Savannah Victorian Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
Asendorf House, 1899, Savannah
German immigrant Cord Asendorf (1858-1944) settled in Savannah in 1872 and became a U. S. citizen in 1879. He first clerked for his uncle, John M. Asendorf in his grocery store on the corner of Jones and Habersham Streets, before opening his own store on Tattnall Street in 1881. After selling the business to his brother, he opened stores in at least two more locations, and also owned a bar. He was well respected in business and social circles and counted among his friends fellow German immigrant and prominent Savannah baker Captain John Derst. He married Bernadine Hagen, also a German immigrant, in 1890. The Asendorfs bought this property on Bull Street in 1898, in what was then considered “wilderness” and Mr. Asendorf hired the Hawley Construction Company to build this house (for $3000) in 1899. It is unclear whether the design came from a pattern book or was a whimsical collaboration between Asendorf and Halwey. Cord and Bernadine raised eight children here. Bernadine died in 1930 and Cord in 1944. The Savannah icon is known today as the Gingerbread House, a premier event venue.
Savannah Victorian Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
Filed under -CHATHAM COUNTY, Savannah GA
Georgian Cottage, Circa 1875, Darien
West Darien Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
Filed under -MCINTOSH COUNTY, Darien GA
St. Andrew’s Cemetery, 1810s, Darien
In the tradition of other historic cemeteries of Coastal Georgia, St. Andrew’s in Darien is worthy of note as an important public green space. An impressive collection of Victorian monuments share space with exceedingly rare tabby tombs.
Thomas Spalding (1774-1851), owner of Sapelo Island and one of the most influential men of early Georgia, established his family cemetery here in the early 1800s, adjacent to his mainland home, Ashantilly. A man of his time, Spalding’s wealth was entirely dependent on slave labor. His last official act was leading the Milledgeville Convention which officially declared that Georgia would use force to resist any efforts of abolition by the federal government. He fell ill on his way home and died at the home of his son Charles, in Darien.
The tombs of Spalding and wife Sarah Leake (1778-1843) are at the center of the original cemetery.
Hester Margery Spalding Cooke (1801-30 November 1824), daughter of Thomas & Sarah Spalding; wife of William Cooke (d. 1861).
Tombs of Spalding children, including, at center, Thomas Spalding (1813-1819). These tabby forms are among the rarest forms of grave markers in Georgia.
Even rarer is this tomb, featuring what appears to be the original lime sealing over the tabby.
The original section of the cemetery contains many tombs, including tabby, brick, and marble examples.
Some are in poor condition, with a few slabs unreadable and perhaps even on the wrong tombs.
All of the burials in this part of the cemetery are Spalding family members and in-laws.
Names include Wylly, Bell, and Leake, among others.
In 1867 Charles Spalding (1808-1887) donated the land surrounding the family plot to St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church for use by the city of Darien as a cemetery. The ground was consecrated in 1876 by the Right Reverend Dr. Beckwith, Bishop of Georgia and is known today as St. Andrew’s Cemetery.
Dr. James Holmes (1804-1883) was a prominent 19th century physician who left his home to study medicine in Philadelphia and returned to practice in Darien. A fastidious note taker and diarist, Holmes wrote of his encounters as “Dr. Bullie”. Dr. Bullie’s Notes: Reminisces of Early Georgia and of Philadelphia and New Haven in the 1800s, edited by Dr. Delma Presley, was published by Cherokee Publishing Company in 1976 and remains an insightful resource for students of the era.
Hilton Family
Lachlison-Clark-Fox Families
Reverend Henry Kollock Rees & Family
Jamie Manson (1890-1895)
Schmidt Monument
Churchill-Wilcox Mausoleum
This is the most prominent memorial in the cemetery.
Wilcox Children Memorial
Thomas A. Bailey (1828-1917) Ornamental Gate
Lewis Myers Bealer (1857-1942)
Adam Strain (1840-1897)
Barclay Family
Sutton Children
Lawrence Bailey Daniels (1894-1900)
Donnelly Family
Filed under -MCINTOSH COUNTY, Darien GA
Ronster Johnson House, Sapelo Island
Penny Butler Rossiter writes: This was the home of Ronster Johnson (1913-1994). It is in Johnson Hammock. He was the famous “storyteller” of Sapelo Island. Hopefully it will be restored one day. It is a “supporting structure” in Hog Hammock and is on The National Register.
Hog Hammock Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
Filed under -MCINTOSH COUNTY, Hog Hammock GA, Sapelo Island GA
Shark Tooth Beach, Jekyll Island
Located on Jekyll Creek, Shark Tooth Beach is perhaps the least known beach on the island, likely because it’s not a beach in the traditional sense. It gets its name from the prehistoric shark’s teeth commonly found here.
There’s no sign pointing you to Shark Tooth Beach. The name doesn’t even officially exist on maps and charts, but judging by the number of people who had found their way here at the time I visited, it isn’t as unknown as it once was. Still, it requires a hike or bike ride of about a mile. No motor vehicles are allowed.
The beach is littered with oyster shells and the remains of other marine life. Wrack dominates the high end of the tide line.
If you’re looking for isolation on Jekyll Island, and don’t mind the short hike, this may become one of your favorite spots.
The entrance to Shark Tooth Beach is located slightly south of the entrance to Summer Waves water park . Look for a simple gate on the right side of the road. You can park near the gate. Follow the trail to its end and you will reach the site. Shoes are strongly suggested as cacti and other sticky plants dominate sections of the trail, not to mention the sharp shells and other detritus on the beach.
Filed under -GLYNN COUNTY, Jekyll Island GA
