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Altamaha Echoes Library - 1992 Issues
Provided by Myrtle Newberry - Editor

Lower Altamaha Historical Society Newsletters

Lower Altamaha Historical Society, Inc.
P.O. Box 1405
Darien, Georgia 31305
June 1992                                                                                                                                    Vol. 2 No. 1

Meetings ate held at the Historic Courthouse on the third Thursday of each month at 7:30 pm. The Society extends a hearty welcome to all.

LAHS MEETING, June 18,1992

"The Nature Conservancy’s Altamaha River Bioreserve Project" presented by Ms. Christi Lambert, Bioreserve Director. The Altamaha River is the patron of Darien, McIntosh County, and LAHS. This is an exceptional opportunity for LAHS members to gain knowledge of our River, and perhaps lend assistance as the inventory work proceeds.

"A Bioreserve is a landscape-—usually large in size——with naturally functioning ecological processes, and containing outstanding examples of ecosystems, natural communities, and species which are endangered or inadequately protected. "A bioreserve includes core natural areas containing significant biological resources. Long term protection also requires reasonable insulation from threats. A bioreserve is therefore designed to withstand human pressure through its size and configuration or by accommodating compatible human use."

LAHS MEETING, July16, 1992

The Graduate students with an Intership working on the Altamaha River project will share with LAHS their contribution to the River Project.

SPECIAL EVENTS

"Highlanders prepare for Bloody Marsh" July 4, 1992, Fort King George,10 -4 P.M. On the 250th anniversary year of the Battle of Bloody Marsh, Lt. Mackay’s Scottish Highlanders from Darien prepare to disembark to Ft. Frederica on St. Simon’s Island. Demonstrations, crafts, kilts, musket drills.

Lecture by Virginia Steele Woods on "General Research Techniques’ July 9,1992 7:00 P.14. Ida Hilton Library, Haynes Auditorium

250th Anniversary Celebration of Bloody Marsh Battle

July 10-13, 1992 Fort Frederica National Park , St. Simons Island

THE LOWER ALTAMAHA HISTORICAL SOCIETY was organized in 1979, by William G. Haynes, Hans Newhauser, and Norman Edwards. The first meeting was held at the Historic Courthouse, Darien, Georgia in May 1980.

THE AIMS of the organization are:

LAHS OFFICERS 1992-1993

President: Mattie Gladstone
Vice President Geneva Stebbins
Secretary; Sandra Christopherson
Treasurer: Lillian Schaitberger

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

1991—1993

George Buntyn
Dyson Flanders

1992- 1994

Lloyd Flanders
Don McClain
Bob Raymond
Ken Akins

Past President Carolyn Hodges
Historian Emeritus: William G. Haynes
Genealogical Inquiries: Annie Gill

COMMITTEES and CHAIRMAN

Field Trips     Carolyn Hodges
Program        William 0. Haynes
Publications    Myrtle Newberry
Refreshments     Everett Moriarty
Historical Homes    Geneva Stebbins
Historical Tourism   Dyson Flanders

SPECIAL COMMITTEES and CHAIRMAN

Columbus Quincenntenial    A. Rundle Cook
Altamaha Preservation Donald Cohrs
Cemetery Census Mattie Gladstone

ELEVEN YEARS OF PROGRESS

Through the effort and support of LAHS, the Replica of John Barnwell’s 1721 Blockhouse at Fort King George was completed and opened to the public in 1968. The Fort King George Historical Site continues to attract visitors from all over the world. In April 1992 they registered a record 2012 visitors.

In 1988 LAHS was instrumental in the publishing of the book "Scots of McIntosh" compiled by Lillian Schaitberger. This book details the 177 Scottsmen who founded New Inverness, later called Darien in 1736, and also the earliest settlers of Darien.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

ALTAMAHA ECHOS, a collection of original historic stories, will be published this year. You are invited to submit your articles.

COLUMBUS and the LAND OF AYLLON will be celebrated through a weekend seminar, September 25,26,27,1992. All activities are open to the general public.

MEMBERSUIP in LOWER ALTAMAHA HISTORICAL SOCIETY is open to all those interested in preserving history. Annual fees for 1992-93 are due. Please flake your check payable to LAHS and mail to Ms Lillian Schaitberger ,Box 1405, Darien, Georgia, 31305

Rates: Libraries, Historical Societies and Corporate $25. Family $15 Individuals $10 Students $2.50

Lower Altamaha Historical Society, Inc.
P.O. Box 1405
Darien, Georgia 31305

Meetings are held at the Historic Courthouse on the third Thursday of each month at 7:30 pm. The Society extends a hearty welcome to all.

LAHS MEETING, August 20,1992

"Spanish Influence on the Golden Isles of Georgia" An original slide presentation created and presented by Lloyd Flanders.

Mrs. Flanders is a native of McIntosh County and attended Darien public schools. She studied Georgia History in the sixth grade under the guidance of Mrs Rena Poppell Thomson. This outstanding teacher inspired the love and interest in Georgia History that has been with Lloyd Flanders through her formal education and continues today. Mrs. Flanders received her undergraduate degree at Wesleyan College, Macon, Georgia, her masters degree at Mercer University, Macon, Georgia, and several special degrees at Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, Georgia. Dr. Spencer Bidwell King, Jr. was another influnencial teacher with whom Lloyd Flanders studied Georgia History.

SPECIAL EVENTS

September 4-5,1992- Fort King George- 10:00am to 5:00pm,both days. NATIVE AMERICANS OF THE GEORGIA COAST Indians will camp on the site and interpret their culture for visitors. There will be demonstrations showing all facets of Indian life. Native American Foods and crafts will also be sold for those seeking quality Indian goods. We hope that all people in the coastal empire will join us for a day of story-telling, dancing, and celebrating these people’s noble heritage.

COLUMBUS and the Land of AYLLON
Seminar
Darien, Georgia
September 25-27,1992

The Lower Altamaha Historical Society,. in conjunction with the Georgia, Middle Georgia, Coastal Georgia and Thomas County Historical Societies and Georgia Southern University, have pleasure in inviting you to attend the Seminar Columbus and the Land of Ayllon. The seminar is free and open to all. Teachers, professors and students are especially welcome.

This seminar is of particular relevance to early European, African and Native American history in this region. The Seminar is supported in part by the Georgia Humanities Council, the National Endowment for the Humanities and appropriations from the Georgia General Assembly.

Was ever a tale more writ in blood than this I am about to tell? Or more put away from memory.., for little remains but bone and parchment. The ships have all melted in the seas, the villages are charcoal dust under field and forest, the men and women who fought and suffered and died have no tombstones. Yet something may be learned from the telling. For this is not only the story of how a king and his people tried and failed to settle a wild new world. Nor only the story of nations at war-Spanish, French, English, Guale, Chisca, Orista. It is the story also of how knowledge is so hard won, how men and women of our own time, archaeologists and historians, piece together the past, tiny bit by fragment by sherd, until what is revealed to our wondering eyes is a portrait of ourselves.[National Geographic Magazine, March 1988, Exploring Our Forgotten Century, by Joseph Judge, senior associate editor]

When this article appeared in National Geographic in 1988, it was to many in McIntosh County and South Georgia the awarness that the location of the lost colony "San Miguel de Gualdape" was in the Sapelo Sound. It was also their introduction to the name of Paul E. Hoffman who believes that the site of Gualdape lies somewhere in Sapelo Sound. Dr. Hoffman is Professor of History at Louisiana state University and one of the 12 distinguished scholars that will discuss the Lost Colony and its consequences at the Seminar. This article also introduced Lucas Vasquez de Ayllon, a wealthy lawyer from Spain who was residing in Santo Domingo, in the modern Dominican Republic. It was Ayllon , who in 1526,built the first European settlement on the Eastern Seaboard; he called it San Miguel de Gualdape. Ayllon died on October 18,1526 at Gualdape. Only 150 persons out of some 500 made it back home. Nothing remained except words on a map, repeated on maps of North America for the next 50 years, "land of ayllon."

The credit for creating this early American history Seminar of unusual interest and importance goes to Jeannine Cook. Although many people and groups have helped and supported this activity, it would not have happened had it not been for Jeannine Cook. Jeannine, artist and writer, has written for such publications as Smithsonian and Connoisseur magazines. Her drawings and watercolours have won numerous awards in exhibitions throughout the United States. Although she is native to Tanzsania, East Africa, her formative years were spent in Spain. With her knowledge of the language, culture, and scholarship of Spain, one can understand her interest in the "land of ayllon". How fortunate we, in McIntosh, County are to have her interlect, organization ability, interest and proficiency to bring this prestigious seminar to Darien. Jeannine and Rundle Cook have lived in McIntosh County since 1984. Jeannine’s Ayllon Committee has recently distributed twelve thousand attractive brochures over Georgia and the Southeast U.S. Jeannine reports that many reservations have already been received. A large gathering is expected for the weekend in Darien. Please use this brochure to MAKE YOUR RESERVATIONS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE..

Lower Altamaha Historical Society, Inc.
P.O. Box 1405
Darien, Georgia 31305
September 1992                                                                                                                                 Vol.2 No.3

Meetings are held at the Historic Courthouse on the third Thursday of each month at 7:30 pm. The Society extends a hearty welcome to all.

LAHS Meeting, September 17,1992

"Discovery of a Sunken Spanish Galleon" presented by Lucky Lowe. Mr. Lowe will be remembered by LAHS when, several years ago, he presented his very interesting views on the results of his work as a Professional Diver. This program is about what every diver and treasure hunter longs for, the discovery of a Spanish Treasure Galleon. A Spanish treasure fleet, in the year 1715 was sunk when caught in the toils of a mighty hurricane, not unlike the recent Andrew. The tragedy occurred in the straights between the Bahamas and the Florida Coast. Efforts were made by Spain to salvage the lost ships after the storm. Careful records were kept in Spanish Archives which has assisted research in preparation for Lucky's expedition, which has been crowned with success. The photographs of Spanish golden doubloons and silver pieces of eight are astounding to see. There will also be other artifacts on view.

LAHS Meeting, October 15, 1992
"Library use for Research" presented by C. Allen Spivey, Librarian, Brunswick College, Brunswick, Georgia.

COLUMBUS QUINCENTENNIAL CELEBRATION
September 25-27,1992--COLUMBUS and the Land of AYLLON , Seminar

September 26, 1992--Mr. Lonice Barrett, Director of State Parks, will formally open the FORT KING GEORGE special "COLUMBUS QUINCENTENNIAL Exhibit". George Buntyn's model of the Santa Maria will be an added attraction there. This exhibit will be on display through November.

Friday, Oct 9--7:30 pm--Ida Hilton Library, Haynes Auditorium--"THE SOUTH ATLANTIC QUARANTINE STATION, BLACK BEARD ISLAND" presented by Evelyn C. Voelker, Professor, College of Architecture, Clemson University, Clemson, S. C. Professor Voelker, as director of the "Atlantic Port Quarantines" project in 1987,brought Architecture students to BLACK BEARD Island. Her work and the importance of this station is well documented in "Early Days on the Georgia Tidewater"(page 476). Mrs. Voelker, will present a model of this station, which was made by her Architecture Students at Clemson University. The Model will remain on permanent display at The Ida Hilton Library. A Reception will be held, following the program.

Monday, Oct.12---10:30 am--Columbus Square--Darien, Georgia

Presentation of the" Newly Landscaped Columbus Square " to the Mayor of Darien, David Bluestein by Darien Historic Preservation Commission, Dyson Flanders, Chairman.

Monday, Oct.12--1:00 pm--Pine Harbor-- "Launch the Memorial Wreath in Sapelo River, in memory and celebration of the 500 YEARS since Columbus discovered America. In the research on the "land of Ayllon" is mentioned the Rio Seco (River Dry). There is a supposition that this location could be, the Sapelo River, low tide, at the present day Pine Harbor. It is therefore appropriate that at Pine Harbor, low tide, the wreath will be presented to the sea by Carolyn Hodges.

Message from the President:

I am taking this opportunity prior to the Columbus Quincentennial to commend the various sub-committee Chairpersons for their accomplishments in behalf of the Lower Altamaha Historical Society. They, including the Land of Ayllon subcommittee, have been autonomous in their planning and funding the various projects. They have invested much time also.

We, especially, commend Mrs. Jeannie Cook for her efforts in finding grants, other funding and the distinguished panel for the Land of Ayllon Seminar in September. Since scholars are "notorious for disagreeing", it will be interesting to hear their views and conclusions.

We, also, thank Mr. Lonice Barrett, DNR Director of Parks and Historic Sites, for the special Columbus Quintencentennial Exhibit for Ft. King George. George Buntyn's model of the Santa Maria will be an added attraction there.

With gratitude to each one,
Mattie R. Gladstone, President