Yesterday’s Values Home Sites $4,500 Homes $25,000 The Birth Of A Golf Classic The Verizon Heritage Man With A Vision Charles E. Fraser A Trip Down Memory Lane Scrapbook of 50 Years
NESTLED ON THE NORTHERNmost barrier island between Florida’s Intracoastal Waterway and the Atlantic Ocean is the ultimate residential/resort community, Amelia Island Plantation. The community boasts homes, home sites, and villas directly along the oceanfront, salt marshes, fairways and wooded surroundings. Amelia Island Plantation and Sea Pines share a special bond as they both are modeled on Charles Frasier’s vision of a natural resort built in harmony with nature. As the resort continues to grow, and this vision has been maintained, so too do the real estate opportunities within its tranquil setting. Discover your dream home within any of our exquisite neighborhoods including the dramatic views of the luxurious Dunes Club Villas or the privacy of an estate size, marsh or lake front lot at Brady Point Preserve. What’s more, owners in these communities will enjoy the opportunity to join the Amelia Island Club. With 72 holes of championship golf, 23 shaded tennis courts, Health & Fitness Center and the elegant Amelia Island Club, the community’s amenities are just a few of the endless reasons to own at Amelia Island Plantation. Located in extreme northeast Florida, across the St. Mary’s River from Georgia, Amelia Island Plantation is just 29 miles from Jacksonville International Airport. For more information, call our sales office at 1-800874-6878 or visit www.aipfl. com/realestate and see our updated listings. Amelia Island Plantation F l o r i d A ADVERTISEMENT 2 SeaPines50thAnniversary.com | SeaPinesHomesAndVillas.com
You came here for the lifestyle. And now Beaufort Memorial Hospital is coming to Bluffton for you, bringing the quality health care we’ve been providing for over 60 years even closer. With a medical staff of 150 board-certified physicians, our affiliation with Duke University’s world-class health system for cancer and heart services and state-of-the-art technology and capabilities, we are committed to providing the very best care to the communities we serve, including yours. See what Beaufort Memorial brings you. Visit www.bmhsc.org or call toll free (888) 522-5585 to find a doctor or learn more about our services. Fortunately, great health care is getting closer for you. 955 Ribaut Road • Beaufort, SC 29902 • (843) 522-5200 • www.bmhsc.org You didn’t come here for the great health care. Congratulations to Sea Pines on 50 beautifully planned years! CHiP Mobile Wellness Unit Bluffton Medical Services – Westbury Financial Park 11 Arley Way, Bluffton, SC Beaufort Memorial Hospital
1956-1980 TheFirst25Years 8 Charles E. Fraser: The Man and His Vision The man who created Sea Pines was much more than a land developer— he was committed to preserving the history and integrity of the area 16 About the Cover Two front covers contrast the early days with the present 17 Scrap Book A pull-out section featuring Sea Pines history 28 The Ecology of Sea Pines Fraser was dedicated to maintaining the pristine beauty of the Lowcountry 31 A Spiritual Place Queen Chapel is one of the oldest buildings on the island 32 The Sea Pines Montessori School Mary Wyman Stone Fraser established Sea Pines school in 1968 33 The Harbour Town Course Is a Winner Jack Nicklaus may not remember winning at Harbour Town, but you’ll never forget playing it 34 The Birthplace of Golf In The United States Sea Pines is modeled on the old courses of Scotland 36 Links In Time Pleasure is par for the course 42 First Salesman Walter Butler remembers selling “the most beautiful land on the coast” 44 Wonderful Views And Ocean Breezes This house set the pattern for modern beach homes in 1956 46 Hideo Sasaki: Designing a Landscape His philosophy was to respect the natural environment C O N T E N T S Sea Pines 50th Anniversary Published by Media Services, Inc. Custom Publishing Division www.SeaPines50thAnniversary.com www.SeaPinesHomesandVillas.com EDITOR Rebecca Walters ASSOCIATE EDITORS Patra Bucher Gary McCullough Barbara Millen COPY EDITOR Brian Sherman WRITERS Rebecca Walters Patra Bucher Barbara Millen Dorothy McFalls ART DIRECTORS John Chitwood Chris Norden ADVERTISING ART DIRECTORS Jennifer Rosen Dana Coleman MEDIA CONSULTANTS Jay Werth Will Moody Brandt Hosack Stan Wade PHOTOGRAPHER Rob Kaufman AREA SALES MANAGER Penny Fraipont PUBLISHER Bill Macchio DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS Carol Collins INTERNET MARKETING Kathy May CHARLESTON OFFICE P.O. Box 22617 Charleston, SC 29413 (800) 433-7396 or (843) 881-1481 www.mediaservices1.com Sea Pines 50th Anniversary is published by Media Services, Inc. PO Box 22617, Charleston, SC 29413. All rights reserved. Reproduction electronically or in printed form without the express written permission of Media Services, Inc. is strictly prohibited and in violation of U.S. copyright laws. ��� ���������������������������� 7 From left to right: Philip Townsend Thurber Scott Barbara Kappler Brad Lemon Barbara Scott 843-301-1854 843-363-4687 843-363-4569 843-363-4503 843-363-4568 The Harbour Town Cottage with over 100 years of experience and over $100 million in sales Listing/Selling from Harbour Town to Sun City celebrates The Sea Pines Community’s 50th Anniversary
CHARLES FRASER DIED IN DECEMBER 2002 at the age of 73 in an accident involving a chartered boat in the Turks and Caicos Islands, doing the two things in life he enjoyed most – sailing and exploring the possibilities of land development. Over the years, Fraser and Sea Pines have had a tremendous impact on the lives of others, including family, friends and co-workers. All will tell you that he was a man of vision with an endless amount of energy. And most will also tell you that finances weren’t one of his strong suits. For all his strengths and weaknesses, one thing is sure: Fraser made a lasting impression on those with whom he came in contact. “Who he was drew people to him,” said Mary Wyman Stone Fraser, his wife. “Men especially were drawn to him. Charles was always very willing and interested in doing something new and welcomed new ideas. He was never frightened by others’ intelligence.” Mike Lawrence, current president of Sea Pines Resort, related their first encounter. It was in 1989, when Lawrence was exploring business opportunities on the island. Lawrence and Fraser met for lunch at Café Europa. Soon they had spent the entire afternoon together talking. Afternoon turned to evening and Lawrence said he found himself aboard the Compass Rose, Charles’ ����� ����� �������
sailboat, for a cocktail cruise. “I was first impressed by his creativity and overall persona,” Lawrence said. “He’s incredibly interesting to talk to. He’s dynamic. I have to say, though, he didn’t always make sense. Some of his ideas were out there.” Margaret Greer, a friend and neighbor since the early days, agreed. He was “multi-tasking” before it became the buzzword it is today. “Sometimes it seemed as if he was brainstorming with himself,” she said. “He was a genius. You couldn’t crawl into that mind.” Added Joseph B. Fraser Jr., Charles’ older brother, “What a mind. He was one of a kind. There aren’t many people out there with his vision.” Fraser said he and his brother had a good working relationship with one another and that the older they got, the closer they became. “What we had and what is taking place today (in Sea Pines) was his baby,” he said. “The closer I got to him, the more I got caught up in it.” Fraser was a voracious reader and had a passion for history, especially the history of Sea Pines. He bought whatever he could get his hands on – books, maps, anything pertaining to Hilton Head Island. “He would have read in the shower if it (whatever he was reading) wouldn’t have gotten wet,” Mary said. As an ardent fan of history, Fraser was relentless when it came to preserving and conserving the environment. Part of the reason he developed such strict covenants was to see to it that the rich history of the area was preserved. “Sea Pines Resort sets us apart from others because of its history,” Greer said. “Charles worshipped the importance of history.” Incidentally, prior to the Fraser family’s acquisition of the land, a portion of Sea Pines property had changed hands several different times. It wasn’t until many years after Charles and Mary were married (the two wed on Nov. 30, 1963) that he stumbled across the fact that Mary’s ancestors, the Lawton family, had once owned the land in preCivil War days. Through the years, many tried to test Fraser’s knowledge of the history of the area and his quest to preserve it through its covenants. “People have tried, but they have failed,” said Thomas Norby, chairman of the Sea Pines 50th Anniversary Committee, who got plugged into Sea Pines in 1965. He has, in one capacity or another, kept his ties with the company ever since. Mary said that about seven years after the first lots were sold, a family challenged one of the covenants, something having to do with the color of the houses, she recalls. “The Supreme Court of South Carolina ruled that landuse covenants could be applied,” she said. Norby was a childhood friend of the Fraser boys, who grew up in Hinesville, Georgia, about a three-hour drive from Hilton Head Island. Norby got involved when Fraser’s mother, Pearl, said, “You have to come help the boys.” Although busy with other business affairs, Norby said he knew better than to say no to Miss Pearl. “[Miss Pearl] painted a pretty picture of what Charles envisioned, and I knew enough that Sea Pines was a blossom waiting to bloom,” Norby said. Laura Lawton Fraser, Charles’ youngest daughter, shared Miss Pearl’s perspective. “When I turned 27, I thought about what I had done and then thought about what my 10 SeaPines50thAnniversary.com | SeaPinesHomesAndVillas.com
������������������������������������ ������������������ ����������������������������� ��������������������� �������������������������������������� ���������������������������������������������� ������������������������������������ ������������������������������������ ������������������������������������������������� ����������������������������������������� ��������������������������������������� ������������������������� father was doing at the same age,” said Laura Lawton. “How outrageous and daring a person he was. How bold the concepts he came up with. He had the ability to take huge, disparate subject matter, synthesize it and then anticipate what the next wave was going to be.” More recently, since moving out of Sea Pines, Margaret Greer said some of her fondest memories were Fraser’s “pop-in” visits. “He wouldn’t knock; he’d just yell when he walked in the door,” she recalled. “Sometimes the visits would last as little as five minutes, and sometimes we didn’t even talk. Charles would grab the nearest book or magazine, and Walter (her husband) would continue working on his art project.” Last year, Margaret Greer wrote a three-part series on the history of Sea Pines, as told by Joseph Fraser, which appeared in the April, May and June 2005 issues of Hilton Head Monthly. Added Walter Greer, “He’s the only gentleman I ever met with a photographic memory. I saw evidence of it as he leafed through books in my studio. “That’s another thing. Charles was very interested and supportive of the arts. And although he may not have taken part in them himself, he loved to see people enjoy things.” For all of his hard work, Fraser did indulge in two pleasures: sailing and traveling. Margaret Greer said she avoided sailing with him, however, if she could, because, “He ran aground a lot!” She notes there is one point in Calibogue Sound that affectionately 12 SeaPines50thAnniversary.com | SeaPinesHomesAndVillas.com
Hilton Head Island provides one of the world’s most beautiful living environments year round. Batson Brokerage, Inc. offers you 35 years of experience in successfully putting people and properties together on Hilton Head Island. P.O. Box 5577 • 7 Office Park Road, Suite 105 • Hilton Head Island, SC 29938 843-842-4080 • 1-800-401-4080 • Home 843-671-5153 • Fax 843-842-5080 e-mail: bbatson@hargray.com www.batsonbrokerage.com A Home For All Seasons Betty Batson has been nicknamed, “Charlie’s Bar & Grill” because he couldn’t seem to miss it. “About once a year, he would run aground,” Laura Lawton said. “Then we’d just have to wait out the tide. For those who don’t have an appreciation for sailing, it would seem as if Dad was a bad sailor, but that wasn’t the case at all.” Mike Lawrence conceded that Fraser sometimes had difficulty docking and that he once witnessed him make a ruckus while trying to dock the Compass Rose into the Harbour Town Yacht Basin in front of a crowd of about 200 onlookers. Lawrence just happened to be there for a Gregg Russell performance. “Gregg made a clever comment and everything went back to normal,” he said. As for traveling, Fraser’s approach was a little different. On most trips, Mary and the girls, Wyman and Laura Lawton, would accompany him. “We didn’t take the traditional family vacations,” Laura Lawton said. “We’d visit seven different European countries in 10 days. We’d see the key elements of each place, and then he would press us about what makes that city great and what could be done to make it better. It was exhausting.” For his visionary prowess, one thing Fraser was not well known for was his financial planning. “Money was never Charles’ primary motivation, said his brother, Joe Fraser. “It was to create something he could be proud of that others could be proud of, too.” Added Mary, “It’s not that he was naïve about money. He certainly knew that he could make a lot of it. It’s just that he was not driven by money. For him, Sea Pines was more of an academic challenge.” Speaking of academics, Laura Lawton said it was impossible for her father to make idle conversation. “We’d sit down to the dinner table and Dad would engage us in whatever subject matter was at hand – history, architecture, advances in modern medicine. Half the time we didn’t care. We just wanted to be little girls,” she said. “My father couldn’t do anything but academic conversation,” Laura Lawton continued. “The only time I saw him relax was when he was reading or sailing. Even then, he’d invite 20 or so people to go sailing and hold court, discussing some topic or another.” As an adult, Laura Lawton said her father’s passion for knowing all the facts is something she has inherited. About three years ago, she started writing a book for preteens about stories in the Bible from the animals’ point of view. About 100 pages into it, she stopped. “I was unsatisfied with it because I didn’t have enough information,” she explained. “I knew the story but not the whole context of the story. Now I have bookshelves lined with history books about the Roman Empire, the Greeks… so when I tell the story, they are correct politically, historically and culturally.” Norby recalled that during his last year, Fraser invited him over and said, “My clock’s ticking. You may be the only one to stick with this.” In doing so, he entrusted Norby with several pieces of historical documents, photographs and archive material. Norby, who had been doing some collecting of his own over the years, said he gladly accepted the invitation. 14 SeaPines50thAnniversary.com | SeaPinesHomesAndVillas.com
16 SeaPines50thAnniversary.com | SeaPinesHomesAndVillas.com American Home Mortgage “All photos, depictions, descriptions and names of Charles E. Fraser and Mary W.S. Fraser appearing herein and any and all rights associated therewith are owned by Mary W.S. Fraser and appear with the permission of Mary W.S. Fraser. Any reproduction or further use thereof is expressly prohibited without the written permission of Mary W.S. Fraser.”
Photographs provided by Sea Pines and Verizon Heritage.
Photographs provided by Sea Pines
Photographs provided by Sea Pines and Verizon Heritage.
When Hilton Head Regional Medical Center was founded more than 30 years ago, we made a commitment. A commitment to all the communities we serve. One that ensures not only comprehensive care and caring for you and your lovedones,but a range of programs, services and initiatives that promote a healthy community. All of them delivered by healthcare professionals and volunteers who know, understand and value how important it is to give back. What that adds up to is millions and millions of dollars invested both on-island and off-island in everything from charity care and community outreach to special services and volunteer programs. In fact, in 2004, Hilton Head Regional Medical Center provided over $15 million in charity care. And more than $500 thousand in donations and sponsorships. Not to mention, free preventive screenings, free seminars, awareness programs, special initiatives for kids, women and seniors, and who knows how many volunteer hours. Now, add to all that millions in capital investments over the last six years. $15.5 million for a new cath lab, new diagnostic and treatment technology, and a heart expansion. $16.3 million for a new Emergency Department. New ORs.A new 12-bed ICU.A new women’s center. Renovation. Expansion. And more. How much more? During thelast ten years, Hilton Head Regional has paid over $11 million in sales, property and charity care taxes. And as one of the area’s largest employers, we have over 600 people on staff. That means a healthier economy. Better schools. And a better quality of life for every one of us who calls southern Beaufort County home. To learn more about us and our commitment, visit hiltonheadmedctr.com. As our first 30years clearly demonstrate, when we make a commitment,we stick to it. HiltonHead Regional Medical Center ��������������������������������������� 33 OFFICE PARK RD. • SUITE SIX • HILTON HEAD, SC 29928 843.341.3393 • WWW.PALATIAL-HOMES.COM DESIGN • BUILD • CUSTOM HOMES �alatial �omes uxury, elegance and attention to detail are evident in every Palatial home. Regarded as one of the area’s finest home builders, our reputation has been built on a foundation of quality and personalized service. With more than 20 years experience, Palatial Homes meets and exceeds customer expectations while alleviating any concerns. If you are looking for the perfect home and a builder with an enduring commitment to customer satisfaction, look no further… ���������������������������� �
29 traordinary care, guarded by landuse covenants. Then as now, to build a home in Sea Pines required adherence to stringent Architectural Review Board standards that put a premium on environmental preservation and conformance. In other words, trees are more often built around than built over. Approximately one-fourth of the land was dedicated to open space, including the 605acre Sea Pines Forest Preserve, a tract of land that was specifically set aside as part of the grand scheme to preserve and conserve the natural beauty and wildlife inhabitants of the Lowcountry area. Unlike other beach-side communities, there was to be no front row/second row situation. The trees were not to be felled and the land stripped before construction began for residential property. The main artery for traffic, which became Sea Pines Drive, was set back from the ocean and off it cul-de-sacs ran up toward the sea. Residences were placed into the naural landscape and were expected to blend into it rather than dominate it. The colors were to add their contribution by being like the soft tones of the faded silver from the trunks of the old palmettos and the hues of tan from the pine needle floor and bark of the forest trees surrounding them. Earth tones were added and the palette was established and has since been maintained. Between these ocean-side culde-sacs were easements of 20 and 30 feet, which separated each residential street and offered access to the beach for the residences located on the streets but not on the ocean. Sea Pines Drive and subsequent streets wind their way through the green forests, twisting and turning to avoid the necessity of removing specimen trees along their way. Aerial photographs were used to plan these roads. When grand specimen trees were spotted through this method, roadways and later golf fairways were redesigned to steer around them. Parking areas, and even the world-famous Harbour Town Yacht Basin, were designed and redesigned to save such specimen trees, as evidenced by the great live oak that sits on the promontory in Harbour Town’s basin. Plans originally called for the basin to be round. The discovery of this live oak, its perfect size and shape, launched an internal lobbying effort in the company to save it. After a major SURROUNDED BY THE ATLANTIC Ocean and Calibogue Sound, Sea Pines occupies more than 5,000 acres of Hilton Head Island, with sweeping vistas of sea marshes, five miles of beach and maritime forests with palmettos, pines and live oak trees. It is home to 30 species of mammals, 133 types of birds, 11 fish, 37 reptiles, 20 amphibians and various other creatures. Whether or not all these creatures and foliage would still be in existence without the vision of Charles Fraser is hard to say. However, had it not been for the man who 50 years ago was able to see the forest for the trees, many of them might not be thriving as well as they are today. Fraser was a man who clearly saw the forest for the trees. Realizing the land’s potential uses other than for timber and private hunting preserves, Fraser began his quest to figure out how to develop and improve the land for human enjoyment while preserving its natural beauty, without disturbing the delicate balance between the environment and its inhabitants. In order to accomplish this, Fraser first spent months traveling the East Coast gathering information by observing communities and talking with citizens. He wanted to know what they would do differently in their communities and towns if they could start all over and begin with a clean, unspoiled slate. Fraser believed that his concept could only be implemented if the developer controlled every aspect of planning – from street locations to the design of individual houses. He founded the Sea Pines Company in 1956 with that thought in mind. Development began with ex28
A Spiritual Place SPIRITUALITY WAS OF GREAT importance to the early residents of Hilton Head Island, so it is no surprise that a church was one of the earliest buildings to be constructed. The Queen Chapel, AME Church had its beginnings on May 12, 1865. Rev. Richard Harvey Crain, James H. A. Johnson and James Handy, African Methodist-Episcopal missionaries, were on their way to Charleston aboard the Argo when they were diverted by a storm. They landed on Hilton Head Island in the Cherry Hill area. Waiting for the storm to pass, the men began singing and praying under an old oak. This simple service marked the beginning of African Methodism in South Carolina and the Queen Chapel became the mother church. Originally a praise house for slaves on the Pope Plantation, the property was purchased from W. D. Brown in 1886. “The first church” was built in 1892; services were held in the chapel before it was completed. The pastor was Rev. R. C. Williams, and the elder was Rev. P. W. Jefferson. The present church, located on Beach City Road, was renovated in 1954. Founded shortly after Queen Chapel, the first African Baptist Church is also on Beach City Road; several other island churches formed from this one. The St. James Baptist Church is nearly as old. Organized in 1886, it is near the Mitchelville neighborhood, a community created by a Civil War general to house freed slaves. The Queen Chapel, AME Church SeaPines50thAnniversary.com | SeaPinesHomesAndVillas.com 31 and expensive redesign of the basin, the tree was saved. Today it is called the “Liberty Oak” and is one of the focal points in Harbour Town. It also happens to be the place where Fraser is buried – the one (and only, perhaps) concession the company made to its strict covenants. To this day, that area is still not zoned for cemetery purposes. As the resort evolved and changed ownership over the years, Fraser’s vision continued to live on. And as Sea Pines is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, it must be noted that this milestone represents only its modern development. Before the Sea Pines Company ever took root, its heritage and foundation had already been firmly planted. The Indian shell ring located in Sea Pines Forest Preserve dates back to the time when the great pyramids of Egypt were built. Shards of Indian pottery dug there have been judged to be of the same vintage and some of the oldest pottery in North America. The old rice field of the Calibogue Plantation owned by Joseph Lawton dates back to the 1840s. And the Stoney-Baynard Ruins were built in 1793 out of tabby. It was, and is, with great care and careful planning that these historic landmarks have been preserved. Examples of how Fraser’s vision is being carried out today include ongoing environmental planning, wildlife and habitat management, integrated pest management, water conservation, water-quality management, and outreach and education. In addition, the company employs both a wildlife biologist and a wildlife officer. Sea Pines also conducts ecotours, which have received the Charles Bundy award from the governor of South Carolina for providing outstanding programs that extend the full benefits of tourism and recreation to rural areas of the state. The goal of these tours is to educate residents and visitors about the flora, fauna and history of the area while experiencing the uniqueness and beauty of Sea Pines. Sea Pines donates a portion of its revenues to the non-profit Sea Pines Museum and Forest Preserve Foundation. Taking a tour is the best way to enjoy and experience the history and beauty of the environment. Eco-tours include tours of the Stoney-Baynard Ruins, beach tours, bike tours, walking, boating and horseback tours of the forest preserve, wildlife education programs and numerous other activities. Special thanks to Rob Bender, recreation and fitness manager for Sea Pines, for providing information. 30 SeaPines50thAnniversary.com | SeaPinesHomesAndVillas.com
The Harbour Town Course is a Winner “THE TOURNAMENT ITSELF, I don’t remember much about,” said Jack Nicklaus of his 1975 win at the Sea Pines Heritage Classic. Perhaps he can be forgiven that memory lapse, given his 70 career wins, including 18 professional major championship victories. He may not remember winning the tournament, but no other player has created a greater legacy at Harbour Town, located in Sea Pines Resort on Hilton Head Island. The first design project Nicklaus took on, Harbour Town counts as one of his trophies. Though he has built hundreds of golf courses worldwide, the Harbour Town course is a career highlight as important as his first professional victory in 1962. Ranked as the number one course in South Carolina by Golf Magazine, this is the course to play at Hilton Head. Created by Jack Nicklaus and Pete Dye, the Harbour Town links took their inspiration from old courses in Scotland. The par-71 course is considered short by today’s standards but presents a challenge to even the most experienced golfers. Now known as one of America’s most prominent player-architects, the “Golden Bear” says, “That golf course started me on something that has been a lifetime love, and it’s something that I am very proud to have been involved in. I wish through the years I could have played it more, but there are just too many tournaments. “That course has contributed to a second vocation and second avocation that has been very rewarding.” Thirty-eight years later, Harbour Town continues to be an important stop on the PGA Tour, attracting internationally ranked players. SeaPines50thAnniversary.com | SeaPinesHomesAndVillas.com 33 REALIZING THAT SHE HAD an exceptionally bright 2-year-old daughter on her hands, Mary Wyman Stone Fraser, mostly out of sheer frustration, founded The Sea Pines Montessori School in 1968. “One day she (Wyman) came up to me and said ‘Mama, I want to go to Savannah to the Oglethorpe Mall,’” Fraser said. “Savannah and Oglethorpe are pretty difficult words for a 2-year-old child.” Fraser said that she herself was somewhat limited as to what to do to enhance Wyman’s learning, let alone help her flourish in her development. And at the time, there were no early childhood learning facilities on Hilton Head Island. “Back in those days, the U.S. government thought (structured) learning shouldn’t occur before the first grade,” she said. Fraser set about on a mission: She devoured reading material and asked others about what was available. She studied various teaching methods and, in doing so, stumbled upon the Montessori method. “I went to a Montessori conference and thought everyone there was weird, but I knew the philosophy was correct,” she recalled. The entire process, from the time she started to the first day of school, took about six months. “I had to do something fast. My child and I were climbing the walls,” she said. Sally Humphrey Cook of Shawnee Mission, Kansas, was the first directress of the class of 33 children. Classes were held in the Tree House Restaurant Complex, now a convenience store on South Forest Beach. During the eight years on the beach, the school grew and prepared for its future. In 1974, a parents’ association, Mothers of Montessori Students (MOMS), was formed as a supportive arm of the school, assisting in the day-to-day financial operation of the school when the Sea Pines Company withdrew its subsidy. At that time, Fraser appointed a chairman of the board, and Cook became headmistress. A board of five members was formed to develop bylaws based on the needs of the school. Its first order of business was to obtain a site and put into motion a building program that would take care of the projected needs of the community. The plan for the new building, drawn up by architect John Bulken, included three classrooms, offices and storage space. The board, with the support of the parents’ association, obtained a loan. Pledges of financial support from each parent were accepted as collateral. The enrollment was 84 children from 70 families. Anticipating the need for additional staffing for the growing school, Cook invited Elizabeth Caspari, who studied with Maria Montessori in India, to offer a teacher training course, the first such course taught in South Carolina. One of the teachers who took the course and received her Montessori teaching diploma in 1976 was current headmistress of the school Maxine Swingle, who started with the school in 1973 as a parent volunteer. Swingle became the headmistress in 1982, when Cook retired. In the fall of 1977, the school moved into its new three-classroom building at its present location on Fox Grape Road. Over the next two decades, enrollment grew, necessitating several expansions and renovations. Most recently, the school completed a $1.9 million, 11,000-squarefoot expansion/renovation in 2000. Several new rooms were added to enhance the facility. An auditorium/ multi-purpose room was built for physical education, recreation, drama programs, meetings and conferences. A music room, a library and the Rainbow Room were added to the main facility, while the building also got a new front entrance. Sea Pines Montessori was selected by the Ford Foundation as one of the “10 most outstanding pre-schools in the nation,” and is a model for many schools. It is common for parents to move to Hilton Head so their children may attend. Sea Pines, the first Montessori school in South Carolina, today provides educational excellence to nearly 300 children from throughout the Lowcountry community. The Sea Pines Montessori School Mary Wyman Stone Fraser (foreground) was instrumental in establishing the first Montessori school in the area. 32 SeaPines50thAnniversary.com | SeaPinesHomesAndVillas.com
Others believe that people were actually taking up golf as we know it. Either way, the game itself fell into disfavor during the War of 1812. Seen as a British game, Americans turned their backs on golf for some 80 years. As early as the game of golf started in the United States, the first written record occurs in 1457, when it was banned by the Scots Parliament of James II because it interfered with military training for the wars against the English. Soccer was also banned at this time for the same reason. The ban on golf was lifted in 1502 with the signing of the Treaty of Glasgow. James IV made his first purchase of golf equipment, buying a set of clubs from a bow-maker in Perth, Scotland. By 1513, Queen Catherine of England referred to the growing popularity of the game in a letter to Cardinal Wolsey. The year 1552 marks the first recorded evidence of golf at St. Andrews in Scotland; one year later, the Archbishop of St. Andrews decreed that the locals had the right to play the links at St. Andrews. And, in 1567, Mary, Queen of Scots, became the first known female golfer when she was spotted playing shortly after the death of her husband, Lord Darnley. While the game had its roots in Scotland, golf is almost an obsession in the United States, if you judge by the sheer number of courses. Though every state has golf courses, the southern states seem to be the most popular because the temperate weather allows for year-round playing. The southeast coastline is dotted with hundreds of courses, many designed by the top players. Hilton Head Island is home to a large number of courses, three of them at Sea Pines, including the well-known Harbour Town Links. SeaPines50thAnniversary.com | SeaPinesHomesAndVillas.com 35 MOST AVID GOLFERS KNOW that the game has its roots in Scotland, but few know that the first golf club in the United States was conceived in South Carolina. Legend has it that the first golf clubs and balls arrived in Charleston as early as 1743; the shipment included 96 clubs and 432 balls. Later, in 1786, the South Carolina Golf Club was formed; eventually, the club evolved into the Country Club of Charleston, which is still in existence. Members met at Williams’ Coffee House, playing the game on park land known as Harleston Green; players shared the space with horses, carriages, children at play and others. By 1795, the group had a clubhouse but still did not have a course to play. A second club formed in Savannah, Georgia, in 1795. A Miss Eliza Johnston held her wedding at the Savannah Golf Club in 1811—perhaps the first wedding to take place in a golf setting. It was not until 1898 that the nation’s first true golf resort in Pinehurst, North Carolina, opened. Since those days, golf has taken off throughout the Carolinas. According to historian Charles Price, Andrew Johnston, a Charleston merchant, brought an assortment of goods from Glasgow—including 12 golf clubs and some balls. Price speculates that Johnston used these items on his plantation before his death five years later. John Reid, a Scot who settled in Yonkers, New York, heard that a fellow Scot was traveling to Scotland on business. He requested that his friend, Robert Lockhart, order some clubs and balls while at the famous St. Andrews course. On Feb. 22, 1888, Reid got a group of friends together and laid out a three-hole course in a cow pasture. The group was bitten by the golf bug and, when summer came, they built six holes on a nearby 30-acre site. A few months later, they established the St. Andrews Golf Club. There is some disagreement about whether the game being played was golf or a derivation of a similar Dutch game called “kolven.” Some speculate that, since golf was all the rage in Scotland, South Carolinians were simply copying European names. The Birthplace of Golf in the United States Historic Charleston, South Carolina
Photographs provided by Sea Pines and Verizon Heritage.
HILTON HEAD PREPARATORY SCHOOL In the vision of Charles Fraser. A K -12 college preparatory school within the gates of Sea Pines. Hilton Head Preparatory School 8 Fox Grape Road,Hilton Head Island,SC 29928 Director of Admissions, Lauren Marlis 843-671-2286,ext.315 • Lmarlis@hhprep.org www.hhprep.org NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS SOUTHERN ASSOCIATION OF COLLEGES & SCHOOLS ���������������������������� ������������������� �������������������� ����������������������������� ����������������������������������� ���������������������������������������������������������������������������� ��������������������������� � ������������������������������� ����������������������� ����������������������������������������������������������� ������������������������������������������������������������������ ������������������������������������������������������������������ �������������������������������������������������������������������������� ���������������������������������������������������������������� ����������������������������������������������������� ��������� ����������������� ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� SeaPines50thAnniversary.com | SeaPinesHomesAndVillas.com 39 Photographs provided by Sea Pines and Verizon Heritage.
1949 A group of lumber associates from Hinesville, Georgia, purchase 20-thousand acres of pine forest on Hilton Head Island for an average of nearly $60 an acre. 1950 Lumbering is the only activity on the island. There are about 300 residents. 1956 James F. Byrnes Bridge is built and 48,000 cars travel across it. 1956 Charles E. Fraser buys his father’s interest in The Hilton Head Company and begins developing Sea Pines Plantation. 1957 Construction work at Sea Pines begins on 5,200 acres. 1958 The first lot deed in Sea Pines Plantation is signed. Beachfront lots initially sell for $5,350. By 1962, they are selling for $9,600. 1962 About one-fourth of 2,000 lots are sold on “10 year plan.” 1967 Sea Pines Plantation installs the island’s first gates. 1974 The Heritage Golf Classic telecast reaches an estimated 5 million homes. 1975 The island’s full-time population is 6,500. Over 250,000 people visit Hilton Head. 1975 Sea Pines Co. launches “innovative new villa ownership plan,” called “Time-Sharing.” 1977 Homes: A total of 1,052 built, 2,738 planned. Villas: 1,000 units built, 1,100 units planned. 1982 Nearly 2,900 time-share owners. 1983 Golf course lots are listed for sale at $74,000. 1992 More than $140 million in closed sales; 22% increase over 1991. REAL ESTATE Fast Facts ���������������������� �������������������� ����������������������� ������������������������ ������������������������������������������������� ��������������������������������������������������������������������� SeaPines50thAnniversary.com | SeaPinesHomesAndVillas.com 41
Outdoors magazine... “Off the coast of South Carolina is a giant sea island that promises to become one of the country’s finest year-round vacation and outboarding areas.” Atlanta magazine... “The development of Sea Pines Plantation to date has been a story of orderly growth, fulfilling the dream of an island that is both a community and a retreat. Its resort development, which was, in large part, forced on the company, has now matured and become a vital part of the financial operation.” Even Sports Illustrated... “Sea Pines Plantation on Hilton Head Island is a housing development, although manifestly distinct from the developments commonly seen nowadays....At Sea Pines the ocean pounds against four miles of pearl gray, slate-smooth sand; live oaks, Sabal palms and magnolia sough soulfully in the forests; a golf course makes its way lazily over lagoons and through the woods; roads, with no place to go, go placidly; and the birds make music all day.” Wally Butler was clearly part of something great in the making. In an article in The Island Packet dated Jan. 7, 1993, Butler conveyed his highest regards to Charles Fraser, calling him, “the greatest creative and public relations mind of all resort developers. It was a thrill to be a member of his team.” ����������������������������������������������������������� ������� ��� ���������� ������ ���� ������������ ������� ���� ����������������������������������������������������������� ��������������������������������������������������������������� ���������������������������������������������������������� ���������������������������� ������������������������������������������������������������������������� �������������������������� ����������� ��������������������� ���������������������� ����������������������������� ������������������������� ������������ ������������������������ ���������� 3 lagoon rd | mon-sat, 10–5:30 | 785-2538 | thegoldsmithshop.com Elegant lighthouse and Island-life charms individually crafted by The Goldsmith, himself. In 18k gold, with or without diamond accents. SeaPines50thAnniversary.com | SeaPinesHomesAndVillas.com 43 WALLACE E. BUTLER JR.’S LOVE affair with Hilton Head Island began in 1956, when he drove there from Atlanta to speak to Charles E. Fraser about his plans to develop Sea Pines Plantation. As he drove along the island’s dirt road to get to his meeting with Fraser, Butler remembers seeing, “the most beautiful piece of land on the coast I had ever seen.” Two years later, on April 1, 1958, Butler took the trip from his home in Atlanta to Hilton Head Island again, but this time he stayed and became Sea Pines’ first real estate salesman. The Savannah native served as the vice president of sales for the Sea Pines Plantation in the early days of Hilton Head Island’s development. Butler moved into the little house on Quail Road where Fraser was living at the time. Later that year, after heavy rains flooded the house, the two men rented rooms and moved into the big house on Honey Horn Plantation until Fraser’s home on the second row of Green Heron Road was completed. In the beginning, selling real estate on the island wasn’t easy. At the time, Fraser’s ideas were revolutionary. With Sea Pines’ careful predevelopment research, excellent land-use planning, open space easements and deed covenants requiring architectural control over all construction in hand, Butler was charged with painting Fraser’s futurist vision of a distinguished worldclass community to potential buyers. Sea Pines vigorously encouraged lot buyers to hire architects to custom design homes in a contemporary residential architectural style. In fact, Hilton Head Island’s first architects are credited with pioneering a design revolution for Southeastern coastal homes. Instead of the usual homes with small windows in the Colonial, Tudor, Georgian or Spanish style, the first homes of Sea Pines Plantation were designed to let occupants look outdoors through great expanses of glass doors and windows. Finally Butler and Sea Pines got a break. An article about Hilton Head Island and the development appeared in the Charleston News-Courier, which was then reprinted in The New York Times travel section. That’s when inquiries first started rolling in. At the time, ocean-front lots on Sea Pines were selling for $5,350. Butler’s first sale was to Dr. and Mrs. Lane Reeves of Savannah. They paid $3,700 for a lot on Calibogue Cay. (Later, Butler would build his own house on the waterside of Calibogue Cay.) A price list for residential lots in Sea Pines Plantation dated Feb. 1, 1963, offers Calibogue Cay lots ranging from $5,000 to a then whopping $18,000. More great publicity followed and the momentum continued to build. By 1964, many national publications were singing the praises of Sea Pines Plantation: The Saturday Evening Post... “Charles E. Fraser, president of the corporation that turned 5,200 acres on the south tip of Hilton Head Island into a lushly picturesque resort, pursues a rare philosophy of land management. ‘I’m interested in making money,’ he says, ‘but I’m also interested in history, architecture and nature. When we have to make a decision about cutting down a tree, we’re apt to say let’s leave it alone. It looks nice.’ He aims to preserve the island’s natural beauty, sacrificing quick profits for lasting charm: ‘I think it’s wrong to destroy a rookery to drain a road.’” FIRST SALESMAN an Eyewitness to Hilton Head Island’s Climb from Obscurity 42 SeaPines50thAnniversary.com | SeaPinesHomesAndVillas.com
“Now almost all prospects want contemporary design.” Those design elements include spacious living quarter by opening the sliding glass wall, the screened porch became part of the living room. Jalousie windows in the dining area helped with cross-ventilation to keep the house comfortable. The lower level was also screened and included a bath area to rinse off after going to the beach. Wonderful views, ocean breezes and plenty of space for relaxing – all in all, it was the perfect vacation home for the times. And, not only did it set the pattern for Sea Pines, it created a whole new style in resort living that continues to the present. Top left: The ocean side of the house had a large screened porch for most of its length. The lower level was also screened and had a shower. Bottom left: Rear elevation shows fenced utility yard required by covenants. Top right: A sliding glass wall in the living room opened up onto the screened porch. Stairs led up from the screened terrace below. Section: Shows basic structure. Steel I-beam posts are set in foundation walls, run all the way down to footings. Steel girders are welded across the top of posts. Space above wall allows extra light and ventilation into lower level. SeaPines50thAnniversary.com | SeaPinesHomesAndVillas.com 45 BY TODAY’S STANDARDS, THE first house at Sea Pines would be considered small and lacking in amenities, but it established the prototype for the ocean-front homes of the future. Built by developer Charles Fraser for himself, it incorporated basic ideas that have become the standard. Architect John Wade worked with Fraser to create a home that would be spacious, easy to care for and able to weather coastal storms. To that end, Wade’s design called for the home to be raised on four masonry piers, the idea being that storm water would sweep through without causing extensive damage. “It was sort of a test house that convinced people raised design could be attractive,” said Wade. No doubt the enhanced views from upper levels were also selling points for this new concept. To add to the modern look, Wade chose materials such as bleached cypress and light masonry to blend with the outdoor setting. “We were fortunate in building the first two houses for contemporaryminded owners,” said Wade. Wonderful Views & Ocean Breezes This House Set the Pattern at Sea Pines 44 SeaPines50thAnniversary.com | SeaPinesHomesAndVillas.com
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