tern which other developers followed both here and around the world.” While Charles was known for his ideas, Joe was known as the behind-the-scenes and getit-done guy, helping turn the visions of his younger brother into reality. “In any company, you have a top guy with ideas and others to implement them,” said Fraser, who was primarily in charge of design and construction. “I fired the boiler while my brother made the speeches. I was just one of the many team players.” In the early 1950s, Hilton Head Island didn’t have electricity, phone service, gas stations or convenience stores. Only one paved road existed, and that was on the north end of the island. At the time, the Lowcountry area of South Carolina was one of the poorest in the state. Nevertheless, Fraser, a graduate of Yale Law School (he practiced law briefly in Augusta, Georgia) saw potential in the dense forest leading to the Atlantic Ocean. The Fraser family, from Hinesville, Ga., along with the Hack Family, owned the land. The Frasers were in the timber business and were quite successful at it. It took some prodding before Charles could convince his father, Gen. Joseph B. Fraser, to sell him the land to cut down a few trees – rather than completely level the area – and turn it into a resort/ retirement area. But as Joe Fraser has said, their parents were supportive of whatever they wanted to do. Initially, North Forest Beach, SeaPines50thAnniversary.com | SeaPinesHomesAndVillas.com 9 THE STORY OF SEA PINES HAS been told many times ... and then told some more. No matter who is telling it, or embellishing upon it, its central theme is always one of a man, Charles Fraser, who wasn’t afraid to share his ideas and dreams for doing something that had never been done before. As many have attested, some of his ideas seemed crazy, at least at the time. And some of his dreams have never been realized – yet. However, the fact that, a half century later,what had never before been done is still around – and thriving -- is a testimony in itself. The 50th Anniversary of Sea Pines is also telling in that it is a story of how one man’s vision for a world-class resort, coupled with a strong sense of integrity to preserve the environment, has withstood the test of time. It is also a story and lesson that money is not everything. When Charles E. Fraser and his brother, Joseph B. Fraser Jr., surveyed the land for timbering purposes, Charles Fraser saw green but not just the monetary kind. If Fraser and his vision for Sea Pines had been all about making money, then the Sea Pines we know today would have a very different look and feel. Reflecting on Sea Pines’ 50th anniversary, Joe Fraser said, “It’s rewarding to see how far Sea Pines has come and the fact that so many developers have modeled their communities after it. I think Sea Pines has far exceeded any of our expectations.” Joe Fraser believed his brother established a “patAbove: Early view of Sea pines from the air. Left: Joe Fraser works on plans for open space in Sea Pines.~ 1982 Right: Charles Fraser, Bernard Rothchild, and Joe Fraser studying early plans of Sea Pines.
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