I have so enjoyed learning about the Huylers and their time on Dewees.  In this post, we got to visit with some of Jack Huyler’s children and hear their stories about visiting the island. To my great delight, Stephen Huyler recently sent me this video from 1925! He projected an old reel on the wall and filmed it, and it’s such a fascinating look at the island from 101 years ago. Between subsequent emails with Stephen and old descriptions of the island, I’ve tried to give an explanation of locations and scenes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qN0t6lfsMU

Zebu Brahma Bull

The first scene is their Zebu brahma bull. Jack Huyler’s memoirs include a description of the arrival of the bull:

In the interest of improving the wild beef on Capers Dad purchased a gigantic brindled Zebu bull from the Chicago Zoo. It was becoming recognized by cattlemen that ticks did not trouble Indian cattle (Zebus); whereas, they were thick upon domestic cattle in the southern sections of the USA. 

One day, word reached Dewees that “the bull” had arrived in Charleston. The Ark, Mr. Moore, Johnny Sharlock, and the family weighed anchor the following morning to retrieve the bull. If I had thought the piano case large, what about the cage for this bull? The bull would have weighed well over a ton. His traveling cage was little more than a covered chute of heavy lumber containing a manger and water bucket; it was large nonetheless. 

At the Capers Island landing stout planks were laid from deck to shore for the bull to descend. 

I don’t recall who summoned the courage to open the door of his cage. I must review those old movies to find out. Possibly it was Dad. That would have been like him…

The bull, probably terrified as well as frustrated after days of confinement and being moved, ignored the planks entirely and leapt from the deck to the shore, scattering onlookers right and left as he headed for the jungle, freedom, and the unseen harem that awaited him. 

That bull easily drove off the small, wild bulls and immediately became the dominant sire. His progeny were larger and better beef than were the offspring of his inbred rivals. Nor were they were troubled by ticks.

Margaret Porter Huyler hand feeding a deer

Then we see Margaret Porter Huyler feeding a deer.  I wondered if this was the same deer as described in Anne King Gregorie’s history of Dewees, where she says:

The path that leads up to the low white house among the trees is outlined with daffodils and takes us by a long pond, like a reflecting basin among the palmettoes, where ducks and shorebirds swim unafraid.  As we near the open door, we see upon the steps a young deer, which comes with infinite grace to meet us and lowers its lovely head to be caressed.

Views from what is now Old House Lane

Now the videographer stands still and takes a 360° spin. If you imagine standing at the end of the driveway at #128,  looking at what is now the marsh near the impoundment, and rotating toward the Landings, around toward the marsh, and to the Huyler’s house.

Apparently this deer is quite comfortable with people…

even following along with a picnic expedition. Jack Huyler described her, “Betty, the white-tailed deer was more of a family pet than she was mine, She showed up regularly at the front porch for graham crackers. In later years when we returned to The Island, Betty always brought her latest fawn to be introduced.

Next, a visit to the wide, windswept beach, which looks remarkably similar. Anne King Gregorie says, “Following the paths among the live oaks and palmettoes, we go down to where the white-tipped breakers roll upon a beach strewn with skeleton oaks washed down in storms of old.  “

Young Jack Huyler and a friend had a great time playing with one of the downed trees.

The early boat transportation

The Huyler boys described their boats in their memoirs:

During the first few years, we made the trip by our own boat from Charleston to Dewees. We inherited with the purchase of Capers an impossible boat with a deep keel named the V-V in which we were forever running aground or rolling awash whenever the Charleston Bay was the least bit rough… we usually scheduled a weekly trip into Charleston for fresh milk and green groceries not to mention the mail and any expected guests. Then, sometimes, we made more frequent trips as the crop of family or friends increased… 

In due time the V-V was supplemented by an old Navy lifeboat that was really seaworthy and was quickly dubbed The Ark. And She in turn was assisted by a sea sled for speed…

I really think it’s exciting to have this old footage and see what’s the same and what’s different. The video concludes with some Dewees Inlet shots.