Dungeness

As we headed north  on the Cumberland River we found an anchorage near the Greyfield private dock.  We passed both the Sea Camp and the Dungeness docks.  There were other boats anchored near these docks, so we went further north to avoid them.  Steve took Piper and Jack for a quick stroll and then returned for me in the dinghy.  It was much too hot for the dogs to traipse around the island with us on this day.  

We tied up the dingy at the Dungeness dock.  The Ferry was waiting for its passengers to board for the return trip to St. Mary's.  The National Park Service runs Cumberland Island and maintains honor system deposit boxes for the $4.00 per person fee which is good for 7 days. I found the fee envelopes--deposited my $10 because I didn't have any dollar bills.  I filled out the form which wanted my mailing address--I am sure that is so they can return the $2 I overpaid.  We did not see any park personnel other than maintenance crews. 

I thought I was going to have to search for the wild horses that roam the island.  I didn't have to search at all--they were leisurely enjoying themselves all around us. 

Steve and I were both eager to see the ruins of the estate and the beach.  We enjoyed our walk under the canopy of trees and moss along the unpaved trail. 

James Oglethorpe had Fort Andrew built on the northern end of the island which was then known as Missoe in expectation of a Spanish attack.  A village for soldiers and their families called Barriemackie grew around the fort.  The fort and the village were later abandoned when the threat from the Spanish disappeared. Oglethorpe had a friendly  relationship Chief Tomochichi who offered much assistance to Oglethorpe when he established the first colony in Georgia.  Tomochichi's nephew had visited England and was enchanted with the kind treatment he received by the British Royalty.  He wanted the name changed from Missoe (which means Sassafrass) to Cumberland after the Duke of Cumberland, so Oglethorpe renamed the island as a favor to Chief Tomochichi. 

While on newly named Cumberland Island,  Oglethorpe built a hunting lodge he named Dungeness.  The name Dungeness can also be traced back to England. The Dungeness headland is on the coast of Kent, England.  After the American Revolution, Much of Cumberland Island was aquired by Nathanial Greene.  After his death in 1786, his wife Catherine and her new husband built mansion on the island.  She named this four story tabby mansion after Oglethorpe's hunting lodge, Dungeness. 

Dungeness Ruins

Guest House Ruins

Joy