Daufuskie Island
Located between Hilton Head Island and Savannah, Daufuskie Island is the southernmost sea island in South Carolina. It is 5 miles long by 2.7 miles wide – approximately 5,000 acres. With 3.5 miles of pristine beachfront, Daufuskie is surrounded by the waters of the Calibogue Sound, the Intracoastal Waterway and the Atlantic Ocean. Haig Point is located at the northern tip of the island.
Daufuskie offers a quiet, secure environment, yet also a rich cultural experience, with its environmental preserves, quaint Gullah houses, diverse art galleries and history dating back to the “Daufuskie Fight” during the Yemassee War of 1715 – 1717. This island is also the setting of Pat Conroy’s novel “The Water is Wide,” recounting Conroy’s experiences teaching on Daufuskie
in the 1960s. Don’t forget Marshside Mama’s — a restaurant favored by locals for its authentic Lowcountry fare and relaxed island experience.
The residents of Haig Point have long declared their commitment to preserving a way of life unique to Haig Point and Daufuskie Island. The archaeological restoration of historic properties and passing along of folklore surrounding the history of the island proves this spirit is alive and well.
Island Firsts
Archeologists have traced the inhabited history of the island back 9,000 years and have discovered pottery remnants dating to 7,000 BC. The first inhabitants were the peaceful Cusabo Indians.
In 1664, English sea captain William Hilton first sailed the waters of the South Carolina coast, writing in his log, “The air is clear and sweet, the country very pleasant and delightful: and we would wish all that want a happy settlement of our English Nation, were well transported hither.” English traders soon followed and settled in the area.
Of course, there are many facts and legends that surround our mysterious and magical island. It’s worth a visit to the Billie Burn Museum to travel through time. Established in 2003 by the Daufuskie Island Historical Foundation, the museum is staffed by volunteer island residents, so hours are limited.
Fun Facts
What’s in a name?
There is an old wives’ tale suggesting the island was named by the Gullah people as being “da fus cay” out of Savannah. More likely, Daufuskie was named by its earliest inhabitants – the Cusebo Indians. Their native tongue can be translated to “pointed feather” or “land with a point.”
Coastal Geology
Daufuskie Island is not a barrier island, it is a sea island protected by Hilton Head Island. The island itself is approximately 5 miles long and 2-1/2 miles wide.
First Union African Baptist Church
The development of First Union African Baptist Church, now listed as an historical landmark, began in 1879 when John I. Stoddard divided the Mary Field plantation into lots and sold 12 acres to former slaves
for the purpose of building a church and developing a cemetery. The land was purchased in 1881 for $82 and the first church was built. The original church building burned in 1884 and was rebuilt in 1885.
From the early 1900's through the 1930's the church building supported worship service as well as a schoolhouse for the island's children. From 1916 to the 1920's Reverend Richard Thomas, a visiting preacher from Savannah, would come once a month to serve communion at the church and at the same time administer a spelling bee for the school children.
With islanders seeking employment on the mainland, the island population decreased substantially in the 50's. During that period the church was closed. In 1967 the Bluffton Baptist Church approached Rev. C. L. Hanshew, Director of Missions for the Savannah River Baptist Association, regarding the need of worship services on Daufuskie Island. In 1968, under the leadership of Rev. C. L. Hanshew, services resumed in the church. This ministry was continued by Rev. Ronald Cowart, pastor of Bluffton Baptist. Under Rev. Cowart's leadership the first vacation bible school was conducted July of 1968.
Rev. Ervin Greene became pastor of First Union African Baptist Church in 1976 and served until 1985 upon being called to pastor the Brick Baptist Church on St. Helena Island. In February of 1986 Rev. C. L. Hanshew sent Elder and Mrs. Marion Taylor to serve as Special Project Missionaries. In September of 1986 the church, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, called Elder Taylor as the pastor.
Under Pastor Taylor's leadership, Vacation Bible School and Sunday School resumed in 1988; an Usher Board was installed, Revival was reinstituted in church programs and Lawrence Jenkins was installed as a Deacon and Trustee. In June of 1998 the church's Anniversary Celebration was resumed and in October of that year an annual Homecoming Day was established.
After years of dedicated service, Pastor Taylor retired in 1998. Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, Dr. Clarence Edmondson accepted the church's call to be the pastor in July of 1998. With the leadership and guidance of the Lord, the congregation increased and the church was able to achieve several accomplishments. In 1999 the church was incorporated and became recognized as one of the congregations of Baptists in the Savannah River Baptist Association. In 2000 Vacation Bible School and Children's Sunday School resumed under the direction of Sister Shirley McKenzie and continues today under the leadership of Trustee Cathy Dyer.
Friends & Family Day was added to the church programs. Twice a year, in the Spring and the Fall, Daufuskie Island Club assists the church with transportation so that friends and family members living on the mainland can attend worship service on Daufuskie. A benevolent fund was established to provide financial assistance to community members on Daufuskie Island in need and the church also began contributing annually to the Christine and Clarence Hanshew Offering for Associational Missions, in honor of Brother Hanshew's dedication and hard work in keeping the church open during a difficult period.
Gullah
Gullah (pronounced GULL-lah) is the language blending African and American English dialects that became a second language for African-born slaves, then their descendants' native tongue. "The Story of English" by Robert McCrum, William Cran and Robert MacNeil, says Gullah may be closer than any other American variety of black English to the original creole English of the New World and the lost pidgin English of the slave ships.
Hundreds of words derived from West African languages occur in Gullah. Some became common English sayings. A few, listed in the December 1987 "National Geographic," with African languages from which they might have come:
goober = peanut (Kimbundu)
gumbo = okra (Tshiluba)
hoodoo = bad luck (Hausa)
tote = to carry (Kongo)
biddy = small chicken (Kongo)
Storytelling
In 1986, Ronald Daise of Beaufort, S.C., wrote "De Gullah Storybook." Following is his tale, which might have been told centuries ago:
"De Gullah gone a plowin een de fiel e fambly own. Fus, e unhitch e hoss from weh hit beenna feedin all lone. Dat one lee hoss plow up all the dan de Gullah had. De Gullah gone home tyad to de bone, bot him been good en glad!"
Translated: "The Gullah went plowing in the field his family owns. First, he unhitched his horse from where it was feeding all alone. That one small horse plowed all the land the Gullah had. The Gullah went home very tired but very glad!"
Sweet grass basketmaking
Basketmaking is one of the nation's oldest art forms of African origin. Sea islanders wove baskets of sweet-smelling, pliable marsh grass to hold vegetables, cotton, shellfish, clothing. Fifty years ago, baskets cost 50 cents to $2.50. Today, the smallest sell for about $40, the largest for hundreds of dollars.
The New York Times reported in 1987 that when two Gullah rice baskets were taken to an African arts curator at the Smithsonian Institution, the curator inspected them and said they came from West Africa, between Senegal and Sierra Leone.
Painting window trim blue
This African custom was believed to scare off evil spirits. Sea islanders painted some rooms inside blue, too, to keep out spirits, called hags, during childbirth.
Food
Rice and greens, and rice with gumbo (okra) are among the Gullah foods linked closely to African cuisine.
Gullah cooking relies strongly on oysters, shrimp and fish. In the old days, seafood was caught with nets woven in West African-based patterns.
Daufuskie Island Front Porch
Daufuskie Island has its own monthly magazine. Check it out online at DaufuskieFrontPorch.com