant of 1275 acres. With his wife, Mary, he had eight children.
Evidently, the apple didn’t fall far from the tree, for the young Ashley found himself tangled in lawsuits that begged the question of his character. But he did good for Camden County as well.
He served in the Camden County militia as Captain and served as a Justice of the Interior Court for one term.
In his book, “Florida Fiasco,” Rembert Patrick insinuated that William Ashley gained his wealth from raiding below the border, from lumbering, from smuggling, and the slave trade.
According to family records,
Ashley died at his home May 1, 1839, age 76.
Lodowick Ashley
The older Ashley boy, Lodowick, also served in the Revolutionary War. He too wasted no time in requesting land grants in Camden County after moving from South Carolina.
When General George Matthews sought to lead a revolt among the Americans living in East Florida against Spanish rule and turn the Spanish colony over to the United States, he enlisted the help of wealthy men like Lodowick Ashley (along with the other Ashley men).
During the feeble attempt to take East Florida from Spain, Lodowick (with the title of Colonel) was labeled as a “rebel” by the Spanish, so he had to leave his lumber business and plantation business in Florida. He joined his brother who had already moved to Telfair County, but later returned to Camden County where he had found much happiness. Lodowick and his brother and father did participate in some unethical activities, to be sure, but just the same, they are memorialized for all to see on the street signs that bear the name “Ashley.”
Langley Bryant
Langley Bryant was an Indian interpreter and trader. He was born in North Carolina in 1740. With an urge to move to new lands, he migrated to Florida and got land grants there. He endeared himself to the many Creek and Seminole Indians living around the Florida/ Georgia border for the purpose of trade. He learned their language and as a result of his friendship with the Indians, he opened an Indian trading post. He was often hired by other white men to act as an interpreter in their business dealings with the Indian, and was the key interpreter for the signing of the Colerain Treaty in June 1796. Subsequently, he served as interpreter for the signing of the Treaty of Fort Wilkinson, one of the most important treaties that
the United States Commissioners ever signed with the Creek Indians, opening up Central Georgia to white settlement.
In 1785, Langley moved across the river to Camden County and petitioned for land grants. He also got land grants in Brunswick but never moved there.
As Election Manager in 1791, Bryant was caught up in the scandal that led to Osborne’s impeachment. He was indicted for his activities in mismanaging the election as he falsified totals per Osborne’s insistence.
Bryant Street is the second street off the waterfront, just north of Stable Alley (not named after a founder).
Stephen Conyers
When Jacob Weed extended an invitation to a select group of men to meet him on Cumberland Island for the purpose of establishing a town, he invited mostly residents of Camden County. But Stephen Conyers was not a resident. He never actually lived in Camden County. Evidently he saw his participation in the founding of the town as a financial investment, for he sold all four of his lots in a short time period in 1793— that sale being the only public record of Conyers involvement in St. Marys other than his original signature on the Articles of Agreement.
Conyers Streets runs parallel to the waterfront just three blocks north.
So there we have it—a group of men investing in the establishment of a new town called St. Marys, each paying the grand sum of $38 for a four square piece of property and the promise of fame that has, thus far, lasted 237 years. For more than two centuries, the names of these men— some more scalawag, some more saint—have graced the streets of St. Marys.
Fine timber for ship building and naval stores; a deep port and interior rivers for transporting goods; a bluff high enough to build wharves that ships could tie up to; ample
fresh water, and gentle breezes that enabled ships to hoist their sails and head for sea almost any time of the day or night—these and more attributes inspired 20 men to come together on Cumberland Island and launch the jewel of a town that is St. Marys.
We thank you all—scalawag and saint. For many who call St. Marys home have been known to say to those who have not yet discovered her natural beauty and gentle people—“If you’re lucky enough to call St. Marys home, you’re lucky enough.”
Editor’s Note: Excerpts for this article were taken from John H. Christian’s “Founders of St. Marys,” graciously provided by the Bryan-Lang Historical Archives.
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Vicki and David Wyttenbach, Universal Studios.
Craig and Wendie Mackey, Marsh Walk, St. Marys.
Lisa Papenfus, Falls Park, Greenville, SC.
adison Marsh, the first active-duty Air Force officer to be crowned Miss America (2024) recently appeared at The Riverview Hotel’s Captain Seagle’s Restaurant along with beauty queens from around Coastal Georgia. Miss Marsh, a former Air Force pilot, is now enrolled in Harvard University.
