Hilton Head Island in Beaufort County, South Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)
William Simmons House
Photographed By Mike Stroud, June 26, 2012
1. William Simmons House Marker
This house, built in 1930, is typical in materials and methods of construction of those built on the S.C. Sea Islands from the end of the Civil War to the mid-20th century. It was built on land bought after 1865 by William Simmons (ca. 1835-1922). Simmons, born a slave, had served in the U.S. Army during the war, enlisting in the 21st U.S. Colored Infantry as Ira Sherman.
(Reverse text)
William Simmons’s granddaughter Georgianna Jones Bryan (1900-1989) built this house in 1930 for her brother, William “Duey” Simmons (1901-1966). It illustrates everyday life and the persistence of Gullah culture in an African-American farm community until after a bridge was built from the mainland in 1956. It was renovated in 2010-11 as the Gullah Museum of Hilton Head Island.
Erected 2011 by The Gullah Museum of Hilton Head Island. (Marker Number 7-35.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Buildings. A significant historical year for this entry is 1930.
Location. 32° 13.607′ N, 80° 44.487′ W. Marker is on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, in Beaufort County. Marker is on Gumtree Road, on the right when traveling north. Located between Fetterbush Drive and Georgianna Drive. Touch for map
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Charlie Simmons, Sr. (approx. one mile away); First African Baptist Church (approx. 2 miles away); a different marker also named First African Baptist Church (approx. 2 miles away); Queen Chapel A.M.E. Church (approx. 2.4 miles away); African Methodist Episcopal Church Beginnings (approx. 2.4 miles away); Charles Cotesworth Pinckney (approx. 2˝ miles away); Pinckney Island (approx. 2˝ miles away); The Story of Fort Howell (approx. 2.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Hilton Head Island.
Additional commentary.
1. The Civil War Archive - United States Colored Troops Infantry
21st Regiment Infantry
Organized from 3rd and 4th Regiments, South Carolina Colored Infantry, March 14, 1864. Attached to 3rd Brigade, Vogdes' Division, District of Florida, Dept. of the South, to April, 1864. Morris Island, S.C., Northern District, Dept. of the South, to October, 1864. 1st Separate Brigade, Dept. of the South, to February, 1865. Garrison of Charleston, S.C., Dept. of the South, to August, 1865. Dept. of the South, to October, 1866.
SERVICE.--Duty at Jacksonville,
Photographed By Mike Stroud, June 26, 2012
2. William Simmons House Marker, reverse side
— Submitted June 29, 2012, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina.
2. Gullah
Historically, the Gullah region extended from the Cape Fear area on the coast of North Carolina south to the vicinity of Jacksonville on the coast of Florida; but today the Gullah area is confined to the South Carolina and Georgia Lowcountry.
The Gullah have preserved much of their African linguistic and cultural heritage. They speak an English-based creole language containing many African loanwords and significant influences from African languages in grammar and sentence structure. The Gullah language is related to Jamaican Creole, Barbadian Dialect, Bahamian Dialect, and the Krio language of Sierra Leone in West Africa. Gullah storytelling, cuisine, music, folk beliefs, crafts, farming and
Photographed By Mike Stroud, June 26, 2012
3. William Simmons House
— Submitted June 29, 2012, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina.
Photographed By Mike Stroud, June 26, 2012
4. William Simmons House
Photographed By Mike Stroud, June 26, 2012
5. William Simmons House and Marker
Photographed By Mike Stroud, June 26, 2012
6. William Simmons House Marker, seen along Gumtree Road, looking north
Credits. This page was last revised on October 18, 2020. It was originally submitted on June 29, 2012, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. This page has been viewed 1,489 times since then and 64 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on June 29, 2012, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina.
