A Slice of Bluffton Then and Now, Dispatch No. 3
As part of the Lowcountry Chronicle project, we’re going to publish the posts from the Bluffton Then and Now public Facebook group in website form so they have a permanent home to live in case Zucky decides to pull the plug one day.
Here’s our latest batch of dispatches from Bluffton Then and Now. We hope you’ll join the public Facebook group to get a fuller view of the place we make our home.
The Calhoun Street town dock through the years.
Scott’s: not sure of the exact date on the “then” photo, but it’s where Alvin Ord’s lives today.
All Joy/Brighton Beach, back when the county would bring in truck loads of sand for the beach.
This is the old shed that sat on the corner of Lawrence and Boundry streets that housed the town firetuck before the station on Alljoy was built. It was being repaired at the time of the picture. The cow painted was done by a few local ladies. The DuBois Family Park and shrimp boat playground sits there today.
A primer I found on the history of Bluffton schools.
The Deer Tongue building through the years. Deer tongue is a plant found growing wild in the Lowcountry used long ago in perfumes, medicine and in tobacco. It was dried and baled in this building before being shipped off. This building has been moved a few times and once sat where the Dispensary is on Calhoun and Lawrence. It has also been a feed and seed farm store, a antique store and restaurant. But it’s not done yet!
A great find from group member Eric Theiling, showing that Lawrence Street was named Deer Tongue in 1924.
And a little filling in of the Deer Tongue story from group member Sherry Donaldson: “It was Earth Enterprises. They sold herbs, organic vegetables, wood stoves. Pat Brennan had a leather shop, sold belts and sandals. Sue had her loom there. They had garden plants, jellies, jams, vinegars, etc. Joel, who owned the property, then had four of the most cantankerous turkeys ever, named Lucy and Ricky and Ethel and Fred.” That’s after the classic TV show “I Love Lucy” for you Tik Tokkers out there who haven’t seen the golden oldies.
Like what you learned here? Sign up for the Bluffton Then and Now Facebook group for a regular dose of State of Mind memories.
And if you have photos or stories you’d like to share to fill out our chronicling of Bluffton history — the good, the bad, the ugly, the all of it — please email me at ptollefson800@gmail.com.
