Jekyll Island History; Amnesty To Be Granted To The Island
The Jekyll Island Club Hotel and the Jekyll Island Authority have agreed to grant
amnesty to anyone who presents items “borrowed” from the Jekyll Island Club or other buildings in the Historic Landmark District over the last 120 years.
“We welcome the return of memorabilia such as photographs and documents as well as light fixtures and furniture, uniforms and clothing,” says John Hunter, Museum Director with the Jekyll Island Authority. “Those who return the items do so on a ‘no questions asked’ basis, receive a tax deduction for their contributions, a Certificate of Amnesty, and an Escape Pass for Jekyll Island amenities for each submission.”
“Much can be learned by historians and museum curators from these artifacts,” says Jekyll Island Authority Museum Curator Gretchen Greminger. “While we have a sizeable collection of furnishings, photographs, and documents, new items help us to fit pieces of the puzzle together about the past.” The Jekyll Island Authority Museum has a staff will oversee the care and secure archival of items returned. Archives are managed through the Jekyll Island Museum and made available for use by researchers and historians.
Like many historic sites, the Jekyll Island Club National Historic Landmark District was virtually abandoned for a number of years. “After the Jekyll Island Club closed in 1942, the island was deserted and the buildings were easy to access. Even after the State of Georgia purchased Jekyll Island in 1947, there was little security and there are reports of people taking ‘souvenirs’ of their visit to the Island,” said Hunter. “Sometimes, items were given or sold.”
One ambitious souvenir attempt was even unsuccessful. In the early 1950s, ‘The Wishing Chair’ – a large, unique, ornately carved antique - was ‘removed’ from its location in the historic Club House.
“It was found the next morning on the Wharf” continued Hunter, “The ‘souvenir hunters’ had found the piece too heavy for their small boat.”
There were also items sold over the years as surplus. When the State purchased Jekyll in 1947, the contents of Crane Cottage were bought separately by an antiques dealer in Atlanta. These items then circulated for years in the Atlanta area, and included unusual items such as a pair of three-foot tall bronze statues of Buddha that at one time graced the gates of the Courtyard at Crane.General Manager Kevin Runner of the Jekyll Island Club Hotel envisions a display at some future time of the Amnesty pieces returned. “We would like the public, especially our local citizens, to see the story of Jekyll Island unfold by viewing these items from the everyday lives of original Club members and visitors.”
The stories about these items, their journeys, and the people who appreciated them and returned them are also important.
“We would like to gather these stories along with pictures of the items and combine them into a book for publishing if we have enough response,” says Sue Andersson who is the Jekyll Island Club Hotel’s historian.
For information about returning Amnesty items to their “home”, please contact the Jekyll Island Authority, c/o Gretchen Greminger, 100 James Road, Jekyll Island, GA 31527 or call 912-635-4403 during business hours. E-mail: ggreminger@jekyllisland.com or visit www.jekyllisland.com
Tags: crane cottage, historic landmark district, jekyll island authority, Jekyll Island Club Hotel, wishing chair
