 |
The town of
Bluffton, located in what was the King's grant to Lord
Proprietor Colleton, has had quite an interesting and important
history.
Situated on the
"High Bluff" overlooking the beautiful May River, it
came to be, in the early 1800's, the summering place where the
families of the rice and cotton planters of the surrounding
"Low Country" could escape the heat, insects and
malaria of the near sea-level plantations. It was a merry place
where everyone swam, boated, fished, crabbed, shrimped and, in
the cooler weather, enjoyed the oysters, clams and scallops as
the Indians long before them had done and as the present day
residents still do.
|
|
Bluffton grew...
Travel between the coastal towns in the early days was, of
course, mainly by water. So, as it was situated between Savannah
on the south and Beaufort and Charleston on the north, Bluffton
became an important distribution center. Out of Bluffton to the
coastal cities flowed the crops from the farms and plantations
(and often from there to Europe). And back came the supplies the
farms needed. Soon the main street of Bluffton, leading to the
town wharf, boasted well-stocked general stores and boarding
houses to serve the increasing number of travelers. This
commerce brought Bluffton year-round residents.
In 1844 the
planters around Bluffton became angered by Federal tariffs which
were making the goods they imported from abroad excessively
expensive. Out of this discontent grew the "Bluffton
Movement." Incensed planters gathered beneath what became
known as the "Secession Oak" and the secessionist
movement was born. Sixteen years later South Carolina became the
first state to secede from the Union. On June 4, 1863, several
Union gunboats and a transport carrying 1,000 infantrymen
steamed up the river to Bluffton because, as the officer in
charge wrote in his report, "This town has been the
headquarters for the rebels for a long time in this
vicinity." Troops were landed with orders to fire the town.
Confederate soldiers attacked but were outnumbered and
outgunned. When shelling and torching ended and the Union forces
withdrew, 34 or more homes, churches and other buildings had
been destroyed. This, of course, was a severe blow to the town
which took years to overcome.
But Bluffton is
as resilient as it is unique. Its antebellum homes and churches,
many of which still stand, are as interesting today as on the
day they were built. And their third and fourth generation
owners are as proud of them as their great grandparents were.
Interspersed with them are newer structures and newer people:
scholars, artists, musicians, writers, scientists, farmers and
businessmen from many places. And an increasing number of young
people who work in Savannah or Beaufort or Hilton Head Island
choose to live in Bluffton, drawn not only by the bluff, the
river and the weather but most of all by a feeling of what can
only be an extremely strong mixture of community and
independence . . .and that's Bluffton.
Search
all available Real Estate
Contact
me about Bluffton, SC |
