Jekyll Island, the Cottage and gardens

Part 2 of my 3 part series on Jekyll Island will consist of history, the cottages and gardens on the island.

The Island had many different occupants over the years. The Creek Indians and Spanish were coexisting until the British attacked the island, destroyed the mission and drove off the Indians and Spanish.

Pirates such as Edward Teach, aka Blackbeard roamed the sea lanes to prey on coastal shipping.

In 1736 General James Oglethorpe established Fort Frederica on St. Simon's Island to the north. He named the island Jekyll in honor of one of his sponsors, Sir Joseph Jekyll.

During 1742-1886 the island had a working plantation farming cotton, rye and indigo. The cotton was called Sea island and was in high demand for its long strong fibers. Frenchman Christophe Poulain duBignon was the islands owner.

In 1886 the island was purchased for $125,000 by a group of northern millionaires with names such as Rockefeller, Vanderbilt, Morgan and Goodyear. The Club was formed and the island became their winter homes from New Years until Easter. Their Club House opened Jan 21, 1888 and was basically their hotel while enjoying mild winters. Here is the Club House today after extensive renovations. Visitors can stay at the hotel today.

Accommodations in the Club House became popular so members decided to create their own accommodations. Sans Souci, a building of 6 apartments believed to be the first condominium in the nation were built.

The olive color of the wood was really pretty against the blue sky.

In time each millionaire constructed a cottage for their family and friends. The cottages were considered simple with each one having 15-25 rooms! To us common folks, that would be a mansion! ha....

Here you see the Macy Cottage owned by the George Macy family. Mr. Macy was the president of the Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company which became the A & P grocery store chain.

The Mistletoe Cottage was owned by US Congressman Kirke Porter from Pennsylvania whose company built locomotives.

William Rockefeller owned Indian Mound Cottage. This 25 room house has exhibits for the Island museum. Many of the original furnishings have been left in place.

du Bignon Cottage was owned by Eugene du Bignon. This was his home during his prosperous plantation era before he sold the island to the Club.

The Crane family was in the plumbing fixture business so their Crane Cottage had 17 bathrooms! Glad I don't have to clean those suckers. Today the Crane Cottage is used as a hotel having 13 guest rooms.

We did not stay there but the entire historic district is open to foot traffic so we checked out the garden in the back of the Crane Cottage with it's Italian Villa look. Reflecting pools are at either end of this beautiful patch of grass.

Guest of the Crane Cottage had fresh flowers on each table on the patio over looking the above garden. Ah, a nice touch don't you think?

Faith Chapel is in the Gothic style. Two more chapels almost identical to this one are located in Lake Placid, NY and Mare Island, CA. The chapel has stain glass from Louis Comfort Tiffany. Only the best for the elite you know...

As you stroll along the winding paths of the cottages, you cannot help but notice all the beautiful plants and flowers because they are everywhere! Ah, what beauty to a gardeners eyes. What is that funny looking thing below? A coconut?

Nope, just the center of this plant. I don't really know my Tropical island plants so I will not even try to guess, well, maybe a palmetto of some type. Eve, you are near the coast, can you tell us this pretty plants name?

Here is a scary gargoyle that I should save for a Halloween posting as it is so scary looking. He is guarding Faith Chapel and believe me with him and his 5 siblings, they surely keep the evil at bay.

More beautiful tropical foliage in lush colors of green.

Small gardens can be found in nooks and crannies along the pathways of this beautiful historic area.

Pretty pink blossoms were trailing up a light pole. Maybe Mandevilla blooms?

Ah, what pretties do we have here? Lets go in for a closer look...

Aren't they just lovely?

I have shown you a hand full of the many renovated cottages and beautiful plants and flowers on JEKYLL ISLAND. Tomorrow, I will show you a bit of the wilder side of things along with a few interesting facts, thus ending our 3 part series...