Near Beaufort in Beaufort County, South Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)
Lady's Island Oyster Factory
The eastern oyster launched the Beaufort Co. commercial seafood industry. The first canning factory on this site, for which Factory Creek was named, was begun in 1883. Oysters were harvested from Sept. to May. Tomatoes and okra were canned in the summer. After the hurricane of 1893 the oyster industry became the largest employer in the county, providing jobs to approximately 3,500 Sea Islanders.
By 1929, this factory was the largest producer of cove oysters in the world. L.P. Maggioni bought the factory in 1917. In the 1950s it had over 300 employees, canning oyster products, tomatoes, and okra. African American migration to northern states in the early-to-mid 20th century, accompanied by die off in oyster beds, led to decline of the industry and the work force shrank to 25. The factory closed in 1986.
Erected 2018 by South Carolina Department of Archives and History; sponsored by the Beaufort Historical Society. (Marker Number 7-59.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Animals • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1883.
Location. 32° 25.5′ N, 80° 38.767′ W.
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Regionally, this marker is in the Lowcountry. It is also in the American South and specifically in the Deep South. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Tidalholm (approx. 1.3 miles away); Brigadier General Stephen Elliott CSA (approx. 1.4 miles away); Great Fire of 1907 (approx. 1.4 miles away); The Wallace House (approx. 1.4 miles away); Richard V. Woods Memorial Bridge (approx. 1.4 miles away); Christensen-Fordham Building (approx.
Additional keywords. The Second Great Migration
Credits. This page was last revised on May 30, 2026. It was originally submitted on May 30, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 10 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on May 30, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
