A Bridge Too Far
In December, a South Carolina government agency dashed developers' hopes for a 750-foot bridge from the mainland to Sandy Island, saying plans to log the island's longleaf pine forests threatened the red-cockaded woodpecker. More grateful than the woodpeckers, however, are 130 members of the "Gullah" community, who have remained isolated on the coastal river delta island for more than a century.
Gullahs descend from West Africans brought to South Carolina to work as slaves on rice plantations. Several Gullah communities, speaking a dialect traced back to the region that is now Angola, still exist among the state's islands. But the 4.5-by-7-mile Sandy Island is one of only two without bridges to the mainland.
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Along with environmentalists, Sandy Island's Gullah residents oppose a bridge because they fear developers (including textile magnate Roger Milliken) will cover the island with resorts. One prospective development plan outlined a proposal for a resort with equestrian trails, golf courses, a marina, and enough condominiums to house nearly 20,000.
One resident, Wilhelmena Pyatt, 41, remembers how the island lacked electricity, phones, and regular ferry service when she was a child. Like most Sandy Island adults, she rides a small boat every day to the mainland. There, she picks up her car at a parking lot and drives to work in nearby Myrtle Beach. Children take ferries to coastal schools. "You know everyone on the island. Even children who have ended up leaving find time to come back to visit." A bridge, she says, would change everything.
Pyatt says community members expect a bridge will be built some day, but they hope it can be used to promote nature-based tourism. "That will allow us to continue our natural way of living." Besides, Pyatt points out, a bridge would mean a shorter commute: "I could drive my car to my house," she says.
Comments
I recently visited family in Pawleys Island, SC and viewed the signage 'Sandy Island' with a f/u remark, requesting to go visit this (resort sounding) place while on vacation.
It was immediately explained to me the hardship of the people of the island, and the fact that a 'resort' is exactly what they did not want. I have since returned home (North NJ), from my vacation.
After a bit of research and reading this article, I hope the people of Sandy Island will have positive results for their livelihood and for the conservationist efforts for their land.
Ironically, I am familiar with the name Milliken, since I have worked in NY as a temp on a corp. Milliken project.
My family are probably members of these people in some indirect way, long ago.
I do remember hearing stories of family farm members being called 'Guiches' and their love of rice.
Members of my family have inherited, sold and bought land in the Georgetown, Pawleys Island area.
It is very interesting to read documentation of part of my ancestry, albeit, indirectly.
Thank you.
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