May 25, 2018. Jekyll Island Historic District. Millionaires' Club.

May 25, 2018.  Jekyll Island Historic District.  Millionaires' Club.  Wednesday we returned to Jekyll Island and toured the Historic District on a trolley.  It was an interesting 90-minute history lesson.

In 1733, General James Oglethrope named Jekyll Island in honor of Sir Joseph Jekyll (actually, the correct spelling has only one "l" according to our guide), his friend and financier in England.  The island changed hands several times before becoming an exclusive hunting club for men who made untold fortunes in the late 19th century; Rockefeller, Morgan, Vanderbilt, Pulitzer and others.  At its peak, the island was owned by 100+ men whose combined wealth was equal to 1/6 of all the wealth in the world at the time.

Initially, 53 memberships were sold.  A clubhouse was constructed which provided space for 48 of the members.  Other members bought lots and constructed "cottages" for their families.  At least one of the "cottages" consists of 10,000 square feet.  By today's standards the cottages would qualify as mansions.  Most showcased all of the amenities available in the early 20th Century.  The members were accompanied by their personal servants.  The ratio of servant to member was 6-1.

By 1875, the island came under the ownership of John DuBignon.  With the help of several well-placed friends, shares were offered to wealthy investors.  The shares were marketed as a winter retreat for those who could afford to flee the harsh winters in the industrial north.  The "season" for members was January through March.

The private ownership of the island continued until the second World War.  Interest waned as fewer and fewer children or grandchildren of the original members returned to the island.  In the 1940s, the Island was acquired by the state of Georgia.  After failing to purchase the island, the state condemned it.  The entire island with structures was valued at less than $700,000.  Most of that money went to local governmental authorities for back real estate taxes.  The island now has its own governing body even though it is owned by the state.  However, it is completely-self supporting.  No state money is spent for the preservation of the structures.

The pictures show the original clubhouse.  It now has an annex and is operated as a hotel.  The Faith Chapel displays a Tiffany stained glass window.  It was built in 1904 and was used a non-denominational chapel until the state acquired it along with the island.

The phone pictured above symbolizes the first transcontinental phone call which was placed to the island and included Alexander Graham Bell, Woodrow Wilson and other important people whose names I cannot recall.  The call was connected to San Francisco, New York, Washington, DC, and Jekyll Island, where the President of AT&T was recuperating from an injury.

Our friend, Fred, worked at Crane Company for several years.  Fred, the Crane Cottage, fourth from the bottom, was built by Richard Teller Crane, founder of the plumbing fixture company.  It is the largest, most lavish of the cottages.  It, along with many of the other cottages, is a popular wedding venue today.

That's Jekyll Island from a historical perspective.  The final picture is a blue heron.  I include it as a reminder that the island's initial attraction was its natural beauty and its wildlife.  It has been well preserved in a fashion so as to allow us to view many of the same features which existed 100 years ago and 400 years ago.  If you are in the area, it is worth a day to see it.

Today, we toured Saint Simons Island on a trolley.  The next blog will show you many of the things we saw today and tell you a little about Saint Simons.  Goodnight.