Skidaway Island in Chatham County, Georgia — The American South (South Atlantic)
Modena
Photographed By Mike Stroud, July 2008
1. Modena Marker
Inscription.
Modena. . This location first appears (1734) in Georgia's history as a Savannah outpost. An original settler was Thomas Mouse who is remembered for his description of early hardships here. An evangelical visitor in 1736 was John Wesley. By 1740 the settlement was abandoned. The Island revived when the Georgia Trusteeship ended in 1753, and Colonial Government established. An early grantee was John Milledge, whose plantation at this site was called "Modena." He was the orphaned son of one of the "First Hundred," the youthful protégé of Oglethorpe, Captain of Rangers, and member of First Commons House of Assembly. His son and successor, John, Jr., was a leader in the American Revolution. He was appointed State Attorney General at the age of 23 when still in uniform, and later became U.S. Representative, Governor, and U.S. Senator. As Governor he helped found the University of Georgia (Originally Franklin College). Modena was an active plantation until Mid-Nineteenth Century. The name is thought to come from Modena, Italian seat of silk culture; an industry envisioned for early Georgia, but which did not flourish.
This location first appears (1734) in Georgia's history as a Savannah outpost. An original settler was Thomas Mouse who is remembered for his description of early hardships here. An evangelical visitor in 1736 was John Wesley. By 1740 the settlement was abandoned. The Island revived when the Georgia Trusteeship ended in 1753, and Colonial Government established. An early grantee was John Milledge, whose plantation at this site was called "Modena." He was the orphaned son of one of the "First Hundred," the youthful protégé of Oglethorpe, Captain of Rangers, and member of First Commons House of Assembly. His son and successor,
John, Jr., was a leader in the American Revolution. He was appointed State Attorney General at the age of 23 when still in uniform, and later became U.S. Representative, Governor, and U.S. Senator. As
Governor he helped found the University of Georgia (Originally Franklin College). Modena was an active plantation until Mid-Nineteenth Century. The name is thought to come from Modena, Italian seat of silk culture; an industry envisioned for early Georgia, but which did not flourish.
Erected 1987 by Georgia Historic Marker. (Marker Number 025-92.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era
Location. 31° 59.157′ N, 81° 1.369′ W. Marker is on Skidaway Island, Georgia, in Chatham County. Marker is at the intersection of McWhorter Drive and Ocean Science Circle, in the median on McWhorter Drive. Marker is at the Skidaway Institute of Oceanography driveway. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Savannah GA 31411, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on July 21, 2008, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. This page has been viewed 1,077 times since then and 19 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on July 21, 2008, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. • Christopher Busta-Peck was the editor who published this page.
