The Hofwyl-Broadfield Plantation was different from any other plantation that we had been through. The plantation owned by the Brailsford, Troup and Dent families over the years produced rice from 1806 until about 1913 when it was turned into a dairy farm. This area of Georgia was prime land for rice because the Altamaha River and it's fresh water which was a great source of irrigation. The river then flows on into the Atlantic close by. So much of the land along the rivers in this area is marsh land .jpg)
because of the tides that rise and cause the river banks to overflow every day. In this map .jpg)
you can see the rice growing areas still producing in the United States today.
.jpg)
because of the tides that rise and cause the river banks to overflow every day. In this map .jpg)
you can see the rice growing areas still producing in the United States today.
The original grand house built around 1810 had been destroyed or partially destroyed by fire in 1858.
The present house, front .jpg)
and back view .jpg)
believed to have been constructed in 1851 for use by an overseer, was later occupied by the plantation owners. The Dent family was last to reside here with their three children. Their boy married and lived in a different location in the area and never had any children. The two daughters never married and when the last one passed away in 1973 she bequeathed what was left of the plantation to the State of Georgia along with a small trust fund which helps to maintain it now.
.jpg)
and back view .jpg)
believed to have been constructed in 1851 for use by an overseer, was later occupied by the plantation owners. The Dent family was last to reside here with their three children. Their boy married and lived in a different location in the area and never had any children. The two daughters never married and when the last one passed away in 1973 she bequeathed what was left of the plantation to the State of Georgia along with a small trust fund which helps to maintain it now.
Many huge trees .jpg)
are still standing today, most of them being Magnolia .jpg)
and Live Oak, Georgia's state tree (which I think is the same one a narrator in SC told us was the water oak). Notice that the small shiny leaves .jpg)
are not anything as we, Ohioans, know of as oak.
.jpg)
are still standing today, most of them being Magnolia .jpg)
and Live Oak, Georgia's state tree (which I think is the same one a narrator in SC told us was the water oak). Notice that the small shiny leaves .jpg)
are not anything as we, Ohioans, know of as oak.
The house as seen in it's entirety from the front angle .jpg)
and the back angle .jpg)
show the extended kitchen area which was separate from the main area of the house. It had a parlor, dining room and bedroom downstairs. The second floor had four bedrooms, one which was later divided to provide a bathroom and an infirmary.
.jpg)
and the back angle .jpg)
show the extended kitchen area which was separate from the main area of the house. It had a parlor, dining room and bedroom downstairs. The second floor had four bedrooms, one which was later divided to provide a bathroom and an infirmary.
The kitchen complex extending out from the main house where cooking was done over an open hearth. Therefore, it was separate because of the risk of fire and because of the heat and humidity in southern summers. It also includes living quarters for the cook, the main kitchen with hearth, and a summer kitchen closest to the house which was used when there were fewer people staying in the house.
In the side yard there was a smoke house, as seen behind a garage here 
, which was later turned into an ice house after the plantation became a dairy. This was done because of the need for ice to cool and preserve the milk, and was accomplished by adding sawdust to the walls for insulation. The brick fenced area .jpg)
was also added after the change to dairy in 1913 to prevent the cows, pigs and wild animals from soiling the laundry that was hung out to dry. The garage, added still later, still has a 1970 Olds Cutlass Supreme inside which was the last vehicle owned by Ophelia Dent before her death.
, which was later turned into an ice house after the plantation became a dairy. This was done because of the need for ice to cool and preserve the milk, and was accomplished by adding sawdust to the walls for insulation. The brick fenced area .jpg)
was also added after the change to dairy in 1913 to prevent the cows, pigs and wild animals from soiling the laundry that was hung out to dry. The garage, added still later, still has a 1970 Olds Cutlass Supreme inside which was the last vehicle owned by Ophelia Dent before her death.
The dairy farm was operated by the spinster sisters until 1942 when they paid off the family debts and reached a comfortable financial status. At times, they had 35 Jersey and Guernsey cows that produced milk daily for nearby residents and for the millionaires vacationing on Jekyll Island.
During rice production days over 350 slaves lived in duplex cabins .jpg)
located throughout the plantation. They were duplex with a common chimney .jpg)
and were furnished with only bare necessities .jpg)
to be homes for very large slave families.
.jpg)
located throughout the plantation. They were duplex with a common chimney .jpg)
and were furnished with only bare necessities .jpg)
to be homes for very large slave families.
In addition to the long milking area .jpg)
where the cows were washed down before milking, there was buildings .jpg)
for processing the milk .jpg)
, others for storing food, clothing and crops. There was a commissary .jpg)
where the owner distributed food and clothing to his slaves. With the end of slavery, the African American workers were required to purchase these items. The commissary later became a country store to serve the community as well. There was also a pay shed where workers received the fruits of their labor and deductions were made for items purchased from the store.
.jpg)
where the cows were washed down before milking, there was buildings .jpg)
for processing the milk .jpg)
, others for storing food, clothing and crops. There was a commissary .jpg)
where the owner distributed food and clothing to his slaves. With the end of slavery, the African American workers were required to purchase these items. The commissary later became a country store to serve the community as well. There was also a pay shed where workers received the fruits of their labor and deductions were made for items purchased from the store.
The African-American slaves were more resilient to the hot south climate. However, mosquitoes were a problem with the malaria they carried.
It was interesting to hear more about everyday living in the south! Not all life was grand or easy.
As is the case with most museums, we were not permitted to take pictures inside of the house. Sorry!
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