The restoration of the former slave quarters near the Strachan Mansion that date back almost 200 years was begun in mid-February and will include capping and stabilizing the walls to prevent further weather damage and deterioration of the structures.
“This is an important project to preserve a piece of the Daufuskie Island history,” said Randall Page, General Manager and COO of Haig Point Club and Community Association.
The experienced group of Brooker Architectural Design Consultants of Beaufort, S.C., will handle the restoration, along with period historian and craftsman Rick Wightman. The group has previously handled historical restoration work in the area on Dataw Island, Spring Island and Hilton Head Island.
“These Tabby houses are not very common, and this is the best group I’ve seen in South Carolina,” said Brooker, who figures the three foundations that remain date back to the early 1820s. “They have been subjected to a lot of erosion over the years – from trees, time and tides, but these were well built for the time.”
Tabby homes were made from oyster shells, lime and sand in a Northern African tradition when the island was home to several plantations. Those plantations were disrupted forever during the Civil War, when Union troops occupied the island.
Some of the history has disappeared, but other parts of the island’s rich history are being collected and preserved by the Daufuskie Island Historical Foundation, which supported the restoration project. And one of the ways the Foundation is sharing that history is by operating a free museum that attracts about 5,000 visitors each year.
The completed project will be celebrated on Saturday, June 7.
About Haig Point
Haig Point is a charming sea island community just off the coast of South Carolina, between Hilton Head and Savannah, Ga. There is no bridge, so the island is accessible only by a private ferry system originating from Hilton Head Island.
Residents and guests drive electric carts to the points of interest in and around the community, including the historic Haig Point Lighthouse (built in 1873), Strachan Mansion and the tabby ruins of 19th century slave quarters. The community is also home to a stunning Rees Jones Signature golf course. Amenities at Haig Point Club also include a full-service tennis center, equestrian center, two restaurants and a community park. For more information about the island or real estate opportunities, call (800) 686-3441.
Haig Point
Daufuskie Island, South Carolina
