The Breeze DECEMBER 2019

P. 8 & 18 Dolfus’ Lament
P. 42 New Year’s Resolutions
1

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3

You know, there never seems to
be enough time in the day to
get everything you want done.
I have never met anyone who
said, “I have nothing to do.”
Except I remember the time
when I was a young kid and
would tell my mom that I
was bored and had nothing
to do. Her response was,
I’ll give you some chores
to do. I would tell her, I’m
not that bored, but she still
made me do the chores.
Even stay-at home parents don't stay at home and run out
of time. Getting the kids up and feed them breakfast, and pack
their lunch. Marshal, can you let the dog out? Once they are off
to school the real work begins. You have to do laundry, clean up
messes, let the dog in, wrap Christmas presents, and then decide
what to do for dinner. Let the dog out again, pick up Michele and
drop her off at dance lessons, then dash to pick up Brannen and
Jaron and take them to soccer practice, Retrace steps and pick
them up and go home. Let the dog in. Stop Jaron from pulling the
dogs tail, turn off the TV and make them do their homework, give
Mom a call and begin dinner. When Dad comes home he still has
stuff to do like, let the dog out, read the newspaper, watch the
game, fix a drink, and put the kids’ bikes away. Who’s turn is it to
feed the dog? Now it’s family time at the dinner table. Ask the
kids what they did that day. Never a dull moment at this house!
Brannen, put your phone down and finish your homework, Jaron,
it’s your turn to clear the table, and Michele, will you help me wash
the dishes? Whew, and that’s not the half of it.
Even Grandma and Grandpa don't have enough time in the day to
do what they want to get done. Have you ever wondered why they
call it retired? Does that mean you are tired and then get retired?
Reynold, are you going to get those brakes fixed today? I need to
get cat food and check the mail after my hair appointment. Oh,
honey, do me a favor. Those bushes need trimming in the front of
the house, I won’t be back to make your lunch as I have my bridge
club and then after that I’ll take Willene home. Don’t forget, we
get the grandkids this weekend so clean the house a bit and empty
the kitty litter. You may have to cancel your pickle ball game. Sure
sweetie, right after I go to the gym and check in on old George to
see how he is doing and get a haircut. While you are at the store
pick up the latest Breeze!
Well, I guess I should stop whining. I’ve got more time than I think.
I guess I will go Christmas shopping!
By the way, we have some really great stories this month. Now
that The Breeze is on the street I have plenty of time to do nothing.
Maybe! Don’t forget to tell our advertisers where you saw them,
and if they are not in The Breeze tell them they should be. Enjoy
and read on.
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Hulya Bakca
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
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John Samuel Graves III, Patricia Branning
Frank G. Schuetz Jr., Tom Poland
Andrew Peeples
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Copyright 2019. Subscriptions are available at a cost of $65
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4

CONTENTS
DECEMBER 2019, VOLUME 17, NO. 12
FEATURES
08 An Unforgettable Character
14 Globetrotter’s Christmas
18 Dolfus’ Lament
32 Christmas by the Sea
34 Musical Anchors in Christmas Tradition
38 Christmas Traditions
40 A Holiday Gift Guide for Everyone
Dolfus’ Lament
42 New Year’s Resolutions
44 The Kids are Alright
45 Living in the Present Vernacular
New Year’s Resolution
DEPARTMENTS
08 History
14 Environment
22 Your Corner
24 Tide Chart
26 Golf Course Guide
28 Over the Bridges
3o Restaurant Guide
32 Food
34 Music
36 Fellowship
38 Lifestyles
44 Comedy
45 Architecture
On the Cover: Christmas Tree
5

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7

An
Unforgettable
Character
By Andrew Peeples
Everyone has an unforgettable character tucked away in his
memory. Mine was an old Negro man named Dolphus
Blake. He couldn’t read or write, but from him I learned
more about some of the important things of life than from all of
my college professors put together.
Of course the things I learned from old Dolphus were not things
one learns from textbooks. They were the intangibles that make a
man what he is, things like patience, moderation, loyalty—things
one never inherits or buys, but obtains simply by practicing them.
I said that Dolphus couldn’t read or write. I hasten to amend that.
With a great deal of effort he could write his name, which he
learned to do after he was a grown man. “Nobody,” he said, “didn’t
had no ‘scuse not to know he own name when he see ‘em.” The
name he knew, however, was not Dolphus Blake, it was Edward
Blake. Proudly he explained that his parents named him Edward.
“Other people,” he said, “tack Dolphus on me when I a boy.”
Dolphus had the true pride of an intelligent Gullah Negro.
He looked with contempt upon bad-mannered people, young
or old, white or colored. To him there were only two strata in
human society. One was made up of people who were kind and
considerate of their fellowmen. The other included everybody
else, and Dolphus referred to then as “de common run of white
and colored folks.”
8
Dolphus Blake was born on Bull Island and lived there and
on the nearby islands of Barataria and Hilton Head before he
moved to Bluffton. He married a Hilton Head girl whom he

called Blossom and they had two sons, both of whom
were grown when I knew Dolphus.
A fisherman by nature and by necessity, Dolphus owned
a homemade bateau. It leaked copiously and constant
bailing was required to keep it afloat, and it couldn’t have
been heavier if it had been built out of lead. But some
of the most distinguished citizens of Atlanta, Savannah,
Charleston, Columbia and other Georgia and South
Carolina cities often endured and enjoyed a full day of
fishing or hunting with Dolphus Blake in his clumsy
craft.
Dolphus was a commercial fisherman. His bateau with
himself at the oars was for hire to anybody who wanted
to fish or shoot ducks and marsh hens. His flexible fee
was always “any ting you wanna gimme.” If he was grossly
underpaid, as he often was by “de common run of white
folks,” Dolphus remembered his face and voice, and the
next time he called on Dolphus to take him in the river,
Dolphus was “sick.”
When Dolphus took a liking to someone, as he did to me,
there was no fee for his services. “Some folks,” he said,
“is good fuh money an’ some is good for comp’ny. You
come under de headin’ of comp’ny.” I was honored to be
considered a kindred spirit to a proud man like Dolphus
Blake.
For many wonderful years old Dolphus and I were often
together, fishing, shooting ducks and marsh hens, and,
best of all, just sitting in his boat talking quietly. But is
wasn’t altogether through the medium of talking that
Dolphus was my teacher. In truth, he never knew or
suspected that he was teaching me anything, except how
to catch a fish or find a hiding marsh hen. I learned by
observing and imitating the things in him I admired so
much.
No man on earth knew any better than Dolphus that
“time and tide wait for no man.” Often his heavy bateau
would be left high and dry and he would have to drag and
push it through sand and mud and marsh grass before we
could float it. When I complained that we were going to
be too late to fish if we didn’t hurry and get the “d— old
boat” in the water, Dolphus would stop dead in his tracks,
straighten up to his full six feet, look me straight in the
eye and say, “Cap, you young, an’ you gots to learn hurry
ain’ get you nowhere cep de grave.”
Once on a fishing trip Dolphus caught six bass before I
hooked one. “I don’t understand it,” I grumbled. “We’re
using the same bait and the same kind of rig.”
“Yeah, Cap,” said Dolphus, us using de same bait, an’ de
same rig, but us ain’t usin’ de same patience. You so hurry
you jerk de hook out de fish mout’.”
9

(Above) Dolphus caught the shark by the tail and flung it overboard, and almost instantly the wind and rain ceased.
I caught the next strike.
It took me a long time to begin to learn what Dolphus
knew about patience. I say begin, because I know that I
shall have to keep on learning patience as long as I live.
But through the years I have made a conscious practice,
and I know that I have at least learned that “hurry ain’ go
get you nowhere cep de grave.”
In the days that I knew Dolphus, I had a zest for life that
made me overdo a lot of things. I had to learn to work
and play with moderation. In Dolphus Blake I found the
very personification of that word. Dolphus was one of
the healthiest men I’ve ever known. His endurance was
incredible. But he never let his strength run away with
him. He knew when to rest, and especially when to say,”
No thank you, I got ‘nough.” By always staying on an even
keel himself, my mentor taught me the folly of getting off
balance.
As for what I learned about loyalty from Dolphus I can
best explain it by relating a little incident in his life.
One day Dolphus and another colored man were hired
to load a truck with cattle and haul them to Savannah.
On the way, the truck was stopped and the two men were
arrested and charged with stealing the cattle. They denied
the charge, but refused to tell who hired them to load and
haul the anamals. They were locked up in a county jail and
told they would remain there until they decided to talk.
A tape recorder was concealed in the cell with the two
men. The next morning when it was played back to them,
Dolphus and his companion were shocked to hear their
voices repeating the “private” conversation the night
before, with Dolphus naming the cattle thief, a white man
well known in Bluffton.
But in his unintentional betrayal, Dolphus had also
recorded his loyalty.
”Mr. M -- mighta steel dem cows,” his voice whispered
from the speaker, “but a fine gentleman like him ain’ go lef ’
us in no jail fuh rot, and I ain’t tellin’ nothin’ if I stay heah
till Jedgment Day”.
Yes, it was easy to learn about loyalty from a man who felt
that way about his friends.
Dolphus had a deep reverence for God and nature. He
believed that God wanted him to enjoy himself here on
Earth. But he also believed that the Almighty had put
certain restrictions on man’s relations with other creatures.
One time I was tempted to shoot a buzzard that kept
circling low over our boat. Dolphus was horrified. “Cap,”
he said, “don’t you never kill one dem bird. God put ‘em
on dis eart’ to do a special job, an’ a man ain’ spose to had
nothin’ to do wid ‘em.”
“Well,” I said, “what’s he nosing into our business for?”
10

“Cap,” Dolphus said, “he ain’
nosin’ nothin’ but dem swimp up
dey under the bow. I forget to
take ‘em out de boat yestiddy an’
he done gone and an spile.”
Another time, when we were
fishing near the ocean where
sharks were plentiful, I decided to
have a little excitement. Dolphus
watched me put a small fish
on my hook. “Cap,” he begged,
“please, suh, don’ bring no sha’k
in dis boat. I knowed a man did
once, an’ he drown in a squall
‘fore he get back home.”
...the things I learned from
old Dolphus were not things one
learns from textbooks...
like patience, moderation,
loyalty—things one never
inherits or buys, but obtains
simply by practicing them.
he said, straightening up as best
he could and looking me straight
in the eye, “us had some good time
together. Us meet again some day.
We will too!
Editor’s note: This story has
been reprinted by permission By
permission from Andrew Peeples’
daughter, Mildred Peeples Pemberton.
I laughed and went ahead and caught my shark, a six-foot
shovel-nose, and Dolphus swore that something terrible
was going to happen.
And so it did. While we were crossing Calibogue Sound
on our way home, a squall swooped down from nowhere
with all the fury of a full-blown hurricane, tossing our
boat around on mountainous waves like a matchbox in
a laundry tub. Dolphus caught the shark by the tail and
flung it overboard, and almost instantly the wind and rain
ceased.
See dey, Cap!” cried Dolphus. “Soon’s I give ‘em back to de
water dem waves quiet right down! Don’t never bring no
sha’k in no boat no mo’ long as us live!
Never again did I fish for a shark with Dolphus in the
boat. I caught a few when he wasn’t along. But I must
confess, not without a bit of trepidation in my heart and
a watchful eye skyward for the first sign of a squall cloud.
Two years before Dolphus Blake died, something
happened in his family life that gave him a deep, longlasting
hurt. It was his secret pain, and until the very last
he bore it alone.
At sight of me his eyes would still brighten as they had
always done, but then he would lapse into an attitude of
indifference toward all the things that once gave us so
much pleasure together.
The last time I saw him, about two weeks before he died,
we sat together on his upturned bateau and talked for
a long time. He had been seriously ill in a hospital and
seemed to know that his days were numbered. He said
he would never be able to go fishing again. “But Cap,”
Edward “Dolphus” Blake
11

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13

GLOBETROTTER’S CHRISTMAS:
CELEBRATING DIVERSE TRADITIONS
AROUND THE WORLD
By Michele Roldán-Shaw
Philippines
As the only Asian country with a predominantly
Christian population (80% Catholic due to Spanish and
Portuguese influence), Christmas is a big deal in the
Philippines. They start celebrating September 1st and
keep it up until January 6th, Feast Day of the Three
Kings—the longest Christmas season in the world!
Shopping malls blare the yuletide melodies of crooner
Jose Mari Chan (basically the Filipino Bing Crosby) and
people deck the halls with abandon. Their signature
ornament is the parol, a star lantern made from
bamboo poles and colored paper lit from within, which
signifies the star that guided the Wise Men. For a week
they attend Simbang Gabi, Holy Mass at dawn, and true
to their Latin Catholic roots they hold Noche Buena, a
midnight feast on Christmas Eve. Most impressive of
all, they have their very own Santa R-Kayma Klaus!
This Filipino citizen of Irish descent has been going on
Christmas cheer missions to poor communities since
the 1970s; he has a long white beard with rosy cheeks
and little spectacles, and even owns his own reindeer
farm stocked with tropical species like blackbuck
antelope and chital deer.
Armenina
In this Eastern European nation, New Year’s comes first
and Christmas second. That’s because Christ’s birth was
originally celebrated in early January, until the fourth
century when the Roman Catholic Church moved it to
December 25th in order to usurp older Pagan winter
solstice festivals. But the Armenian Apostolic Church
adopted Christianity before that—in 301 AD, making it
one of the oldest Christian communities in the world—
so to this day they hold Christmas on January 6th.
Some Armenians observe a week-long fast in advance,
breaking it Christmas Eve with a light vegetarian meal
that may include nevik (chard and chickpeas), tanabur
(yogurt and bulgur soup) and rojik (whole walnuts
threaded on a string and coated in grape jelly). But the
next day they go all out with their richest fare: cured
meats, cheeses, stuffed cabbage leaves and a special
cake into which they bake a coin or button—whoever
finds it in their slice has good luck all year long. The
holidays don’t end for Armenians until January 13th,
another throwback to the old New Year of the Julian
calendar created by Caesar.
14

the jaw bones of two blue whales. In times of yore
people had to do all their shopping at the same few
stores in Stanley (the only city, pop. 2,108), meaning lots
of folks got identical gifts and wore identical Christmas
pajamas. But now they can order things off the internet!
They just have to finish all their last-minute shopping by
October so things actually arrive in time.
Trinidad and Tobago
Brazil
Tropicalia is the flavor of Christmas here. It’s hot
hot hot and folks go to the beach. As a former
Portuguese colony, Brazil follows many familiar
customs including nativity scenes and plays. But
they add their own twist: there’s always a lady who
tries to steal Baby Jesus! Their Santa is known as
Bom Velhinho (Good Old Man), and if you leave out a
sock he will exchange it for a gift. It helps that most
Brazilians get a “13th month salary”—double pay in
December! This annual economic stimulus package
has been in place so long it never even occurs to
Brazilians that other countries don’t have it. Still,
trying to get gifts for extended family members
coming in from all over this enormous nation is so
overwhelming that many Brazilians favor the Amigo
Oculto approach (their equivalent of Secret Santa).
Like good Catholics they attend Missa de Gallo (Mass
of the Rooster) at midnight on Christmas Eve, but
the next day they mainly just chill and eat leftovers.
Falkland Islands (UK)
8,000 miles away from their mother country,
residents of these remote outposts in the South
Atlantic have to adapt their Christmas traditions
in accordance with geographic constraints. For
example, Santa arrives in a big yellow Sea King
helicopter, delivering gifts to families of isolated
sheep farmers in “the camp” (local name for the
furthest most rural islands). Being in the Southern
hemisphere, Christmas takes place in summer—a
great day to barbeque lamb! Christmas Eve caroling
is done outside the Christ Church Cathedral under
the Whale Bone Arch, a lovely structure made from
It’s time to get CRAZY! The Trini who goes from house
to house tearing it up with their song and dance routine
is sure to be rewarded with plenty of libations. But they
ain’t singin’ no Silent Night—it’s all about the parang!
This bangin’ dance floor blend of Caribbean soca, South
American folk tunes and cheesy Christmas songs is truly
original; the name parang is derived from the Spanish
word parranda, which means a partying spree. But first
everyone has to clean their entire house, repaint it, hang
new curtains, buy furniture and install new appliances—
that’s how seriously they take their Christmas decorating.
The holiday meal is likely to include turkey, ham, sorrel,
ponche-de-creme (egg nog), pastelles (tamales), ginger
beer and homebrew wine, plus Trinidadian fruitcakes
made with raisins soaked in cherry wine and rum for
several months in advance. Party on!
Democratic Republic of Congo
In a country where three quarters of the population lives
in abject poverty, Christmas is very uncommercialized.
Most people won’t get any gifts. But that doesn’t mean
they don’t hold the spirit of Christmas dear to their
hearts. They decorate palms and mango trees, go doorto-door
caroling, and reunite with family. Children run
through the street in their new Christmas outfits—those
whose families are fortunate enough to buy them one.
And they make Christmas feasts in whatever manner
they are able, perhaps with a goat or chicken they’ve
been raising all year for the occasion (the only meat
they’re likely to have until next Christmas), or maybe just
with rice, okra stew and “fufu,” a thick sweet yam paste.
Despite the various native religions, most Congolese are
Christian, and Jesus’s birthday is a highly spiritual event.
Churches with multiple choirs put on elaborate plays
that last all night long Christmas Eve, covering the entire
Biblical spectrum from Creation and the Garden of Eden
clear through the traditional nativity. When the play is
finally over, they go straight to morning service with yet
more singing! Now that’s dedication.
15

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18
Dolfus’ Lament
by
John Samuel Graves, III
Edward “Dolphus” Blake was a very well known
and well liked Gullah Blufftonian back in the 1930s
and 1940s. He lived at Alljoy with his wife, Blossom,
and their son, Ed. Except for his name, Dolphus
could neither read nor write, but he was famous
for dispensing loads of colorful and practical
folk wisdom. Please read the previous article
in this month’s Breeze by Andrew Peeples, An
Unforgettable Character, for a detailed depiction
of Dolphus’ personality and his impact on his
fellow travelers in Bluffton. Be sure to read about
his views on the two kinds of people in this world!
Visitors often came to Bluffton looking for a good
time out on the river and for oyster roasts and fish
frying parties. Dolphus, by reputation, was the “go
to” man for such activities. He knew all the good
fishing spots, and at parties he would even play
the concertina. (Maybe only one song—over and
over again!) Many local residents could recount
stories about Dolphus and their adventures with
him. Andrew Peeples was not the only member of
his family to be profoundly affected by Dolphus. So
were his brothers, Phillip and Luke.
This article is about Dolfus’ Lament, one of Luke
Peeples’ (who knew Dolphus) most original songs.
The song uses authentic Gullah dialect and the
rhythms of the song come directly from the rowing
of a flat bottomed batteau on the rivers around
Bluffton by a long experienced and able boatman.
The subject was of course, Dolphus Blake. (Luke
spelled the name Dolfus, possibly because that is
how Dolphus himself spelled it.)
Our story begins on December 7, 1941—with the
bombing of Pearl Harbor. The U. S. Government
(called “Uncle” by Dolphus) very quickly prohibited
all nighttime activity on the rivers, especially fishing

with a light. That immediately affected Dolphus who
made his living on the river. He was very distressed
about the news.
In those days Bluffton was a very small town and
residents often congregated at the Post Office to
visit, exchange news and gossip. One day shortly
after the “Uncle’s” edict, Luke Peeples and others
were waiting at the Post Office for it to open
when Dolphus showed up and started to complain
bitterly about what “Uncle” had done—about how
difficult it was going to be to feed and clothe his
family, about how his blood pressure had begun to
rise, and about how Blossom and Ed were “tot’n a
frown.” Luke, paying close attention, as he always
had, recalled and arranged the words later while
reflecting about “Dolfus’ fix.”
The melody is original to Luke, the rhythms are
catchy and complicated. The harmonies are
sometimes dissonant or unexpected. The piece is
in F# minor, alternates between 6/8 and 4/8 time,
and uses all three forms of the minor scale: the
natural minor, the melodic minor, and the harmonic
minor. Luke also used a whole tone scale in sections
and at the end. (A whole tone scale is scale with
all the notes being a whole tone apart. There is no
beginning or end as with the usual scales and keys.
One can begin anywhere on the piano and proceed
with whole tone intervals as far as one wishes.)
Edward “Dolphus” Blake
Dolphus is the 4th from the left standing in the back row. The first man standing is Woodrow
(Woodie) Graves. The second standing from the left is John S. Graves. Jr. In the middle row 6th from
the right is Florence Rubert Graves
19

20

When Luke composed the music for his song he imagined Dolphus rowing his heavy batteau towards the shore
to put it up. (In Bluffton a batteau was often called a “bad-o.”) It took a strong man to row one of these boats—
sitting or standing—and it took an even stronger man to beach one! Dolphus was up to the task. The rhythm of
the rowing occurs throughout the song. The words to the song are below.
Laud, I’s get’n’ hungry. Mos’ naked too; Can’t zakly figguh wut Uncle duh-do:
No mo’ giggin’ wid a light, no mo’ fishin’ in duh night;
Lawd, high blood duh pleg me, high feevuh, too. Dizzy spell’ wuss by wut Uncle duh
doo. Blossom an’ Ed, dem tot’n a frown, callin’ me lazy fuh set’n down.
“Laud, de oystuh bed duh bulge,” dem say, “why you doanh put on yo’ boot?
Duh shipya’d ain’ so fa’ away: If a pig eat, ain’ ‘e mus’ root?”
Laud, I ain’ no day han’, I nevuh wuzz, sun make muh head swim an’ all my nuv
buzz.
Blossom an’ Ed, dem stressin’ me now,
let’n’ udduh folks tell dem how fun go all aroun’ me, ovuh muh head.
W’en I ani’ wukkin, dey radduh me, radduh me,—radduh me dead!
Dolphus would stutter, especially when he got
emotional or when he dared talk of his own mortality.
That, too, is in the song. When he studders “radduh
me dead!” at the end of the song, Luke used a
whole tone scale to represent Dolphus shoving his
boat ashore.
Postscript: When members of the armed services arrived
in Bluffton to enforce the “do nothing on the water after
dark” prohibition, Dolphus got to know them quite well.
Eventually, he decided to risk slipping out past them on
the waters at night as he had done for years. The soldiers
recognized that it was Dolphus and just fired warning
shots over his head.
Artistic expression, whether it be graphic or a musical
composition, often attempts to capture and preserve
real life events, along with much of the emotion expressed
in the moment—and the meaning of that moment.
Luke Peeples always tried to do just that. In this
way he hoped to preserve some of Bluffton’s unique
gifts to the world. He was a true “Bluffton original” and
I hope that his works will be treasured for a long, long
time.
Anyone interested in more information on Luke Peeples
and Dolphus Blake may visit my websites: graveshouse.
org and astarfell.com. Please read the book, A Gullah
Psalm, The Musical Life & Work of Luke Peeples, by
Estella Saussy Nussbaum & Jeanne Saussy Wright. Information
on how to obtain that book and Luke Peeples’
published musical works is on my websites. Luke’s music is
copyrighted by LP Collections, LLC.
Luke Peeples
21

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Golf Courses- Hilton Head Island
Designer, Course
Yds*
Rating*
Atlantic Dunes
Sea Pines
Davis Love III 7,000
74.3
Bear Creek
237 Whooping Crane Way
Country Club of Hilton Head
70 Skull Creek Drive
Dolphin Head
56 High Bluff Road, Hilton Head Plantation
Rees Jones 6,804 75.2
Rees Jones 6,919 75.2
Gary Player 6606 72.7
George Fazio
2 Carnoustie Court , Palmetto Dunes
George Fazio
6,873
73.9
Golden Bear
100 Indigo Run Drive
Jack Nicklaus
7,014
74.9
Harbour Town Golf Links
Sea Pines
Heron Point
100 N. Sea Pines Drive
Oyster Reef Golf Club
1555 High Bluff Road
Pete Dye 7,099 75.6
Pete Dye 7,103 74.9
Rees Jones 7,005 74.7
Robbers Row
Port Royal Golf & Racquet Club
George W. Cobb &
Willard C. Byrd
6,657 73.3
Robert Trent Jones
7 Trent Jones Lane, Palmetto Dunes
Trent Jones &
Roger Rulewich
7,005
74.7
Shipyard Golf Club
45 Shipyard Drive
George W. Cobb 6,878 73.2
26

Golf Guide
Golf Courses- Bluffton & Okatie
Belfair Golf Club
200 Belfair Oaks Blvd, (843) 757 0715
Berkeley Hall Club
366 Good Hope Rd, (843) 815 8494
Colleton River Plantation Club
60 Colleton River Drive, (843) 837 3131
Crescent Pointe Golf Club
1 Crescent Pointe Dr, (843) 292 7778
Eagle’s Pointe Golf Club
1 Eagle Pointe Dr, (843) 757 5900
Hampton Hall Golf Club
89 Old Carolina Road, (843) 837 3131
Designer, Course
Tom Fazio: East
West
Tom Fazio: North
South
Jack Nicklaus
Pete Dye
Yds*
6,936
7,129
Rating*
74.4
75.3
Davis Love III 6,738 73.1
Pete Dye
7,204
7,254
6,936
7,129
Arnold Palmer 6,733 n/a
6,731
75.1
77.2
76.1
74.7
76.9
Hilton Head National Golf Club
60 Hilton Head National Dr, (843) 842 5900
Gary Player
Bobby Weed
7,503
72.7
Moss Creek Golf Club
1523 Fording Island Road, (843) 837 2231
George Fazio: South
Tom Fazio: North
6,885
6,555
73.4
72.5
Island West Golf Club
40 Island West Drive, (843) 689 6660
Clyde B. Johnston
Fuzzy Zoeller
6,803 73.2
Oldfield Golf Club
9 Oldfield Way Okatie, (843) 645-4600
Pine Crest Golf Course
1 Pinecrest Way, (843) 757 8960
Rose Hill Golf Club
4 Clubhouse Drive, (843) 757 9030
Greg Norman 7,142 75.4
Rocky Rocquemore 7,489 n/a
Gene Hamm 6,961 74.1
Sun City Golf Club
672 Cypress Hills Dr, (843) 705 4057
Mark McCumber: Hidden Cyprus
Mark McCumber: Okatie Creek
6,946
6,724
73.2
71.9
*Ratings for the longest tees
27

OVER THE BRIDGES
BLUFFTON
Dec 6: Town of Bluffton Christmas Tree Lighting
Ceremony 5:30pm; The Tree-Lighting ceremony
will take place at DuBois Park located at 67
Lawrence Street in Bluffton’s Historic District.
Dec 7: Town of Bluffton Christmas Parade 10am;
The Bluffton Christmas Parade will begin Saturday
at the corner of Bridge and Pritchard Streets.
Parade participants will make their way along the
parade route and end in Bluffton Park at the corner
of Pin Oak Street and 8th Avenue.
Dec 7: Christmas Cookies, Hot Cocoa & Stories
with Santa 12pm; This event will directly follow
the Bluffton Christmas Parade. Santa will be ready
for people to join him at the Chamber around
12pm. The “door fee” for children is the donation
of a new toy, which will be donated to charity.
Christmas cookies & hot cocoa will be provided for
all guests. Bring family and friends. Santa will have
special stories for the little ones!
Dec 7: Holiday Tree Lighting Festival 5pm - 7pm;
Help us kick off the holiday season with our annual
Holiday Tree Lighting Festival! Join us in the Tanger
2 courtyard on Saturday for an evening of dancing,
holiday singalongs, prizes, cookies & cocoa, crafts,
all leading up to the lighting of our tree! We’ve even
heard that snow may be in the forecast...
Dec 7-21: Seventh Annual Holiday Boutique
10am - 5pm; Artists of the Society of Bluffton
Artists (SoBA) are creating original, one-of-akind
handmade gifts for the 7th annual Holiday
Boutique. 8 Church Street.
Dec 14: 2nd Annual Bluffton Coffee & Chocolate
Fest 12pm - 4pm; Sample and savor the
Lowcountry’s best chocolates and coffees at
Bluffton’s 2nd Annual Coffee and Chocolate Fest.
It’s every coffee-and chocolate-lover’s dream come
true, and it’s happening right here in Bluffton! Old
Town Bluffton, Calhoun St, Bluffton.
Dec 24: Christmas Eve Under the Stars 6:30
pm - 7:30 pm; A family-oriented worship service
presented by St. Andrew by the Sea United
Methodist Church in cooperation with First Zion
Missionary Baptist Church. The service includes a
brief message, carols and the lighting of candles
under a Christmas night sky. Seats are limited,
please bring a lawn chair. Located at Bluffton
Factory Oyster Park 63 Wharf St., Bluffton
HILTON HEAD ISLAND
Dec 2-30: Farmers’ Market 9am - 1pm; Shopping
at the Hilton Head Farmers Market is about more
than getting great food.Every Tuesday at the
Coastal Discovery Museum.
Dec 6-9: Historic Holidays on Hilton Head Island
A weekend of Sea Island traditions, featuring
authentic food, historic church experiences,
holiday market, trolley and bike tours, ancestry
research and a community tree lighting.
Dec 6: Winter Wonderland Festival 4pm - 8pm;
Free admission! The festival provides a safe
environment for families to start their Holiday
celebrations! Everyone is welcome! There will be
carnival games, children’s parade, golden candy
cane hunt, and much more. Located at Shelter
Cove Community Park 39 Shelter Cove Lane,
Hilton Head Island.
Dec 13: Hilton Head Choral Society’s Sounds
of Christmas Concert 7pm - 8:30pm; Come
28

celebrate the Christmas season at the Hilton
Head Choral Society’s annual holiday concert.
The concert will feature the 85-voice chorus with
orchestra and promises to capture the joy, magic
and effervescence of the holiday. Tickets are $25 -
$40 for adults and $10 - $15 for children and may
be purchased online or at the door, if available.
Located at at First Presbyterian Church, 540
William Hilton Parkway.
BEAUFORT
Dec 3-5: Festival of Trees Various Times; The
festival will be celebrated at Tabby Place in
downtown Beaufort with tree viewing Tuesday,
Dec 3rd, Wednesday, Dec 4th, and Thursday Dec
5th. The Gala will take place Thursday, Dec 5th. For
information go to www.fochospice.org.
Dec 7: Snow Day 10am – 1pm; Bring the kids to
enjoy playing in the snow, building a snowman, or
having snowball fights… in real snow! Located at
Live Oaks park in Port Royal
Dec 8: Beaufort Christmas Parade The biggest
parade in Beaufort brings in several thousand
spectators and streches throughout downtown.
Dec 7: Annual Night on the Town Celebration
6pm - 9pm; This opening of the holiday shopping
season takes place on the closed off streets of
downtown Beaufort with a Christmas street party.
Shops will stay open late. The evening features the
City of Beaufort’s Tree Lighting Ceremony.
Dec 14: Port Royal Christmas Golf Cart Parade
6pm - 9pm; The parade is a chance to showcase
your carts decked out with festive decorations
and compete for “Best in Show”. Stay tuned to our
Facebook page!
SAVANNAH
Dec 1-7: Holiday Paint Party and Photos with
Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus. 11am - 3pm; Bring
your little ones for a holiday paint party and
photos with Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus from the
Pooler Lions Club at Painting With A Twist studios
in Pooler and in Savannah.
Dec 6: Tybee Island Christmas Parade & Tree
Lighting 6:30pm - 9:30pm; Tybee Nighttime
Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting! Festive floats
and spirited parade participants will fill the streets
of Tybee Island. Parade starts at Butler Ave and 8th
St. Ends at Tybrisa St and Strand Ave.
Dec 7-28: The Forsyth Farmers’ Market 9am -
1pm; Each Saturday the Forsyth Farmers’ Market
opens, rain or shine, at the South End of Forsyth
Park in Historic Downtown Savannah.
Dec 7: Savannah Bridge Run 8am - 10am;
Savannah Bridge Run is a 1-day event being held
on December 7 at the Savannah Civic Center in
Savannah. This is a racing event which starts on
Hutchinson Island.
Dec 14: Handel’s Messiah Concert 7:30pm -
9:30pm; The church choir will sing Handel’s
masterpiece, Messiah, with orchestra. Located at
Wesley Monumental United Methodist Church.
Dec 21: Trustees’ Garden Christmas Festival
11am - 7:30pm; Trustees’ Garden presents the first
winter holiday event crafted for our community
with 100% chance of snow! The Christmas Festival
at Trustees’ Garden will be a safe, fun event filled
with activities for all ages!
29

30
BLUFFTON
May River Grill**
1263 May River Rd.
(843) 757-5755
Toomers’ Bluffton Seafood
House
27 Dr. Mellichamp Dr.
(843) 757-0380
The Village Pasta Shoppe
10 B, Johnston Way
(843) 540-2095
Agave Side Bar
13 State Of Mind St.
(843) 757-9190
Alvin Ord’s of Bluffton
1230 A, May River Rd.
(843) 757-1300
Bluffton BBQ
11 State Of Mind St.
(843) 757-7427
The Bluffton Room
15 Promenade St.
(843) 757-3525
British Open Pub
1 Sherington Dr. #G
(843) 815-6736
Buffalo’s at Palmetto Bluff
1 Village Park Square
(843) 706-6630
Cahill’s Chicken Kitchen
1055 May River Rd.
(843) 757-2921
Calhoun’s
9 Promenade St.
(843) 757-4334
Captain Woody’s
17 State Of Mind St.
(843) 757-6222
Corner Perk
1297 May River Rd.
(843) 816-5674
The Cottage
38 Calhoun St.
(843) 757-0508
Downtown Deli
1223 May River Rd
(843) 815-5005
Farm
1301 May River Rd.
(843) 707-2041
Fat Patties
207 Bluffton Rd.
(843) 815-6300
Giuseppi’s Pizza & Pasta
25 Bluffton Rd., Ste. 601
(843) 815-9200
Grind Coffee Roasters
7 Simmonsville Rd. #600
(843) 422-7945
HogsHead Kitchen • Wine Bar
1555 Fording Island Rd., Ste. D
(843) 837-4647
Jim ’N Nick’s Bar-B-Q
872 Fording Island Rd.
(843) 706-9741
The Juice Hive
14 Johnston Way
(843) 757-2899
Katie O’Donald’s
1008 Fording Island Rd. #B
(843) 815-5555
Local Pie Bluffton
15 State Of Mind St.
(843) 837-7437
Longhorn Steakhouse
1262 Fording Island Rd.,
(843) 705-7001
Mellow Mushroom
878 Fording Island Rd.
(843) 706-0800
Mulberry Street Trattoria
1476 Fording Island Rd.
(843) 837-2426
Okatie Ale House
25 William Pope Ct.
(843) 706-2537
Old Town Dispensary
15 Captains Cove
(843) 837-1893
Peaceful Henry
181 Bluffton Rd #A101
(843) 757-0557
The Pearl Kitchen and Bar
55 Calhoun St.
(843) 757-5511
Pinchos
30 Malphrus Rd #102
(843) 757-4599
Pour Richard’s
4376 Bluffton Pkwy.
(843) 757-1999
Red Stripes
Caribbean Cuisine
8 Pin Oak St.
(843) 757-8111
Salty Dog Bluffton
1414 Fording Island Rd.
(843) 837-3344
Sippin Cow
36 Promenade St.
(843) 757-5051
Southern Barrel Brewing Co.
375 Buckwalter Place Blvd.
(843) 837-2337
Squat ’N’ Gobble
1231 May River Rd.
(843) 757-4242
Truffle’s Cafe
91 Towne Dr.
(843) 815-5551
Twisted European Bakery
1253 May River Rd., Unit A
(843) 757-0033

DON’T
MISS
RICHARD’S
Amazing, Nightly Creations
(by an Award-winning Chef)
Dinner 5:30 until 10pm
Tuesday through Saturday
R ESE R V ATIONS 843-757-1999 ENC O U R A GED
HILTON HEAD
Alexander’s
79 Queens Folly Road
(843) 785-4999
Annie O’s Kitchen
124 Arrow Rd
(843) 341-2664
Beach Break Grille
24 Palmetto Bay Rd, #F
(843) 785-2466
Bullies BBQ
3 Regency Pkwy
(843) 686-7427
Charbar Co.
33 Office Park Road, Ste 213
(843) 785-2427
Charlie’s L’Etoile Verte
8 New Orleans Road
(843) 785-9277
(843) 681-2772
CQ’s Restaurant Harbour Town
140 Lighthouse Rd, Unit A
(843) 671-2779
Dough Boys Pizza
1 New Orleans Rd
(843)-686-2697
Ela’s On The Water
1 Shelter Cove Lane
(843) 785-3030
Fat Baby’s Pizza and Subs
1034 William Hilton Pkwy
(843) 842-4200
Fishcamp at Broad Creek
11 Simmons Road
(843) 842-2267
Flora’s Italian Cafe
841 William Hilton Pkwy, Ste 841
(843) 842-8200
Frankie Bones
1301 Main Street
(843) 682-4455
The French Bakery
28 Shelter Cove Lane
(843) 342-5420
Gringo’s Diner
1 N Forest Beach Dr, Unit E-5
(843) 785-5400
Hudson’s Seafood House
on the Docks
1 Hudson Rd
Java Burrito Company
1000 William Hilton Pkwy, Ste J6
(843) 842-5282
The Jazz Corner
1000 Williamn Hilton Pkwy, Ste C-1
(843) 842-8620
Lucky Rooster Kitchen + Bar
841 William Hilton Pkwy
(843) 681-3474
Michael Anthony’s Cucina Italiana
37 New Orleans Road
(843) 785-6272
Old Oyster Factory
101 Marshland Road
(843) 681-6040
Ombra Cucina Rustica
1000 William Hilton Pkwy,
Suite G2
(843) 842-5505
One Hot Mama’s
7A Greenwood Dr
(843) 682-6262
Palmetto Bay Sunrise
Cafe
86 Helmsman Way
(843) 666-3232
Pomodori
1 New Orleans Rd
(843) 686-3100
Porter & Pig
1000 William Hilton Pkwy
(843) 715-3224
Red Fish
8 Archer Rd
(843) 686-3388
Relish Cafe
33 Office Park Rd, Unit 216
(843) 715-0995
Ruby Lee’s
19 Dunnagans Alley
(843) 785-7825
Sage Room
81 Pope Ave., Ste 13
(843) 785-5352
Santa Fe Cafe
807 William Hilton Pkwy
(843) 785-3838
Skull Creek Boathouse
397 Squire Pope Road
(843) 681-3663
The Studio
20 Executive Park Rd
(843) 785-6000
Sunset Grille
43 Jenkins Island Rd
(843) 689-6744
Trattoria Divina
33 Office Park Rd, Ste 224
(843) 686-4442
Vine
1 N. Forest Beach Drive
(843) 686-3900
Watusi Cafe
71 Pope Ave
(843) 686-5200
Wise Guys
1513 Main St.
(843) 785-8866
31

Christmas By the Sea
All is Merry and Bright
By: Patricia Branning, Food Author
Christmas Orange Italian Cream Cake
½ cup Plugra butter, softened
½ cup shortening
2 cups sugar
5 large eggs, separated
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup buttermilk
1 cup flaked sweetened coconut
Yields 3 layers
Grease and flour 3 9-inch round cake pans.
32
Crisp apples, crunchy leaves and a cool nip in the air are sure
signs of Christmas in the South. Signs are everywhere now
as our landscape changes from verdant greens to vibrant
yellows, reds and oranges. Marsh grass takes on a golden
glow as winter begins to unveil its chilly grasp.
Amid all the hustle and bustle of the holidays, there is a
moment when Christmas happens. It may be the arrival
home of a loved one from far away, the sound of carolers
in the street or the twinkle of lights on a Christmas tree.
Scents of fresh cut magnolia leaves and sweet cedar always
bring a rush of memories of Christmas past. The smell of a
wood fire burning is sometimes all it takes to remind me of
the joy of the holiday season.
It’s easy to love holiday time in the Lowcountry - a time
when local oystermen wearing their white boots head out
to the rugged mud flats along the river banks each day.
Our farmers’ markets overflow with salt-misted Brussels
sprouts still on the stalk, turnips, kale and spinach in perfect
testimony to the bounty of our winter season.
It’s a time to make the table as celebratory as possible,
remembering that food is the soul of the gathering.
“A party without a cake is just a meeting.” Julia Child
Whenever I need a cake for a special occasion, I turn to
my favorite recipe for Orange Italian Cream cake. It makes
the perfect statement and is absolutely delicious. This
particular version of the cake is tried and true and is a
wonderful tradition. The tangy orange curd between each
layer makes it extra special. Try decorating it with sprigs of
rosemary or sugared fruit.
Beat butter and shortening at medium speed with an
electric mixer until light and fluffy. Gradually add sugar,
beating well. Add egg yolks, 1 at a time, beating until well
blended after each addition. Add the pure vanilla extract
and beat until thoroughly combined.
Take out a large bowl and whisk together the flour and
soda. Gradually add this to the butter mixture alternately
with the buttermilk, beginning and ending with the flour
mixture. Beat on low, blending after each addition. Stir in
the sweetened coconut.
Beat egg whites until stiff peaks form. Fold into the batter
and pour evenly into the 3 greased and floured pans. Tap
each pan gently on the counter to remove any air bubbles.
Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes until a cake tester
inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in pans on
wire racks.
Spread about ¾ cup chilled orange curd between layers
and on top of the cake.
Chill the cake in the refrigerator overnight. This will help
keep the layers in place while spreading the frosting over
the sides.
Optional: sprinkle ½ cup toasted coconut over the top of
the cake.
Fresh Orange Curd
1 cup sugar
¼ cup cornstarch
2 cups orange juice
3 large eggs, lightly beaten
¼ cup butter
1 tablespoon grated orange rind
Yields 3 cups

Combine sugar and cornstarch in a large saucepan. Whisk
in the fresh orange juice.
Next whisk in the lightly beaten eggs and bring the entire
mixture to a gentle boil while whisking constantly, about
5 minutes over medium heat. Continue to cook while
whisking for another minute or two until the mixture
reaches a pudding-like thickness.
Remove from the heat, and add the butter and whisk until
melted. Stir in the grated orange rind. Pour into a small
dish, cover and chill overnight or for about 6 hours.
Cream Cheese Frosting
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese
½ cup butter, softened
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 (16-ounce) package powdered sugar
Yields about 4 cups
Beat cream cheese, butter and vanilla at medium speed
with an electric mixer until creamy and smooth.
Gradually add powdered sugar on low speed until
combined.
Spread on sides of the cake.
Use a kitchen scale to divide the batter in order to have
even layers. Weigh while batter is in the pans.
When a recipe calls for separated eggs as this one does,
separate them before bringing them to room temperature
and they will separate easier.
Smooth tops with an offset spatula.
Check cakes early by setting timer for 5 minutes earlier
than the recipe states and test for doneness. This avoids
overbaking.
After removing from the oven, wait about 5 minutes and
invert the cake out of the pan and onto a wire rack to cool
completely.
This cake will keep in a cake saver refrigerated for up to 4
days. Bring to room temperature for at least an hour before
serving. Enjoy!
Sugared Fruit for Decoration (Optional)
egg white
superfine sugar
fresh berries and grapes
Lightly beat egg whites. Gently brush fruit with egg white
and roll fruit, cover in the egg white, into the sugar until
entirely coated.
Place fruit on a drying rack for at least 2 hours.
Cake Baking Tips:
Have ingredients at room temperature. That means the
butter, eggs, milk - everything.
Creaming room temperature butter and sugar aerates it,
giving your cake that light texture. Adding cold milk or
eggs will solidify the creamed butter and the result will
not be good. Cream butter and sugar thoroughly. Mix for
several minutes until light and creamy.
Never substitute a liquid fat when a solid fat is called for.
Scrape the bowl. As you mix cake batter, bits of flour or
butter can hide on the bottom or sides of the bowl. Stop
the mixer from time to time and scrape the bowl with a
silicone spatula.
No matter what shape pan you use, grease, and flour pans
and line with parchment. Grease first, then fit the bottom
with a piece of parchment paper. Place the paper in the
pan and grease the parchment. Add flour to the pan and
tip until the bottom and sides are floured. Shake out any
excess. This does not apply to Bundt pans. Shortening
works best for greasing pans.
Patricia Branning: Southern Author
“My corner of the South will always be known as the
land of shrimp, collards and grits - a land of gracious
plenty, where everyone is darlin’, strangers say “hello”
and someone’s heart is always bein’ blessed.”
Southern author Pat Branning has created 7 coffee table
cookbooks about our Southern lifestyle, each filled with
delicious recipes, stories and fine art from the creeks and
gardens of the Lowcountry. Pat is the former Women’s
Editor for WSB radio, Atlanta, where she broadcast daily
programs on food and entertainment. She has lived and
worked in Beaufort, Hilton Head and Bluffton for the
majority of her life. Books are designed and published
by her son, Andrew Branning, a noted publisher and
photographer responsible for the food and landscape
images in the books. His work may be viewed at Branning
Fine Art, 3 Market Street in Habersham, Beaufort.
www.patbranning.com
www.andrewbranning.com
33

Musical Anchors in Christmas Traditions
By Frank G. Schuetz Jr.
Handel’s “Messiah” and Tchaikovsky’s “The
Nutcracker” are anchors to Christmas tradition
and anchors to classical music. They accompany
the Christmas holidays to provide a nuanced
soundtrack not found in more popular styles of
music. And they keep us in touch, year after year,
with the classical form of music in these modern
times, when increasing attention is focused on
modern forms of music. The two works seem polar
opposite in classical form but serve remarkably
similar functions.
34
“Messiah” is an oratorio. This choral work tells a
religious story in multiple movements of music in
the way an opera tells a story, but without acting
or scenery. The story is revealed through the lyrics.
In the specific case of the “Messiah,” the story lies
at the basis of Christian belief – beginning with the
need for a Savior of humanity due to the sins of
Adam and Eve, the arrival and life of the Savior, and
the return of the Savior at the end of days. All of the
words used in the oratorio are quotations from the
Bible. The “Messiah” was first performed as a piece
related to the Easter holiday and then later became
associated with the Christmas holiday. The most
recognized portion is the “Hallelujah Chorus.”
Pytor Ilyich Tchaikovsky
George Frederic Handel
Oratorios and operas were the most popular form
of entertainment during the Romantic Period of
classical music, with “Messiah” having been written
during this period in 1741, in English, and first
performed in Dublin, Ireland.
“The Nutcracker” is a ballet. The musical aspect of
this orchestral piece is intended only to support
the dance movements. The most often heard
version is an extract of musical parts known as “The
Nutcracker Suite.” The ballet reveals a fanciful

38 TH
SEASON
19
20
HHSO.ORG
Christmas event, in the mind of a child, with toys
coming to life and journeying through imaginary
lands. The story is told through the ballet dance
movements and scenery without the use of any
words. It has always been pertinent to the Christmas
holiday because of the story content. Tchaikovsky
was hired to create the music behind a story that
had already been written and the dance moves
already choreographed. Although Tchaikovsky
was unhappy with the result of his own effort, “The
Nutcracker” is known to many as one of the most
beautiful musical works in history.
Ballet is a form of entertainment with performance
dance at its core, very much unlike the oratorio.
The story for the “The Nutcracker” originated as
“The Nutcracker and the Mouse King” by E.T.A.
Huffman, and the choreography was developed in
1892 with the music having been composed late
in that year. Composers of ballet music of the time
were regarded more as craftsmen than artists.
Although these two popular works are worlds
apart in form, they nonetheless both keep us in
touch with classical music. In some cases “The
Nutcracker” at Christmastime may have served as
the very introduction to classical music for some
young people. Every year portions of the musical
pieces are repeated over the airwaves via radio
and television in holiday advertising, ringing in
the upcoming holiday season. People go annually
to see or participate in performances of Handel’s
“Messiah” in churches all over the world. And
with ballet performance companies receiving
significant portions of their annual revenues from
performances of Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker”
due to its popularity, theater goers continue to
enjoy live performances of the ballet. Perhaps the
most unique characteristic shared by these two
works is the enjoyment of live performances, with
television broadcast of their entire performance
content not commonly found.
HHSO
CONCERT LISTING
OPENING NIGHT
Sun, Oct 20, 2019 • 5pm | Mon, Oct 21, 2019 • 8pm
RACHMANINOFF & FRANCK
Sun, Nov 17, 2019 • 5pm | Mon, Nov 18, 2019 • 8pm
A VISIT FROM ST. NICHOLAS
Sun, Dec 1, 2019 • 5pm | Mon, Dec 2, 2019 • 8pm
DVOŘÁK & BARTÓK
and BEETHOVEN’S 4TH
Sun, Jan 12, 2020 • 5pm | Mon, Jan 13, 2020 • 8pm
MOZART & SAINT-SAËNS
and MONTGOMERY’S STARBURST
Sun, Jan 26, 2020 • 5pm | Mon, Jan 27, 2020 • 8pm
SUPERHEROES!
Sun, Feb 9, 2020 • 5pm | Mon, Feb 10, 2020 • 8pm
GRIEG & Vaughan WILLIAMS and
ELGAR’S ENIGMA VARIATIONS
Sun, Feb 23, 2020 • 5pm | Mon, Feb 24, 2020 • 8pm
WAGNER & RIMSKY-KORSAKOV
and BRAHMS‘ DOUBLE CONCERTO
Sun, Mar 22, 2020 • 5pm | Mon, Mar 23, 2020 • 8pm
GRAND FINALE: ELIJAH
Sun, Apr 26, 2020 • 5pm | Mon, Apr 27, 2020 • 8pm
Subscriptions/tickets are available at hhso.org or
by calling 843-842-2055. All concerts held at First
Presbyterian Church on William Hilton Pkwy.
35

FELLOWSHIP
AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL
Cambell Chapel A.M.E.
25 Boundary Street, Bluffton
843-757-3652
Sunday School 8:45am
Worship:10am
Queen Chapel AME Church
114 Beach City Rd, Hilton Head
843-681-3315
ASSEMBLY OF GOD
Bluffton Assembly of God
Hwy 170 & Argent Blvd. (next to ESPY)
843-379-1815
Sunday: 10:30am Wednesday 7pm
BAPTIST
Cornerstone Church Bluffton
843.757.3472 cornerstonebluffton.org
Sunday School: 9am
Worship: 10:30am & 6pm
First Zion Baptist
Wharf Street 757-3128
Sunday School: 9am
Sunday worship: 10am
May River Baptist Church
SC-170, North of US 46, 757-2518
Sunday School: 9:45am
Sunday Worship: 10am & 7pm
St. John’s Baptist Church
103 Pritchard Street, 757-4350
Sunday Worship: 11am
St. Matthew’s Baptist Church
SC Highway 170, 757-3255
Sunday Worship: 11am
Bible Missionary Baptist Church
Goethe Road Community Cntr, 815-5523
Sunday Worship: 11am
Bible Study: 6pm
CATHOLIC
St. Gregory the Great Catholic Church
333 Fording Island Road, 815-3100
Sunday Masses: 4pm & 6pm, Espanol 1pm
Monday to Friday 5:45 and 8:30am
EPISCOPAL
The Church of the Cross
110 Calhoun St, 757-2661
495 Buckwalter Parkway, 757-2662
Sunday Worship: 8am & 10am
The Episcopal Church of Okatie
At St. Luke’s Baptist Church
Hwy 170 and Snake Road,
Worship: 1st, 3rd and 5th Sunday, 8:30am
GREEK ORTHODOX
Holy Resurrection Church
at St. Andrews Catholic Church
220 Pickney Colony Road, 837-4659
Orthros: 9:30am, Liturgy 10am
JEWISH
Temple Osah Shalom
at Lowcountry Presbyterian
278 Simmonsvill Road, 705-2532
Shabbat Worship 3rd Friday of month, 8pm
LUTHERAN
Lord of Life Lutheran Church
351 Buckwalter Parkway, 757-4774
Sunday School: 10am
Sunday Worship: 8am, 9am, 11am
METHODIST
Bluffton United Methodist Church
101 Calhoun Street, 757-3351
Sunday School 9:45am
Sunday Worship: 8:30am & 10am
Church of the Palms United Methodist
1425 Okatie Highway, 379-1888
Sunday Worship: 10:30am
St. Luke’s United Methodist Church
SC Highway 170 near Sun CIty, 705-3022
Sunday Worship: 8:30am and 11am
PRESBYTERIAN
Lowcountry Presbyterian Church
US 278 and Simmonsville Road, 815-8570
Sunday School: Adult 9:40am, Children: 10:30
Sunday Worship: 8:30am & 10:30am
Grace Coastal Church (PCA)
1425 Okatie 15 Williams Drive (off SC170),
379-5521
Sunday School: 11am
Sunday Worship: 9:30am
NON-DENOMINATIONAL
Live Oak Christian Church
Bluffton High School Auditorium 757-5670
Kidstreet: 9:15am, Worship 10:15am
LowCountry Community Church
Bluffton Campus: 801 Buckwalter Parkway,
836-1101
Sunday Worship: 8:30am, 10am, 11:30am
JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES
Kingdom Hall, SC 46, 815-4455
Sunday Public Talk: 9:30am & 3:30pm
Spanish Public Talk: 12:30pm
36

BAPTIST
Bible Baptist Church
2800 Main Street, HHI
843-681-8713
Sunday School: 9:30
Sunday Worship: 10:45
First Baptist Church
100 South Forest Beach Dr, HHI
843-785-4478
Sunday School : 9:15
Sunday Worship: 10:30
Center Oak Grove Baptist
161 Mathews Drive, HHI
843-681-5784
Sunday School: 9:00
Sunday Worship 10:00
North Island Baptist Church
3800 Main Street, HHI
843-689-3800
SundaySchool: 9:30am
Sunday Worship 10:30pm
St. James Baptist Church
209 Beach City Road, HHI
843-681-6446
CATHOLIC
Holy Family Catholic Church
24 Pope Ave, HHI
843-785-2895
Call for times
St Francis by the Sea
45 Beach City Road, HH
843-681-6350
Call for times
EPISCOPAL
All Saints Episcopal
3001 Meeting Street, HHI
843-681-8333
Sunday Services: 8:00 & 10:15
INDEPENDANT
Central Church
975 William Hilton Parkway, HHI
843-686-5995
Sunday Services: 9:30 & 11:00
Wednesday Evenings 6:30
Grace Community Church
450 Spanish Wells Rd , HHI
843-681-6698
Church of Christ
23 Bow Circle HHI
843-686-2323
Sunday School: 9:30
Sunday Worship: 10:30
Church of Christian Science
4 Park Lane, HHI
843-785-9556
Sunday School: 10:30
Sunday Worship: 10:30
Sea Island Chapel
173 Marshland Road, HHI
843-784-3399
Sunday Worship: 9:15 & 10:30
Reserection Christian Community
296 Spanish Wells Road, HHI
843-689-3625
Worship Services: 9:15 & 10:00
JEWISH
Congregation Beth Yam
4501 Meeting Street, HHI
843-681-5531
LUTHERAN
Christ Lutheran
829 Wm Hilton Pkwy, HHI
843-785-5560
Worship Services: 10:00
METHODIST
Queen Chapel AME Church
114 Beach City Rd. HHI
843-681-3315
Church School: 10:00
Sunday Worship: 11:00
St Andrew By The Sea
20 Pope Avenue, HHI
843-837-4712
Sunday Worship: 9:00 & 11:15
Bluffton Campus
39 Persimmon St., Suite 203
843-785-4711
Sunday Worship: 10:30
PRESBYTERIAN
Hilton Head Presbyterian
235 Wm Hilton Pkwy, HHI
843-689-6362
Sunday Services: 9:00 & 10:45
First Presbyterian
540 William Hilton Parkway
843-681-3696
Sunday Worship: 8:30 & 11:00
Crossroads Worship: 9:45
Providence Church
171 Cordillo Pkwy, HHI
843-842-5673
Sunday Worship: 8:30 & 11:00
37

Christmas Traditions
By Tom Poland
38
Since Christmas is closer than ever and I have
a tight deadline and shopping to do I’ll keep
this short. Trees and lights get a lot of love but
we have other Christmas institutions that make
the season pretty and bright. Following are five
traditions and how they came to be:
WREATHS ON DOORS: As you can see from the photo,
I place a wreath on my front door each Christmas. The
origins of this tradition go back to the folk practices
of the pre-Christian Germanic peoples who gathered
wreaths of evergreen and lighted fires during cold dark
Decembers as signs of hope for spring and renewed
light. Christians kept these popular traditions alive,
and by the 16th century Catholics and Protestants
throughout Germany used these symbols to celebrate
their Advent hope in Christ, the everlasting Light.
The Advent wreath as it’s known spread from Germany
to other parts of the Christian world. Traditionally, the
wreath consists of four candles in a circle of evergreens
with a fifth candle in the middle. Wreaths prepare for
the Advent season or the “coming of Christ.” In 1839,
Johann Hinrich Wichern used a wreath made from a
cartwheel to educate children about the meaning and
purpose of Christmas. For every Sunday of Advent,
starting with the fourth Sunday before Christmas,
he would put a white candle in the wreath and for
every day in between he would use a red candle.
The Advent wreath is constructed of evergreens to
represent everlasting life brought through Jesus and
the circular shape of the wreath represents God, with
no beginning and no end. The Advent wreath is now
popular as décor during the Christmas festivities.
LUMINARIES: For many Christmases my community,
Harbison, would line the streets and courts with
luminaries. They are a simple white paper bag with
a bit of sand holding a small tea candle within lit at
dark. Line hundreds of them up all aglow and it is
magnificent. Traditional Christmas Eve luminaries
are said to have come from Spaniard merchants.
Impressed with the Chinese’s paper lanterns they
decided to make their own version when they returned
to Spain, particularly during the Christmas season.
The hope is that the lights will guide the spirit of the
Christ child to one’s home. Today luminaries are more
secular, akin to Christmas lights.
MISTLETOE: Stand beneath a sprig of mistletoe and
you better be ready for a kiss! (It helps to be kissable.)
Mistletoe has an interesting history. The Norse,
the Celtic Druids, and North American Indians held
mistletoe sacred. Druid priests would cut mistletoe
from an oak tree with a golden sickle. The branches

had to be caught before they touched the ground.
The priests then cut the branches into sprigs and gave
them to people who hung them over doorways as
protection against thunder, lightning, and other evil
forces. It was believed that a sprig placed in a baby’s
cradle would protect the child from goblins. Giving
a sprig to the first cow calving after New Year would
protect the entire herd.
Today mistletoe symbolizes peace and joy. That idea
originated in the ancient times of the Druids. When
enemies met under mistletoe, they had to lay down
their arms and observe a truce until the next day. From
this comes the custom of hanging a ball of mistletoe
from the ceiling and exchanging kisses beneath it as
a sign of friendship and goodwill. In the 18th Century,
the exchanging of kisses between a man and a woman
symbolized a promise to marry. At Christmas a young
lady standing under a ball of mistletoe could not refuse
a kiss. If she remained unkissed, she could not expect
to marry the following year.
EGGNOG: Eggnog is related to various milk and
wine punches concocted long ago in the Old World.
Colonists used rum in place of wine and back then rum
was commonly called “grog,” so “eggnog” probably
takes its name from the descriptive term for this drink,
“egg-and-grog.” That evolved into egg’n’grog and
soon to eggnog. Other experts maintain the “nog” of
eggnog comes from the word “noggin.” A noggin was
a small, wooden mug used to serve drinks at tables in
taverns.
Eggnog became a popular wintertime drink
throughout Colonial America. George Washington
was quite a fan of eggnog and devised his own recipe
that included rye whiskey, rum, and sherry. It was said
to be a stiff drink that only the most courageous were
willing to try.
POINSETTIAS: My dad loved poinsettias and he
and my mom often gave us poinsettias as Christmas
approached. Red, and shaped like a star, a poinsettia
adds a beautiful presence to Christmas. In Central
America it’s called the “Flame Leaf” or “Flower of the
Holy Night.” The fact that the plant was brought here
over a hundred years ago by Dr. Joel Poinsett, our
first ambassador to Mexico, is well known. Thus it’s
name. And if you have poinsettias in your home this
Christmas, chances are very good they came from
California where most are grown now.
Down Mexico way a legend attends the poinsettia.
Maria and her little brother Pablo were very poor but
they always looked forward to the Christmas festival.
Each year the village church set up a large manger
scene. The two children loved Christmas but had no
money to buy presents. They especially wished that
they could give something to the church for the
Baby Jesus. The truth was they had nothing to give.
Nothing.
One Christmas Eve, Maria and Pablo walked to
church to attend the service. On the way they picked
some weeds from along the roadside as their gift to
the baby Jesus in the manger scene. Mean-spirited
children teased them when they arrived with their
gift of weeds. As Maria and Pablo placed their plants
around the manger the green top leaves turned into
bright red petals, and soon beautiful star-like flowers
surrounded the manger. Though they were poor,
Maria and Pablo’s gift was the most beautiful of all.
We all have traditions we cherish.
Other Christmas institutions or traditions exist:
caroling, riding around looking at people’s amazing
light displays, attending Christmas plays and festivals,
hanging candy canes, sending Christmas cards, and
the simple act of lighting candles at home at night.
Here’s wishing you a Merry Christmas. I look forward
to writing “Across The Savannah” for you in 2020, my
gift to you.
Tom Poland is an author from “Georgialina”.
He writes about the South, its people, culture,
land, natural wealth, and beautiful detrius
— ruins and abandoned places. He has been
awarded the Order of the Palmetto — The highest
civilian honor in the State of South Carolina.
Visit Tom’s website at www.tompoland.net
39

Its the holiday’s! With much cheer, we give gifts of
thought to remind those we care about and treasure.
This year make it easier on someone you care about. Call
a proffesional if needed. These are some great ideas to
make it easier on everyone.
Starting in the backyard, captue
the night with a backyard wireless
camera. Catch that bird, squirrel,
or branch landing on a fence with
better than 10 MP (mega-pixels).
Consider night vision, wide angle
lense, attachments for mounting
the cameras, and waterproofing.
These cameras are widely available
and are often a bargain with a set.
In some instances, we all lose something from time to
time. The remote is right in front of you. The time has
come to find your keys and the dog leash that has been
missing for the past hour. Start thinking about all the
little things that would benefit by never getting lost. Let
me introduce the bluetooth finder, for the person who
loses a wallet, keys, or coat. If you can find the ballpark,
literally within 60 feet, a bluetooth tracker will help you
find whats lost. The cat will never be hidden again and
luggage will be found much quicker at the airport.
If you do plan on taking a trip with luggage, this versatile
pull behind should be on your shopping list. The G-RO
smart carry-on is a 22-inch overhead bin ready with
USB charging and built in tracking.
With wheels that boast the ability to
go through snow, no airport should
be off the list of possiblilites. Make
a trip last over 4 days with the great
storage capacity that easily fits all the
essentials. Some folks do comment a
the missing cubic inches a rectangular
suitcase has, but do you really need a
third pair of shoes?
Building on the holiday spirit, for us locals in need of
help finding out place. Most of us use gps to get around
and even here in town. I highly recomend a house map
of your town. One of our local jewlers, Golis Famildy
Jewelers has great maps that could help with map skills
and no app is needed while waiting on takeout.
We have such great folks locally that can help out with
small and big projects. This time of year the sun sets
quickly at night as the projects to be done require light.
Look into a rechargable flashlight as a great stocking
stuffer or less than $20 gift. This is the gift that can be
used year round in a moment of need. PeakPlus has a
flashlight from your favorite prime delivery service.
These kind of lights are great for anyone, as they can
be easily charged for the time of need that always
arises.

Brighten the mood with those you care about with a
great gift. An aromatherapy essential oil diffuser not
only brightens the mood, but helps the climate with
a great aroma. These devices are quiet and less work
than the potted plant some would think of to give as
gifts. An oil diffuser placed in an enclosed bedroom can
provide the extra moisture a person needs for improved
breathing or sinus relief. Dry offices can also benefit
from a humidification boost. These are easily available
at many drugs stores and other shops you buy small
appliances. Oils come in many varieties, with each
lasting over a week with heavy usage. Happy Holiday’s
Folk’s!
Don’t forget our four legged friends, the animal shelters
will greatly appreciate the blankets that you want to
donate.
41

Why they fail and
how you can succeed
By Kimberly Blaker
The New Year is a great time to take inventory,
set goals, and take charge of your life. Making
resolutions is much easier than keeping them!
Rather than focus on the idea of a new beginning,
which can lead to disappointment at the first
slip, keep in mind that self-improvement is an
ongoing endeavor. Setbacks are not failure; they
bring wisdom and insight for future success.
42
“The new year stands before us, like a chapter in a
book, waiting to be written. We can help write that
story by setting goals.” -Melody Beattie
Before making a split decision on this next year’s
resolutions, make a list of goals and changes you’d
like to make. Then review your list, and cross off
any you don’t feel genuinely important.
Maybe you want to resolve to spend more time
with your family, quit smoking, or lose weight.
You’re more likely to succeed if you feel a strong
personal commitment rather than ‘I should.’
One reason people don’t keep resolutions they
make is the resolutions are often made to silence
the pestering of a loved one. If you decide to
quit smoking to get your husband off your back,
you’re less likely to succeed. If you choose to quit
smoking to feel healthier and be able to enjoy
physical activity without being winded, you’re
more likely to experience success.
Choose one or perhaps two of the resolutions
on your list that you feel most committed. Then
choose one or two you feel confident you can
do with ease. These last couple can be used as
positive reinforcement for the more challenging
first choices.
Next, make a clear plan for adhering to your
resolutions. Put each resolution in writing, and
write down the steps to achieve them. Let’s say
your resolution requires a routine or schedule
such as an exercise routine, a new diet, or steps

toward completing your education. Create a goal
chart, a detailed plan, and a checklist to track
your progress.
Also, post notes in strategic places such as the
refrigerator, bathroom mirror, or steering wheel
as reminders of your resolutions with tips on how
to overcome temptation.
Make sure your family understands the
importance of your resolutions. Family support
and their positive reinforcement can be most
helpful. If your resolution is something your
family has been nagging you about, ask for their
encouragement. But explain that pressure and
pestering, particularly during setbacks, could
undermine your resolve. Determine how each
family member can help you to achieve your
goal perhaps by taking on additional household
chores or through affirmations of your continued
success.
Adjust your environment to enable success.
If eating healthier is your goal, don’t fill the
cupboards with junk food for other family
members. Find healthy snacks they’re willing to
substitute. If you’re trying to quit smoking, avoid
people, places, and things that remind or tempt
you, at least until you have it well under control.
Don’t go it alone. If you have a friend with a
similar resolution, make a pact. Work together
to create a plan, and then make a point to check
in with each other regularly for encouragement,
praise, and support. If you resolve to get more
exercise, do it together. Having a commitment
and someone to accompany you will go a long
way in helping you succeed.
Finally, reward yourself, not just once you’ve
achieved your goal, but periodically for your
success so far. Small, periodic rewards can be
motivation enough to keep you strong when
you’re ready to throw in the towel.
Remember, whatever New Year resolutions you
choose, success awaits you if you resolve never to
give up trying.
43

HUMOR
It’s Christmas morning. Pots simmer quietly on the stove and my dad bustles about
the kitchen, making sure the bacon-covered ham is basting away in the oven. My
mom straightens up the knickknacks on the living room coffee table and sneaks
one last present under the tree decked with delicate ornaments and bright lights.
NFL pre-game shows and holiday parades politely roll highlight footage in the
background. It’s a still, picturesque, holiday greeting card kind of morning.
Then the house starts to shake.
The Kids Are
Alright
by Chase S. Wlkinson
I storm through our one-story home, nearly 300 pounds of bearded wildman; flying
recklessly around corners, slipping and sliding on the wood floor in my tube-socked
feet. My family’s Rockwell-esque painting is suddenly bombarded by a blizzard of
yellow Nerf darts, and my sister, Brandi, is hot on my tail chasing me through the
house. I scream, she screams. This is war.
The couch buckles hard as I flip over the back of it and land on the cushions with
a tremendously graceful thud. I’m as smooth as Bruce Willis—if he wasn’t allowed
stunt doubles. I look at Mom rolling her eyes at her children and her knickknacks,
now covered in toy shrapnel. My sister lurks closer and I try to get my mom to tell me
if the coast is clear so I can pop back up and return fire, but she doesn’t share our
enthusiasm for the game.
It would probably be more fun for her if my sister and I weren’t full-grown adults
tearing apart her house like a pack of 5-year-olds hopped up on Jolly Ranchers and
Pixie Sticks.
Run into my sister and me on any other day of the week, and you will marvel at how
responsible and well-adjusted we are. We have full-time jobs and homes and work
hard to pay our bills. We’re model citizens with excellent
credit scores. But put us in the same room and you’ll
watch two upstanding adults devolve into
giggling schoolchildren.
all Peter Pans, just carefree kids who never want to
grow up. It’s the one time of year where I am finally
able to put all the stress and turmoil of forging my own
place in the world aside, and focus solely on avoiding
wet willies.
I only set my Nerf gun down when I’m helping Dad
move hot pans of casserole or other delectables
around the kitchen. My sister sneaks in behind us,
nabbing bits of bacon and licking spatulas clean of
excess mashed potato.
Growing up, we were rarely afforded these pleasant
moments of family bonding. My parents’ go-getter
entrepreneurial spirit meant a lot of nights my sister
and I were left by ourselves. There was little room for
horseplay when my sister was in babysitter mode. But
now, bickering over the TV remote, there is freedom to
be the kids we always wanted to be.
Soon our kitchen table will be covered in entirely too
much food. After that, we will move all that food to our
stomachs and nap like a good kindergarten class.
We can’t stop getting older, but that doesn’t mean we
have to grow up.
As the holiday season moves into town and the
Christmas lights start to twinkle, take a moment to
adore those little heathens who run too fast and make
too much noise. Relish the sounds
of sugar-fueled chaos. Soon
they’ll all get bigger and
the house will be empty.
But, if you’re lucky, in
10 years they’ll still
come rioting through
once a year like they
never left. Just hide
the good china.
I’m 24 and she is nearing 34. When she brings her
husband, Dustin, home for Thanksgiving, we arm
him, as well. There are no civilians when Chase
and Brandi go to Nerf War.
Brandi pops around the corner with a yell
and the fight erupts again. My mom
scrambles out of the crossfire as squishy
yellow projectiles bounce off family
pictures and TVs, narrowly missing
puncturing eyeballs. We shoot
until we’re out of ammo, call
a brief truce to reload and
scramble off to separate
corners of the house.
This is what the holidays
mean to me. Quick,
splendid moments where
time rolls back. We’re
44

ARCHITECTURE
his article is not meant to be a history or architecture lesson,
but more a reference point for contemporary examples
of the great variety of architectural interpretations we
see being built around us today. George Owens, Chief
Building Official for the Town of Bluffton, was asked how
many building permits are active at this time and he replied,
“Around a 1,000.” For many of these buildings, the design
is influenced by Blufftonʼs Unified Development Ordinance,
private community architectural guidelines and the fact that
we love Lowcountry Vernacular.
Vernacular roots originated in the past, but one thing is
certain—they are here to stay. There are no hard and fast
rules to vernacular styling, as we see a wide variety of design
elements being built today. The Breezeʼs feature last month on
Transitional Homes by Steve Tilton discussed this very same
thought. We follow the same form and function of our historic
past using the beauty of our natural resources and adapting
to the climate, yet creating our own 21 st century vernacular
aesthetic. We find the style to be comfortable, relaxed, nonassuming
and blends in with the surroundings, yet flexible
enough to satisfy individual lifestyles.
Frank Lloyd Wright described vernacular architecture as
“Folk building growing in response to actual needs, fitted into
environment by people who knew no better than to fit them
with native feelings.” But, this quote is only partially right.
Vernacular architecture is different in different places. In
each region, it evolved over time and tends to reflect the
environment, the local technology and skills, the available
materials and historical context from where it is derived. For
example, the Pueblo Indiansʼ vernacular adobe was used in
the sweltering dry southwest; the Algonquian Indian had the
45

woodland Wigwams vernacular;
the stone and half-timbered frame
vernacular is found in Europe. They
knew what their needs were and
adapted sustainable materials to
their climate.
Beaufort County has been inhabited
through centuries by indigenous
Indians, Spanish explorers, French
immigrants and Scottish and British
colonists, each one leaving their
mark in some way on their shelters
and homes. The local vernacular
can be seen in early designs of
English, Dutch, French and Spanish
influences in the West Indies. Past
architectural and historical design
has been adapted to our current
lifestyle and become the standard
for most of our new homes.
Recently, I sat down with Bluffton
architect Pearce Scott and we used
his numerous wonderful illustrations
and design interpretations to take a
closer look at how this style is ever
evolving.
The first consideration, even for
settlers, is the site. The angle of the
sun in summer and winter, direction
of the breezes, protection of the
natural resources and wildlife,
access to the site, relationships
to neighbors, and protection
from the elements (which include
rising waters), with the best views
possible.
46
It didnʼt take the early settlers long to figure out low-pitched
roofs with broad overhangs provided protection from the
summer sun and shed the rain away from the structure and
the use of exposed rafters was simple, and less costly. Porches
also provided shade, gathered the breezes and created an
outdoor living environment. With an abundance of oyster
shells in close proximity, they soon raised buildings off the
ground by cooking lime from the shell and creating substantial
tabby pier foundations. This also allowed the cooling breezes
to pass under the home. The underpinning between the piers
provided a place to pen pigs and chickens and kept them
protected from predators at night. Today, this underpinning is
used to keep the critters out.
Tall ceilings, often vaulted, and the use of double hung
windows and transoms allowed higher hot air inside
the home to ventilate outside and fresh cool breezes to
recirculate inside from the bottom sash. Prior to the invention
of screens, shutters would be closed on the sun side, opened
on the shaded side, and also used to provide security and
protection. It is interesting to note that the invention of screen
mesh (originally used in baking) and its use on porches or
windows kept mosquitoes out, resulting in a large reduction
of malaria, once the leading killer in the Lowcountry.
Early Coastal Style architecture began with the one story
cottage. This later evolved into the prevalent one-and-onehalf
story raised cottage with double pitched gable, shed or

hip roof. The use of a variety of dormers, ranging
from multiple gable to shed roof designs, added
interior light, as well as living space within the
roof lines. These rooms were popular, as they
were ventilated by cool evening breezes and,
being off the ground, were not as susceptible to
mosquitoes. All vernacular houses have porches
or wrapping verandas. They are either added to
or are part of the main mass of the house.
As the family grew, or as the house was passed
down, bedrooms were continually added to the
original structure. In the past, kitchens were in a
separate building to prevent fire in the home. As
technology increased, kitchens were added to the
house. Today, we see additions to accommodate
larger bathrooms, studies or mud rooms for
laundry and household storage. Wall plate height
and roof pitches often vary with vernacular style
to prevent the exposed rafters and roof overhangs
of the additions from clashing. This was also
accomplished by adding narrow connectors or
hallways called “hyphens” or adding “knuckles”
to change the angle of the room to get another
view. When this occurs today, we say that the
floor plan is “exploded.”
47

Outbuildings, historically, were
detached for feed storage, stables
and smithing, workshops, servantsʼ
quarters or plantation offices. These
buildings now serve to create a
compound on the site and are used
for garages, gardening sheds and
guest quarters.
True to the past, the homes of today
continue to be built as wood frames
with various types of horizontal
siding, vertical board and batten
and cedar shingles. Tabby is used
for foundations and chimneys,
and as the main structure of larger
manor homes. Examples of this can
be seen in remnants of the tabby
mansion built by George Edwards
in 1850 on Spring Island and the
1910 R.T. Wilson Mansion home in Palmetto Bluff.
In the early and middle 19 th century, Bluffton
became a popular place for summer homes for
those living in nearby cities, since the high bluffs
and river breezes provided relief from the hot,
low lying, malaria-ridden plantations. Thus began
the appearance of the one-and-one-half story
vernacular homes. Those that survived the Federal
burning of Bluffton include the Heyward, Card,
Pine, Seabrook and Fripp Houses, as well as
Cedar Bluff.
Examples of historic two-story vernacular homes
are Seven Oaks and the Patzs Brothers House.
In all, Bluffton has 47 vernacular structures that
contribute to its National Historic District.
The historic homes in Old Town are left as reminders
of her past and became the prevalent style for
homes built today in the Historic District and in the
outlying developments along the marshlands and
surrounding estuaries. These new homes will be
our example to the next generation of Lowcountry
Vernacular homes.
48

We Draw Life.
6 State of Mind St., Suite 200
843.837.5700
www.pscooarch.com
CRAFTSMANSHIP ONE HOME AT A TIME
General Contractor in Bluffton, SC
Commercial • Industrial • Residential
843-683-7873
www.dhabney.com
49

______________________________________________
Residential Design Urban Planning Preservation
Works of Art You Live In
From Lowcountry Classics to French Country
Timeless Design with Attention to Detail
randolph@rstewartdesigns.com
12 Johnston Way Penthouse Studio Bluffton, SC
843.816.4005 rstewartdesigns.com
HISTORY, LIFESTYLE, FICTION,
ENVIRONMENT, EVENTS, AND MORE
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ADVERTISING THAT GETS READ
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50

COLLETON RIVER
Johnny Ussery
MOBILE: 843.384.8105 • OFFICE: 843.757.7712
Johnny@UsseryGroup.com • www.UsseryGroup.com
BELFAIR
OLDFIELD
22 INVERNESS DRIVE • $1,495,000
Rare opportunity! 4BR, 5FB, 2HB home overlooking
pool and spa, and golf views. Brazilian cherry hardwood
floors, 6 seat movie theater, elevator, 2 laundry rooms,
2 offices, master suite with his and hers baths.. Cook’s
dream kitchen, butler’s pantry, and wine cellar with
tasting room. Large screened summer kitchen with
fireplace and multiple built-in grills. Unparalleled quality!
30 LADY SLIPPER ISLAND DR • $1,195,000
The ideal waterfront home! Sip your coffee from the
porch as you watch the sun rise over the Colleton River
and marsh. This decorator furnished home looks like a
model! Cook’s kitchen with generous breakfast room,
all open to the spacious family room and water views
beyond! Dining room, elevator, wet bar, double porches
across the back with water views, and much more!
9 PONDHAWK ROAD • $1,090,000
Spacious 4BR, 4.5BA home has it all including a chef’s
kitchen w/ adjoining Great Room w/ fireplace. Office/
Study above the garage. Master Suite off of the Library.
Enjoy sunsets and the expansive view of Big Arrowhead
Lake from the back porch with fireplace. Situated on
corner homesite for added privacy. Dock just a short
stroll away for fishing, kayaking, or relaxing. A must see!
BERKELEY HALL
OLDFIELD
BELFAIR
16 ARCADIA PLACE • $980,000
Incredible home! Screened lanai with free from pool and
spa with gorgeous views across the pool to the second
green of the South Course. Open floor plan with great
room, library, eat-in kitchen, and master suite with two
large closets and designer shower. Chef’s kitchen plus
summer kitchen for comfortable indoor/outdoor living.
Elevator, foam insulation, attic storage, & cedar closet.
4 DAVANT CIRCLE • $829,000
4BR, 4.5BA home offering unparalleled privacy on .6
acres wedged between a quiet cul-de-sac and a nature
preserve. Oversized master suite, living and gathering
rooms, wet bar, large 2nd and 3rd bedrooms and baths,
and attached carriage room. No details were overlooked
from the wide-plank pine floors, kitchen appliances,
countertops and cabinets to every room’s crown molding.
1 E. SUMMERTON DRIVE • $699,000
Beautiful, 3,600 SF home w/ lanai, heated pool, spa,
and summer kitchen. J. Banks Design experts created
an elegant and comfortable décor. Over $175,000 in
design and furnishings. Gourmet kitchen designed for
entertaining. Great Room and home office/den. Bonus
room which can be a bedroom, office, or hobby area.
Furniture negotiable.
HAMPTON LAKE
BELFAIR
BERKELEY HALL
28 WATERVIEW COURT • $515,000
3BR “right size home” with gorgeous lake view. Well
maintained and looks new with upgrades throughout!.
Custom Cherry cabinets, SS appliances, gas cooktop,
and granite countertops. Extra large master suite with
frameless walk-in shower. Surround sound inside and
out, great outdoor lighting and insect misting system.
Fire pit near water’s edge with flagstone sitting area.
61 MANCHESTER COURT • $495,000
Private end of cul-de-sac location with golf views. Open
floor plan, 4BR, 3.5BA home w/ bonus room/guest
suite. Chef’s kitchen, temperature controlled Wine
Room, and Butler’s Pantry. Spacious screened porch,
private courtyard garden, and outdoor Dacor grill. Many
improvements including dramatic landscape lighting in
the front and back. Must see to fully appreciate!
14 WILLINGHAM COURT • $389,000
Arguably the best cottage in all of Berkeley Hall! $32,000
upgrades completed this fall! Original owners, never
rented, full maintenance details available. Newer
windows, hot water heaters, and 4 HVAC units. And best
of all, spectacular views of both the 9th and 18th greens
of the North Course. Won’t last long at this price and in
this “like new” condition!
CHARTER ONE REALTY
The One to Turn to for All Your Real Estate Needs
51

OLD TOWN BLUFFTON PROPERTIES
1114 MAY RIVER RD
182 BLUFFTON RD
$689,000
$629,000
• Windsong Farm • Less than 1 mi from Old Town
• May River compound, private 4.3 (+/-) acre estate
• Views of May River & marshes
• Horses and stables are allowed
11 TORREY LN 94 PRITCHARD FARMS RD
PRICE REDUCED
• Hwy 46 frontage in Old Town
• Steps to the Promenade
• Residential & Mixed-Use
• Can be 1, 2, or 3 buildings with Carriage Houses
57 & 58 BUCK POINT RD
$226,900
• 3 Bedroom / 2 Bath
• One of the largest lots in Pine Ridge
• Lagoon & Wood views
• Coming soon to the market!
$529,900
• 3 BR / 2 Bath home with
wooded view and a pool
• Almost 2.5 acres
• No POA or restrictions
$700,000
• Views of water & marsh over May River
• 1 mile from Old Bluffton
• Two full size lots, each 1 story
• Old Savannah brick
EXCELLENT BUSINESS/REAL ESTATE OPPORTUNITY!
• Old Town Bluffton • ±1.4 Acres Messex full service one-stop • Asking price of $1.5 million
• Includes garage, convenience store, and rental property directly in the path of Old Town Bluffton’s growth
52
Wayne M.
McDonald
Broker | Owner
843-384-5764
Simone Griffeth
McDonald
Licensed SC REALTOR®
843-384-4466
Suzanna Rose
McDonald
Realtor | Sales Executive
843-816-2547