Feb 3 the Allee at Wormsloe

 

The big attraction at Wormsloe State Historic site just south of Savannah, is this 1.5 mile long allee (avenue of Oaks). there are 400 Southern Live Oaks lining the dirt drive. They were planted in 1893, so they have really developed some character over that time.

Overlooking Skidaway river

Back in 1733 James Oglethorpe and a company of colonists, established the Colony of Georgia. One of the leading officials was Noble Jones. Jones was tasked with constructing a fortified building on this property overlooking Skidaway River on its approach to the Savannah River. The building was to be his home and a fort guarded by Marines. The structure was begun in 1739 and completed by 1745. It was made of tabby, a crude concrete like material made with lime and oyster shells. Native Americans all along the southern coast consumed oysters and built mounds of shells. Early colonists often found these mounds and utilized them as building material for tabby structures. 

The building and over 800 acres were deeded to Jones in 1745. It remained in his family for generations. The estate was used in a number of unsuccessful ventures until finally cotton made it profitable. In 1828 another mansion was built on the property and became the family's main residence. That mansion still exists and is used by the family today, set aside from the State Historic Site. 

During the 1900s, the tabby building fell into ruins but the family home was expanded and even opened as a tourist attraction. The family demolished all the slave quarters except one. A local black woman, Lizy was hired to occupy that house as part of the attraction. She dressed the part of a southern mammy, claimed she was born into slavery in that very building and invited guests in to sample her hoecakes. Eventually, the state of Georgia revoked the estate's tax exempt status and tried taxing the property. A long protracted legal battle worked its way to the Georgia supreme court in 1973. The court decreed that the bulk of the estate be deeded to The Nature Conservancy (then to the state of Georgia) with 50 acres and the mansion, library, gardens etc set aside for the family to live on. However, the family had to use the mansion as their main residence otherwise the property becomes property of the state. They are still there.