Edisto Realty News
Community groups make tour day a success
Oct 13th, 2007Edisto Realty congratulates the Edisto Island Historic Preservation Society on the success of their annual historic tour. In particular we thank the many volunteers who make this annual event an island tradition.
This year the tour on Saturday, Oct. 13th, featured Cypress Trees, circa 1830, home of Jim and Linda Murray and a working plantation since the late 1700’s; Point of Pines, site of the Grimball House remains which is among the oldest settlement points on the island, the house having been destroyed by the Spanish in 1686; Swallow Bluff, circa 1850 which was once part of Point of Pines Plantation owned by Julian A. Mitchell; Brookland Plantation, circa 1800, which was a flourishing indigo plantation before the American Revolution, and the three island churches listed on the National Register of Historic Places: the old First Baptist Church, the Presbyterian Church on Edisto Island, and Trinity Episcopal Church.
Concurrent with the tour the Edisto Island Art Guild holds a show and sale at Trinity Episcopal Church and lunch is served at the Old First Baptist Church and at Trinity.
The day dawned cool and sunny and people were up early. With so many excellent places to visit the tour would take a number of hours. Just the drive to Point of Pines and Swallow Bluff past tomato fields, marshes, and through wonderful woods takes nearly 45 minutes from the museum building where most people start their day. Looking over the myriad crafts including local art, photographs, jewelry and sweet grass baskets at the Art Guild sale at Trinity could easily take another hour. Cypress Trees plantation offers breath taking views of Store Creek and Brookland Plantation has been meticulously restored.
The churches, of course, along with their cemeteries offer a sense of family heritage that pervades the island. The names you see there, often in family plots, are echoed across the island to this day.
The tour booklet this year featured artwork by Clay Rice, silhouette artist. Mr. Rice, a well known artist in his own right for over 30 years, is the grandson of low country icon Clay Rice who first popularized the art form in South Carolina. Many older islanders knew Clay’s grandfather and are thrilled to reconnect to this part of true low country heritage.
