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cmccormickarts346 · 14 days ago

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(ARTS346) Project Planning - Rewriting the Narrative & Research

Feedback from Class Discussion - Thursday, January 16, 2025

After Thursday's discussion about researching and creating an art book for this project, I realized that I may have been approaching it incorrectly. My original proposal, titled "The Grand Strand Project," was not well received by my professor because the concept felt too commercialized and lacked a personal connection to me.

As part of this course, students are required to write a narrative paper during the winter holiday. I conducted extensive research on the towns of the Grand Strand, intending to tell the story of each individual town through screen design, packaging design, and book design. The course encourages us to think creatively about how to tell a narrative. However, the initial narrative needs to be personal and meaningful to us.

Now that I understand this, I recognize that my narrative was too research-focused and too broad of a topic. Therefore, I need to go back to the drawing board and come up with a new idea. I plan to conduct research on a single beach town—Murrells Inlet—which I have a personal connection to, having lived there for seven to eight years. By focusing my research in this way, I hope to create a narrative that aligns better with the expectations for this semester-long project and will be approved by the professor during the second round of paper reviews.

Research, Research, Research! - Murrells Inlet, South Carolina

Potential topics to explore: pirate history and the pirate's den, fishing traditions and marinetime history, and ecology and salt marsh ecosystem.

Reason for Research: To learn more about an area I have lived in for almost a decade. I want to be more versed in the history and culture of the place and to better understand how these cultures have shaped me into who I am today. A more commercial reason would be to understand the current culture and traditions of the area and how this information can be used in various ways to improve local tourism to the area and from across the state.

Resources to Check Out:

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Pirate History of the Inlet

"Pirates were of that old breed of rover whose port lay always a little farther on...A little beyond the skyline" - John Masefield

Since the mid-1500s, the coasts of North and South Carolina have been popular spots for some of the most notorious pirates and privateers, including Stede Bonnet, Charles Vane, Henry Morgan, Calico Jack, and Blackbeard.

Spanish cargo ships transported their riches across the Atlantic, including gold, silver, and jewels. Pirates targeted these ships, flying a black flag with a skull and crossbones.

How do pirates begin? They often start as sailors who sign on to work on fishing or merchant ships, or they may join the navy. However, something occurs that drives them to become pirates. This could be a desire for more money, better treatment, or a way to escape the harsh realities of life at sea under various royal navies, such as the Dutch, French, or Spanish. Many saw piracy as a means of escape.

Pirates sought sanctuary in the backwaters of South Carolina, including Charleston, Bull's Bay Inlet, McClellanville, Murrells Inlet, Georgetown, and the inlets of North Carolina, as well as the Cape Fear River. These areas made it particularly challenging for royal navies to track them down. The barrier island system, which pressed against the mainland, allowed pirates to hide in the shallow waters of rivers and creeks. Many of these pirates grew up in the region, giving them an advantage with their knowledge of the local geography and terrain.

The South Carolina coast is characterized by an intricate network of marshes, creeks, and inlets that are too shallow for larger ships or vessels to navigate. Pirates often used lighter-draft ships, allowing them to easily enter and exit these inlets and camouflage themselves to blend into the swamps.

In most cases, pirates did not want to engage in battles with the crews of the ships they overtook, such as merchant vessels, because fights often resulted in death or injury due to cannon fire and musket shots. Instead, they relied on scare tactics to intimidate the crew, causing any resistance to falter before the pirates even boarded the ship. Pirates were not interested in sinking ships; they aimed to capture them.

Flag Imagery - The skull and crossbones were raised high to instill fear in potential victims, striking terror into their hearts. Black was traditionally used for pirate flags, while red was associated with the "bloody banner," each carrying symbolic meaning. Black represented death, and red represented blood. This imagery sent clear signals to crews of merchant ships, symbolizing what their fate would be if they resisted the pirates.

If the crew didn't have any particular investment in the cargo, they would likely have no interest in fighting when confronted by pirates. With no real reason to defend the cargo, they would be willing to surrender it without resistance, as the pirates would simply take whatever they could from the ship—there was no use in resisting. If the crew chose to put up a fight, they would be ensuring their own demise. In some cases, merchant crews were offered the chance to join the pirates, which often seemed like an easy choice. "These once law-abiding sailors become pirates." This was especially true if the crew members possessed certain skills or roles that were needed aboard the pirate ship. For example, when Blackbeard captured the Concorde, he took three surgeons and two of the surgeons' mates with him.

What would happen if the pirates engaged in battle? It was a bloody affair, often leaving the deck resembling a slaughterhouse. They attacked with swords—heavy blades designed not for fencing but for hacking and slashing. The fighting was chaotic, with no true hand-to-hand combat; it was simply a brutal slaughter of the opposing crew. When facing the royal navy sailors, the sailors would spread sand on the deck to absorb the blood, as the types of musketry and cannons used would make the deck slippery, complicating battle tactics.

Pirate ships were governed by a set of articles drawn up by the captain and crew—a strict list of rules signed by each crew member before the voyage began. This system outlined specific guidelines agreed upon prior to departure. The rules included details on how treasure would be divided and the specific amounts each person would receive. They also governed conduct onboard the ship, specifying that crew members were required to maintain their weapons and prohibited from keeping any written materials onboard. This was to prevent anyone from taking notes about others' actions, which could potentially be used against them in a later trial. Compared to the regulations aboard some navy ships or civilian merchant vessels, these pirate articles were relatively democratic.

Pirate ships implemented a form of workers' compensation that provided financial support to individuals who were injured during engagements. If a pirate lost an eye or a hand, they would receive cash compensation for their injuries. This was understandable, as they would no longer be able to serve as pirates and would need to transition back to life on land. The compensation would help them adjust and start anew.

Captains on pirate ships were chosen by the entire crew and could be removed at any time if the crew deemed it necessary. They could vote out a captain as easily as they voted him in, replacing him with someone else. It was not uncommon for pirate ships to go through several different captains during a single voyage. However, Blackbeard was an exception; he exerted an extraordinary amount of control, far more than a typical captain would over his crew.

If a crew member were to break any of the rules or articles, the consequences could be severe, including flogging, mutilation, hanging, being shot, or being marooned on a remote island or sandbar with no hope of rescue. The phrase "being made governor of an island" refers to being left on a distant shore with only a pistol and possibly a canteen full of water, having just one shot to end it all if one chooses to do so. For instance, Blackbeard himself marooned several men from his own crew near Beaufort, North Carolina, after he abandoned the "Queen Anne's Revenge" and split up his crew. This punishment is considered the worst fate a pirate could endure.

Blackbeard cultivated and promoted a persona of fear and terror. The mere mention of the name "Blackbeard" would send shivers down an enemy's spine. He was regarded as the embodiment of evil, and some even claimed he was the reincarnation of the devil himself. He is one of the most infamous pirates of his time, with many believing his real name was Edward Teach and that he hailed from Bristol, England.

Tall for his era, when the average person was significantly shorter, Blackbeard stood over 6 feet tall. His nickname derived from his impressive beard, which reached eyebrow level and extended down to his belt, tied up in braids. While he was not necessarily as successful as other pirate captains, such as Bartholomew Roberts—who is known to have taken over 400 ships—Blackbeard left a paper trail that can be traced back to early 1717.

His death in 1718 provides a year and a half of documented pirate activities, during which his name frequently appeared in various records. However, his pirate exploits could have begun even earlier. By 1717, he was already a ship captain and commander, indicating that he was likely sailing as a pirate even before that time and possibly serving as a captain.

In battle, Blackbeard would tie slow-burning cannon fuses into his hair, light them, and create a dramatic effect as smoke and flames encircled his face. This made him appear almost demonic in the heat of combat, terrifying sailors who were already very superstitious. He encouraged ferocious tales of his bloody exploits, often crafting larger-than-life stories that circulated widely throughout the coast of North and South Carolina and in port cities.

In many cases, it is extremely difficult to distinguish between what is real and what is fantasy. There was a wealth of folklore surrounding these pirates, especially Blackbeard, stretching from Charleston to Ocracoke. His own crew sometimes felt that Blackbeard was the reincarnation of the devil himself aboard their ship. They held a profound awe and fear of him, seeing him as a symbol of evil walking among them.

Blackbeard terrorized his victims to the extent that they were paralyzed with fear, completely unwilling to resist him in any way. He was so successful with psychological warfare that there is no documentation of him ever having to kill anyone—“which is amazing for a pirate.” He could take ships without losing any crew members in the process. His reputation was so well-known that he could recruit new pirates from the crew of any ship he attacked.

In early June of 1718, Blackbeard arrived at the entrance of Charleston Harbor with four ships and approximately 400 pirates. He blockaded the harbor for a week, preventing any ships from entering or leaving. Every vessel that attempted to navigate in or out was captured. This event is regarded as one of the largest pirate attacks ever to occur on the American coastline, marking Charleston as the first American city to be blockaded not just by a pirate ship but by an entire pirate fleet. Rather than demanding money as ransom, Blackbeard requested medicine. There is speculation that an outbreak of syphilis may have occurred onboard the pirate ships, prompting Blackbeard to seek a supply of mercury to alleviate the symptoms.

Additional things Blackbeard did to foster his reputation is he shot one of his own men through the kneecap. When asked why he did it, he stated, "If I don't kill one of you once in a while, you would forget who I was." A lot of the truth may have been hidden in "smoke and mirrors," so to speak, in which Blackbeard was trying to hide who he was and at the same time manifesting that reputation that scared many people.

In 1717, Stede Bonnet, a well-respected sugar plantation owner from the small West Indian island of Barbados, used his own resources to become a pirate. With ten guns and 70 men on board, he abruptly abandoned his life of wealth and comfort in pursuit of piracy. He said he made this drastic change due to "his nagging wife."

Bonnet earned a reputation as “a lightweight pirate,” attempting to escape his affluent lifestyle in Barbados. He was considered even more of an enigma than Blackbeard, as he lacked a compelling reason to become a pirate. He was a bored, young, wealthy man who had received everything he ever desired but longed for adventure and the excitement of being like the pirates he saw on the streets of Barbados.

Instead of capturing a ship, Bonnet bought a sloop, demonstrating his wealth by purchasing his own pirate ship. Many later considered him ridiculous, especially the pirates who heard about him. Bonnet approached piracy like he managed his plantation—by buying a ship and hiring a crew. However, the problem with Bonnet was that he did not fully understand what he was getting into; he was unaware of how pirate ships operated and did not comprehend the dangers of his lifestyle.

Males made up the majority of pirates, but some women sought the same adventurous and plundering lifestyle by disguising themselves as men and signing aboard pirate vessels. Anne Bonny and Mary Read are two of the best-known female pirates, and both fought with as much ferocity and bloodthirstiness as any male pirate. Historical records indicate that these women dressed as women while at sea, but they would dress in male attire when preparing to attack another ship. During the trials of captured pirates, victims of their attacks often testified about their experiences. While they described the male pirates as ruthless, they noted that the women—particularly Anne Bonny and Mary Read—were even more fearsome, with some claiming they exhibited borderline homicidal insanity.

In one of the stories, it's said that Mary Read feared for the life of her new lover, and because of disagreement, the couple had been called out to duel by a burly pirate aboard Calco Jack Rackham's ship. Read, fearing her lover's life, took matters into her own hands and, by challenging the troublemaker to a duel herself, demanded immediate satisfaction. Pirate law was very clear on the subject, stating the combatants to be rowed to shore, pistols were discharged, and they both missed. Mary paced herself in the clash of blades and waited for her adversary to make a mistake. When the sturdy seaman lunged at Mary, in which she sidestepped, causing him to stumble. He fell onto the sand and attempted to recover, Mary ripped open her shirt, and she revealed herself as a woman, which shocked him, causing Mary to swing and slice his throat, nearly taking his head off and killing him instantly. - Mary had a reputation before falling into the company of Anne Bon and Jack Rackham, in which she was a very effective fighter and used to work with weapons.

For a time, piracy was tolerated and even encouraged by public officials in the port cities of the Carolinas. Bargain prices were paid to local merchants for the ill-gotten gains looted from the high seas and brought back by pirate ships. Blackbeard's crew was known to roam the streets of Charleston, South Carolina, where they spent their hard-earned coins at shops and taverns. These pirates were big spenders, and the free money flow delighted local merchants, who eagerly reaped the profits.

The pirates typically spent their money on gambling, drinking, and prostitution. They would sell their loot to local merchants in backroom deals, mainly items from Spanish ports, often at rock-bottom prices. The merchants would then mark these items and sell them to local residents. The "gold doubloons" and silver pieces that were popular became a significant source of currency, similar to how the official coin in Charleston during the 1600s was Spanish currency, which had been brought to the area by pirates.

Officials were often in league with the pirates. Blackbeard was known to have shared his loot with North Carolina Governor Charles Eden to gain Eden's protection from the hangman's noose. Blackbeard once boasted that he was so well-known along the North Carolina coast that there was no home where he could not be invited for dinner. Eden maintained a very hands-off attitude toward dealing with the pirates, turning a blind eye to Blackbeard's activities and allowing him to continue his exploits.

Some government officials were not only turning a blind eye to illegal activities, but also actively engaging with pirates, participating in the liquidation of black market goods among the colonies.

As piracy continued to escalate, it became increasingly bothersome to local officials in the Carolinas. The number of pirates had grown to the thousands, leading to a significant disruption of transatlantic commerce at an uncontrollable rate. Commercial interests along the coast were being severely affected, as one ship after another was overtaken by pirates. Pirate activities and their vicious deeds were no longer welcomed on the coast of the Carolinas.

In 1718, over 2,500 pirates operated along the East Coast, disrupting commerce and causing significant financial losses for merchants. In response, merchants began to pressure local governments to take action against the pirates. Consequently, the Royal Navy was called in to eliminate this threat. During this time, Stede Bonnet sought a pardon from Governor Eden in Bath, North Carolina, as well as a private hearing letter from the Danish governor in St. Thomas, West Indies. Despite his efforts to abandon piracy, Bonnet returned to a life of crime.

In late November 1718, Stede Bonnet, now using the alias Captain Thomas, anchored his ship, the "Royal James," near the mouth of the Cape Fear River in North Carolina. An expedition led by Colonial William Rhett was dispatched from Charleston, ordered by the frustrated Governor of South Carolina, Robert Johnson. Two ships, the Nymph and the Henry, each armed with eight guns, were tasked with tracking down and eliminating the pirates in Cape Fear. During the confrontation, known as a six-hour battle, the ships clashed fiercely, and Rhett's crew suffered significant losses. Despite this, the pirates were ultimately forced to surrender, and Rhett's crew returned to Charleston with the captured pirates.

On September 27, 1718, Stede Bonnet's men were taken to Charleston and held in the public watchhouse. Bonnet, having been born a gentleman, was placed in his own quarters, though he was technically under house arrest in the sheriff's house. However, Bonnet managed to disappear before going to trial. According to the story, he and David Herriott escaped from the sheriff's house by disguising themselves in the sheriff's best clothes and the sheriff's wife's best attire. By the time the sheriff gathered Bonnet for trial, he had long since vanished and fled the city, making their way to Sullivan's Island. Eventually, Rhett recaptured Bonnet, while Herriott was killed. Bonnet was brought back to Charleston, where he was no longer treated as a gentleman and was thrown in jail.

November 17, 1718, Virginia governor Alexander Spotswood set out on a secret expedition under the name Captain Ellis Brand, in which his goal was to travel to the North Carolina coast, commanding the British Warship "Lyme" to sail to find and kill Blackbeard. He made it to the Oacrake inlet, waited a day after spotting the top of Blackbeard's ship, and engaged in a battle that resulted in a number of people dead on both sides; in the end, they defeated Blackbeard and his crew. It took 20 cutlass gashes and five pistol ball wounds; Blackbeard's head was severed from his body and suspended from the bowsprit of Maynard's ship. This was necessary to show that he was dead and to obtain the sum of money, as there were no cameras back then, and this was the only way to confirm the person was captured and dead. Blackbeard's lifeless body swam around Maynard's ship several times before disappearing into the depths.

Pirates from different ships who did not know each other often formed a strong sense of community. It was common for pirates to seek revenge against a governor or city if that governor or city played a role in harming another pirate or crew. Blackbeard himself would burn ships belonging to cities that executed pirates. Considering this, Governor Spotswood of Virginia was responsible for the death of Blackbeard. He needed to be wary that if he ever left the shore and ventured out to sea, and was captured by pirates, they might torture or kill him to avenge Blackbeard.

Back in Charleston, Stede Bonnet stood in disbelief as he pleaded for mercy while being sentenced by Judge Nicholas Trott. He was to be hanged to death, or as it was referred to, "to dance the hangman's jig." This execution would take place near the water where he and his fellow pirates had committed their crimes. It was traditional for pirates to be hanged for their offenses.

On December 10, 1718, a month after 29 of Stede Bonnet's men were hanged at White Point in Charleston, Bonnet himself was executed. His body was left hanging for several days as a warning to ships entering the harbor, intended to serve as a grim reminder of the fate that awaited those who turned to piracy. After his execution, Bonnet's body was buried in the marsh, somewhere between the high water mark and low water mark, and denied any Christian burial or ritual as part of his punishment. This ensured that in death, his soul would never find true rest.

The deaths of Stede Bonnet, Blackbeard, and many other pirates signified that the Golden Age of Piracy had ended along the inlets and creeks of the Carolina coast. These executions played a significant role in suppressing piracy, leading to the decline of this era. In the months that followed Bonnet and Blackbeard's deaths, piracy along the American coastline largely disappeared. Although pirate attacks still occurred, they typically involved only one or two ships at most. The days of organized pirate fleets capturing vessels along the American coast had come to an end.

In November 1720, two years after the deaths of Bonnet and Blackbeard, Captain Calico Jack was imprisoned along with Anne Bonny and Mary Read. His fate awaited him at the gallows in Port Fort, Jamaica. Before his execution, he was granted a brief visit with Anne Bonny, who had once been his lover. During their meeting, Bonny reminded him of the incident aboard his ship that had led to their imprisonment. They had been approached by a British ship off the coast of Jamaica, which recognized them as pirates, prompting a battle. Only two pirates were prepared to defend the ship: Anne Bonny and Mary Read. The rest of the crew was too drunk and cowardly to fight, hiding below deck as the battle unfolded. Bonny and Read fought bravely.

Bonny's final words to Jack were, "I am sorry to see you here, but if you had fought like a man, you need not be hanged like a dog." Both Anne Bonny and Mary Read escaped execution when it was discovered that they were pregnant. Mary died in prison and was buried in Port Royal. The fate of Anne Bonny remains uncertain, but it is believed she was never executed and may have ended up in South Carolina or Virginia.

In November of 1996, divers from Intersal Inc. were concluding their search for 18th-century shipwrecks off the coast of North Carolina. This area, formerly known as Topsoil Inlet, is where Blackbeard's flagship, "The Queen Anne's Revenge," was believed to have been lost in 1718. Unlike typical pirate ships, which were usually smaller sloops armed with just two cannons, the Queen Anne's Revenge was much larger and armed with 40 cannons, resembling a warship. However, this made the ship more conspicuous after the significant pirate campaign in Charleston Harbor, leading Blackbeard to sink the ship. After only 11 days of investigating the 18th-century entrance to the inlet, the divers discovered ballast stones, anchors, the ship's bronze bell, and a room-sized mound of cannons. The large number of anchors and cannons strongly suggested that this was indeed the Queen Anne's Revenge. The archaeology team confirmed this identification, though excavation efforts are ongoing due to the challenges posed by storms and hurricanes off the coast. To date, there is still no conclusive evidence that this ship is the Queen Anne's Revenge, but all circumstantial evidence points to it being the legendary vessel.

Bizarre Story of Blackbeard: after his death, a ceremonial drinking cup was fashioned from the upper half of his skull. The cup was plated in silver and was saved on the side, "Death to Spotswood." Some claim to have seen it, and some claim to have drunk from it. The cup was supposed to be used for fraternity drinking ceremonies, in which to join a fraternity, any brave soul must drink from the cup of Blackbeard to swear their oath. Similar to being paramount to the Holy Grail (or unholy grail). - the last known traces of the cup trace back to New England Personality Edward Rowe Snow, who alleged the cup was the skull of Blackbeard, the Pirate. But these descriptions of the cup didn't watch Judge Whedbee's descriptions, who was a writer and historian responsible for writing stories and legends of piracy along the Carolina coast. He had a complete skull (except a bone jaw), in which Judge Whedbee's cup was just the top portion of the skull, starting just below the eye sockets. It was also disproved that the skull didn't belong to Blackbeard, as it was too small for someone over 6 feet tall and weighed 250 pounds, and it wasn't covered with silver, but silver paint. It was eventually confirmed that Edward Rowe Snow got the skull from a random lab and painted it with silver radiator paint. The only skull the public has that was believed to have belonged to Blackbeard is now a hoax. - it is believed that either the skull is somewhere unknown being used as a silver drinking up with the words engraved "death to Sportswood" or that the skull has disintegrated and suffered a beating when being hung off the ship back in 1718.

The legends of pirates continue to grow even 300 years later. The fascination with pirates today stems from the adventurous attitudes they embodied. Their stories and legends endure, showcasing larger-than-life characters who embraced a sense of daring adventure. There is an element of heroism in their tales, where good and bad characters face off in epic battles. These bold, colorful, and ruthless pirates, along with their crews, are said to still roam the seas in search of endless treasure and boundless adventure.

Additional Information from the Marshwalk.com: "Pirates who became local legends include Edward Teach, also known as Blackbeard because of his coal-black beard, and Drunken Jack, who was left behind on an island with a huge stash of stolen rum (and died with a smile on his face)."

Fishing traditions and Maritime History - The Historic Fishing Village

"Murrells Inlet Historic District is a quiet resort community spreading along the edge of a saltwater creek and marsh in Murrells Inlet, South Carolina."

A lot of restaurants have popped up just west of U.S. Highway 17 bypass, right next to the historic district.

Murrells Inlet Historic District contains approximately nineteen houses. Although they exhibit some diversity, the prevalent use of wood as a building material, the large screened porches, and the setting of moss-draped trees, marshland, and piers provide a visual unity.

"History in our community began writing itself long before this area was officially named Murrells Inlet by the post office in 1913."

"The origin of this name remains a mystery with theories resting in passed-down legends of pirates and fishermen and incomplete records of landowners, plats and maps."

"People who summered in Murrells Inlet in the 1800s generally traveled by steamboat and docked at the Wachesaw River Landing.

"The river steamboats were known for excellent food and many of the steamboats’ cooks settled in Murrells Inlet, giving the area a reputation for savory cuisine long ago."

Franklin "Snakeman" Smalls, a local oysterman from Murrells Inlet, recalls, "My first paid job in Murrells Inlet was working for Mr. Lucy and Jim Billy at the old Sunnyside Restaurant. I started there washing dishes when I was nine years old. After that, my daddy took me into the creek to pick oysters, and ever since I stepped into that water, I’ve never left the marshland." He continued, "My daddy had a flat-bottom wooden boat, which they called a Flatbottom Skiff back in the day. We would go in what they called the Bay near Drunken Jack Island. We also used a flamboat when we first started. Before that, the Waccamaw Indians taught the black people how to use a walk pan, which sat on the boat. By the light of the fire, you could see under the water what they called 'dark knight.' The moon would break up the light, and that was the best time to go."

Twenty-seven tribes of Native peoples were located along the Skulligichi Corridor from North Carolina to Florida. "That is your bedrock, and we cannot forget that."

"We are a blend of new cultures, shaped by our diverse backgrounds and the stories of our ancestors. Each of us contributes to a collective identity that has emerged from these various heritages, particularly highlighting the significant influence of West African cultures in our communities, as they represented a large portion of the population for an extended period.

"These places are built by real people facing real-life circumstances. The challenge lies in understanding how these narratives can help communities maintain their unique cultures while also educating others about the reasons these places exist. Additionally, it's important to explore the influences and impacts these communities have had on the rest of the country and the world."

Suzy Mclntyre (SC Native, Inspirer of Rum Gully Tales): "One of the first times I remember being out and it was during the time of World War II, when they had crash boats in Murrells Inlet because they had what is now the Myrtle Beach airport. It was a place where they were practicing firing targets and targets were over along Garden City. - we were out in a boat and all of a sudden you never knew when [the military] they would come and practice. We were out there, and they started firing. We needed to get in as fast as we could because they saw our boat, and we could have been hit."

Franklin "Snakeman" Smalls, a local oysterman from Murrells Inlet, recalls, "Back in the 60s, there were two yellow barracks, right there army barracks. Me and my bother, ordered by Tom Jr., my cousin Jim Nesbitt, and Joe Vereen, toured the barracks. All there was was a big mug flap. The only boat here was the Thunderbird number one captain. My buddy bought the Thunderbird number two in 1960 something. It had three engines, he took one engine off (the middle engine) and left the starboard in the port because fuel prices were so high back then."

Suzy Mclntyre (SC Native, Inspirer of Rum Gully Tales): "Back in the early days, people had these big rowboats. They held a man that would row, and in those days the boats didn't need to be registered, but everybody had their initials, the man's initial, on the front of the boat. My grandfather's name was John Gasquet, and he had J.O.G on the front of his boat so he could identify his boat. And they would row out fish and they would row back in. They'd row out to what is now Garden City, there was nothing over there. They'd go over there and spend the day and have a picnic."

Tom Hora (Grandson of Genevieve Wilcox Chandler): "My first memories would be probably 62-63, and it was paradise. And that little island over there was, what I'd call it, "Granny's Island," and as kids we'd walk across. You could actually walk across during low tide, get on the island, and we would think we were somewhere in Africa."

Leon Rice (Director, Preserve Murrells Inlet): "We use to go fishing on the Ann Howe, just because it was next door to Oliver's Lodge, and we didn't do so much deep sea fishing as we did fishing around the inlet. You know, staying inshore."

Franklin "Snakeman" Smalls: "When I started picking oysters in 1959, for DJ Nace, old man Harvy man's son, we were getting 97 bushels, and I picked for him until he passed away. Then I started picking oysters for his daddy, old man Hobby Man. I picked oysters for him, I worked for him until he passed, and I went to his son, Paul Nance. I ran the oyster business there at Nancy's Creek Front Restaurant for 25 years. I ran that business. From then to now, back in the days we didn't have much boats, diesil engine or gas engine out in this inlet. We use to go out and pick eighty to ninty to 50 bushels of a tide. But since all the gas engine and diesil, thats what really killed a lot of our product in the marshland. We've got good product, but its not as much as it been back then. But a person can still go out now and make an honest living."

Al Hitchcock (Owner of Drunken Jack's): "I go back a long way. I was one of Mr. Wilcox's earliest patrons as far as the Hermige, because my father was a friend of Mr. Wilcox. He worked for him in Marion when he was a child, and he would sit down at the Hermige on the poarch, and he would tell us about, naturally, Alice and other stories and other stories about the Inlet. We would go crabbing right over here on the government dock about half way out in between the stations where the boats dock. I remember crabbing there when I was about six years old. Those are my first memories of the Inlet."

Rick Baumann (Founder, Murrells Inlet Seafood): "1967 about June, I was fortunate enough to have a job at the Airforce base Marina, right up the street from here. Every morning I would get up before daylight and go to all the seafood markets to get flounder heads for crab bait, and come down to the docks and there would be sixty crab traps on the docks ready for me to take yesterday's bait out and put today's bait in. As the tide came it, I would go out on the Inlet, take 30 traps at a time, and spread them out in the proper places. We caught many many crabs, and we sold them for a $1.75 a dozen. The locals thought we were too high."

Chris Conklin (Owner of Seven Seas, Commercial Fishing Fleet Owner): "My first memories of Murrells Inlet was when I was five years old, and I went oystering with my father, and I guy name Too Tall Willy, and we picked a lot of oysters. Of course, I didn't do much of it, but we picked a boatload. These days, my favorite thing about being in the creek is taking my children out, letting them swim, play, build sand castles out at the point. They are probably old enough where they can do a little fishing, so we like to go out and mess around. I took my son out a month ago, and caught his first fish, in which he managed to catch eighteen more after that at five years old.

Alex Sing (Volleyball Coach, Murrells Inlet Native): "I remember walking toward the Inlet when Dad's head boat was coming in. Seeing the boats, all the people that were waiting for them to unload the fish and you know just really the excitement that it would build, the smells that would be involved with. You know, the noise from the engines and just all the fun stuff as a kid you're like wow, this is pretty special. You know, it was not unusual to have two to three hundred people out there watching the boats come in. The cap maleks came to the Inlet in 1967, and I remember there were several Head Boats. You have the Captain Bill, the New Inlet Princess, etc. I lot of these boats that were going and fishing and running Head Boats, whether it be full day or half day and it just seemed like there were probably at least a dozen Head Boats at that point. Plus, you had your charter boats that would go more for the sport fish like the sword fish or sailfish and Marlin that kind of thing. So there were a good many charter boats at that point too. Then you mix in the commercial fisherman. The commercial fisherman that were going out didn't seem to be quite as many back in that day. There were more head boats, and then it kind of transitioned a little bit to more of the commercial fishing boats that would go out for multiple days at a time. Now coming back to being out in the inet more and you're seeing fewer and fewer of the boats that are actually making their living off of what we do here in Murrells Inlet."

Captain Everette Silver (Commercial Captain & Fisherman): "In Murrells Inlet I was in my teens the first time I went out in the Inlet. I use to hang out with a budy of mine name Budro. He showed me a creek for the better part of the three years we fished together. We started off together and he showed me how to tie my knots and stuff. We'd go out in the creek and pick oysters and claims and have stainless oysters and make claims casinos and fun stuff like that with food. We still go dive at Jetties for flounders. Free dive and shoot it when its clear, good eating of course."

Amanda Giambi (Conservation & Ecology Major, Coastal Carolina University): "I love seeing all the different species, like the baby flounder that float around, and you can see them grow over time. I love being able to go out there freely and paddle board and look into the water and how clear it is because that's something that brings people in not even just locals but tourists."

Adelle Joyner-Short (Teacher, Longtime Local Resident): "I moved here in 1980 just to stay for one summer, and of course the rush of the summer crowd and everything, and I decided to stay. It didn't hit me until about three years in how precious this place was. There was no place like it. It was quiet, the people here were lovely, I had a way to make an income that I enjoyed and was proud of. I waited tables for a lot of nice people in places that served amazing food."

Gary Weinreich (Retired Environmental Engineer): "My first memory was meeting my son, who was going to Horry Georgetown Tech, for lunch at one of the restaurants along the Marshwalk, not long after it was developed. It was calm and peaceful, and a person that looked like a grandfather with his grandson came up in a boat and tied up and I said this is just ideal. This is just an ideal the nature and the establishments along the Marshwalk were very impressive to us. Where it was originally intended to improve the economy, and give the opportunity to appreciate the nature, I don't see the nature element as much as we use to. That part of it is not balanced with the economic aspects."

Bailie Willis (Sustainability Major, Coastal Carolina University): "I had been to Murrells Inlet with my family for

Key properties contributing to the character of the historic district:

Sunnyside: one and one-half story beaded weatherboarded cottage built ca. 1850 by J. Motte Alston as a winter home for himself; three-bay facade with central tetrastyle portico, four-paneled pillars stand on four paneled pedestals to support pediment, tall tympanum pierced by central window with pedimented architrave, pedimented architrave motif repeated on central door and single windows flanking architrave, two central interior chimneys, central hallway leading to the rear stair-hall with an oval mahogany staircase.

The Hermitage: one and-one-half story weatherboarded Greek Revival cottage built ca. 1848 as a summer home for Dr. Allard Bel in Flagg; five-bay facade with central tetrastyle portico, solid wooden columns supporting a pediment, shingled tympanum with a central oculus, front door with multi-light transom and sidelights, two interior chimneys with hooded brick caps.

Buxton: ca. 1925, two stories, frame with shiplap siding, one story screened porch on southwest elevation, frame outbuilding.

Tuck 'Em Inn: 1914, one story, frame, weatherboarded, porch across southeast and southwest elevations, property includes frame servants' house.

Ecology and Salt Marsh Ecosystem

Murrell Inlet Wildlife - Sea Turtles, Birds, Alligators, Fish, Crustaceans, and Mollusks

this Murrells Inlet has retained its unique character of untouched marshland, antebellum estates, and resort cottages.

natural setting featuring trees draped with Spanish moss and the tranquil marsh with its wildlife remains much as it has since the nineteenth century.

trees surround the houses, and the live oaks and cedars noted in a mid-nineteenth-century description of the area are still common today.

Most of the buildings overlook the creek and marshland to the east, and since the creek and marshland provide the essential setting, a substantial portion of this area has been included in the potential historic district.

The marshland has played an integral part in the historical development of Murrells Inlet. Because of the natural setting, two antebellum planters located their estates here, and later, the surroundings drew twentieth-century vacationers who sought a relaxing retreat.

Although the pattern of land use has changed, certain natural aspects of life on the marshland have been enjoyed by residents for over 100 years.

For example, Jacob Motte Alston wrote that when Ke lived at Sunnyside, "the deep creek in front of the house [contributed all the fish, oysters, clams, crabs, shrimp, etc." that the household needed.

A description of Murrells Inlet written in 1941 reported, "The fishing is unusually good, and one has only to wade into the shallow water to pick up oysters, crabs, and clams. Today, the piers extending into the saltwater creek and the clam diggers seen at low tide testify to the continuing value of the marshland for the community.

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