Friday
March 31, 2017
Mike's Birthday
Friday was a wonderful day spent with friends. We took a historic horse-drawn carriage ride through yesteryear where elegant mansions stand beneath moss-strewn oaks. This was followed by an excellent meal at the Plum restaurant. Ten of us ate and celebrated Mike's Birthday. We also celebrated our friend Linda Feldmann's Birthday. It was a great day overall.
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| On Thursday, we took Elwood for a hair wash and cut. While we were waiting for him, we passed the Beaufort National cemetery. In 1987 the remains of 19 soldiers from the all-African American Massachusetts 54th infantry were found on Folly Island and transferred to this cemetery. |
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| Beaufort National Cemetery. When we passed by they were placing the the most recently found WWII vet. Schlegel from Ohio, was found in France and had been missing over 70 years. |
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| The National cemetery also is the place of rest for 100 Confederate soldiers form the Civil War. |
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| Ate lunch at this very good restaurant on Thursday, while waiting for Elwood to get a cut and shampoo. We had Pulled Pork Stew soup. Tasted just like stew. |
Before the Civil War, Beaufort, S.C. plantations gained enormous wealth through the rise of Carolina Gold rice. Rice generally is grown in fresh water, but here in Beaufort they planted it in the salt water which changed it to a golden color. Beaufort became one of the wealthiest cities in what we today call the United States.
In November of 1861, the Battle of Port Royal established Union occupation of the area. Southern soldiers left Beaufort to fend for itself, so many of the wealthy landowners just left their estates to the Union. General Sherman established the mansions as hospitals and kept much of this history alive for us today.
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| Friends with us on the horse-buggy ride. |
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| Amazing estates |
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| This is one of the few buildings of its' kind preserved today. It is behind a large mansion and housed the kitchen, stable and quarters of slaves who ran the home. Many home owners had dogs which would bark, wanting some of the food as it was carried into the main house... the invention of the Hush Puppy came about and these were thrown into the yard to distract them. |
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| This beautiful building was built to entertain only. |
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| First African Baptist Church. Built after the civil war by freed slaves who purchased the land and built the church together. |
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| The pastel homes in the back were of original color. Women of the time protested by throwing eggs at the newly build homes but they remained the same. They believed a rich looking house should be white. |
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| Cemetery where many of the well known wealthy locals were laid to rest. |
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| Most of the old buildings we passed were made of Tabby and covered with stocco. |
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| As you can see, tabby is made from oysters. They say it's stronger than cement. |
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| We ended Friday evening with a wonderful celebratory meal at Plums. |
