1. A Calendar of Events for the current month.
2. Brunswick Plantation Activities (ongoing).
3. Photo Gallery.
4. Useful websites, for example:

Brunswick Co NC - www.brunsco.net
State of North Carolina - www.ncgov.com
NC cooperative Extension - www.cesncsu.edu
And--websites for local attractions, news/TV, education, golf, and websites of interest to Seniors.

You will see why 1,600 families call Brunswick Plantation home.

In the best of Southern Tradition, names are handed down through families, both for people and places, as a way to commemorate past events, ancestors, and former places important in people’s lives.  Naming gives communities and neighborhoods identity and reflects a lifestyle.

The name Brunswick was meant to honor England’s King George I, who hailed from the German House of Hanover-Brunswick.  From these roots we get Brunswick Town, a major pre-Revolutionary War port on North Carolina’s Cape Fear River, and Brunswick County.  Brunswick Plantation and Golf Resort continues this tradition.

When it was time to name the communities and streets of Brunswick Plantation, Mason Anderson, President of Caw Caw Land Corporation, asked his wife, Ann, for assistance.  She researched interesting plantation names throughout the South and as far down as Louisiana, as well as other interesting places and came up with appropriate designations for our community.

THE NEIGHBORHOODS

At present our neighborhoods include:

            Custom Area

            Beaufort

            Commons I and II

            Charleston Place and Charleston Place West

            Edenton

            Georgetown Square

            The Hamptons

            The Lakes

            Moultrie

            Rosewood Place

            Savannah Greens and Savannah Greens North

            Smithfield

            Townhomes of Smithfield I and II

In our Custom Area, North and South Middleton Drive winds its way in a great loop through the Plantation.  It is named for Middleton Place northwest of Charleston SC which was  built around 1675 by Henry Middleton.  Union troops occupied the Plantation in 1865 and burned the main house and northern wing beyond repair.  Today the southern wing has been restored by the Middleton Place Foundation and is open to the public.  It has beautiful gardens and is well worth a visit.

Dunleith Drive is named for Dunleith Plantation.  The original mansion was built in the late 1700’s.  The original owners died, leaving the property to their daughter, Mary, 15 years old and already a widow.  She married Charles Dalgren who became a Confederate Brig Gen in the Civil War.  The original home was struck by lightning and burned in 1855.  Dahlgren rebuilt the mansion in 1856,  Mary died 3 years later.

Stanton Hall was named for Stanton Hall in Natchez Mississippi.  Built in 1858 by Frederick Stanton as his dream home on an existing city block which cost about $1,550.  Stanton lived only one month after the house was finished.  It housed a college for young ladies for a short period.  Then it fell into disarray to some extent before the Pilgrimage Garden Club renewed it to its former glory.  It is a National Historic Landmark and has daily tours.

Beauvoir Drive is named for the retirement home and Presidential Library of Jefferson Davis.  The house and library were badly damaged and other buildings destroyed in Hurricane Katrina.  Replicas are planned.  The house was completed and open for Davis’ 200^th birthday June 3 2008.  It is on the National Register of Historic Homes and Landmarks.

The Beaufort area was named for Beaufort NC known as “Fish Town” in the early 1700’s when Blackbeard traveled the coast. It is located on the site of the former Coree Indian village. It was established as a seaport town in 1722.

 During the American Revolution it was the largest port in North Carolina. Pirates had been roaming the Atlantic coast for years with bases in the Bahamas.  Edward Teach, better known as Blackbeard, was one of the most infamous and he periodically used the Beaufort harbor as a place of rest and resupply.  His ship, the Queen Anne's Revenge, was discovered in 1996, and artifacts from the shipwreck are currently being brought up from the sea floor and will be shown at the NC Maritime Museum in Beaufort.

Charleston Place and Charleston Place West were both named for the city of Charleston, the second largest city in South Carolina.  It was originally called Charles Towne for King Charles II and was originally established in 1670.  Charleston is known as The Holy City due to the prominence of churches on the low-rise cityscape.

Charleston was a focal point during the American Revolution and suffered several sieges,  including America’s greatest defeat in the war.  After Lincoln was elected, South Carolina voted to secede from the Union.  On Jan. 9 1861, Citadel cadets opened fire on the Union ship “Star of the West” entering Charleston’s harbor.  On April 12 1861, shore batteries under the command of General Beauregard opened fire on the Union-held Fort Sumter in the harbor.  After a 34-hour bombardment, the fort was surrendered, thus starting the Civil War.

You would enjoy a visit to Charleston to see the many beautiful historic homes and gardens, especially in April, when the annual home and garden tours are held.

One of the areas in Charleston Place is Rosalie Court.  In 1716 the French built a fort on the bluffs in Natchez.  It was named Rosalie in honor of the Duchess of Ponchartrain.  In 1820 Peter Little, a native of Pennsylvania, purchased a portion of that land on which to build his home.  He decided to keep the name Rosalie to honor the fort and its settlers.

Charleston Place West has an interesting street.  Ravennaside Dr was named for Ravennaside in  Natchez Mississippi.  Natchez was the birthplace of the Natchez Trace Parkway (450 miles long).  The Natchez Trace was a main route between Mississippi and Tennessee for early settlers in the South.  Ravennaside is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and was the last historic mansion built in Natchez.  At least 50 per cent of the furnishings are original to the house.  It is now a Bed and Breakfast.

Also in Charleston Place West is Monmouth Drive, named for Monmouth in Natchez Mississippi.  John Hankson and his wife named Monmouth for his former home in Monmouth Co NJ.  The property was sold in 1825 at public auction for $11,000.  It was restored in 1978 and is on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Edenton area gets its name from Edenton NC.  The Edenton Tea Party was one of the earliest organized women’s political actions in United States history.  Fifty-one women organized to form an alliance supporting the American cause against “taxation without representation.”  They resolved not to drink tea or wear any goods from England.  News of the Edenton Tea Party quickly reached Britain.   During the 1770’s, political resistance was common, but an organized women’s movement was not, so the Edenton Tea Party shocked the Western world.  The site is now marked by a teapot mounted on a Revolutionary cannon.  The name Edenton was in honor of Governor Charles Eden.

The Georgetown Square area was named for Georgetown SC, the third oldest city in SC.  Some historians claim American history began in 1526 when settled by the Spanish with African slaves.  The colony failed.  Survivors built a boat and sailed to the Spice Islands in Maritime Southeast Asia.  Present Georgetown began in 1721 when residents were granted a petition for a new parish, Prince George, Winyah.  In 1729 a plan was laid out to develop the city in 4 x 8 blocks.  Referred to as the Historic District, it has original streets and lot numbers and some of the original homes.

Nottoway Ave in Georgetown Square has several connections in the South.  Nottoway is the South’s largest remaining antebellum mansion, and lies between Baton Rouge and New Orleans LA.  It was completed in 1859 for the Randolph family who had 11 children.  One was Cornelia who wrote in her diary “the White Castle of Louisiana.” It is now a luxury Bed and Breakfast.

 Nottoway also was the name of an Indian tribe and a river, both located on the border of Virginia and NC. 

Our newest area, The Hamptons, was named for Hampton Plantation in McClellanville SC. Wade Hampton III was known for his achievements in the American Civil War.  The Plantation was probably named after Hampton House in Hampton-on-the-Thames, England.

One famous visitor to Hampton Plantation was General Francis Marion, the Revolutionary War hero.  Called the “Swamp Fox,” he was famous  for his guerrilla war tactics against the British.  Mel Gibson’s movie “The Patriot” was loosely based on his military activities.  George Washington was also another famous visitor to Hampton Plantation and a mighty oak tree was named in his honor.  Many prominent SC families have lived there—Horrys, Pinkneys, Rutledges.

The Moultrie area was named for General William Moultrie, the Revolutionary war hero.  Fort Moultrie was named for him and was named following the successful defense of Charleston in the Revolutionary War. 

Savannah Greens and Savannah Greens West were named for Savannah GA.  On Feb 12 1733 Gen James Oglethorpe and his settlers landed and established the city of Savannah.  The city was named for the Savannah River.  One theory is that the name came from the Shawnee Indians who migrated to the river in the 1680’s. The English name “savenne” means a tropical grassland.

Chatham Court in Savannah Greens derives its name from Chatham Plantation in Stafford Co VA overlooking Fredericksburg.  From 1862-1864 it became, in turn, an army headquarters, a communications center, a hospital, a campsite, and a refuge from the cold for Union soldiers.

The property for Smithfield was purchased from the Smith family who made the sale contingent on that section being named for their family.  The original homeplace is located on No. 5 School Rd on property that abuts the rear of Smithfield.  Smithfield follows the theme, as there is a Smithfield NC.

As you can see, history and tradition are alive and well in this corner of paradise.

Many people ask me "what is there to do as a homeowner at Brunswick Plantation?"  I take a deep breath and tell them there is more to do than there is time to do it.  With 7 swimming pools (2 indoor), 27 holes of golf, tennis courts, and beautiful Brunswick House, our property owners' clubhouse, this place rocks.  Here is a short list of some of the activities now going on here.

ACTIVE SPORTS

Golf--Mens and Womens Golf Clubs and Associations.

Tennis--Brunswick Plantation Group plays against others in the area.

Bowling--both mens, womens, and mixed leagues at local bowling alleys.

Exercise Classes and Water Aerobics--held in Brunswick House and our pools.

TABLE GAMES

Bingo, Bridge, Bunko, Mah Jongg (National and Wright-Patterson), Dominoes, Mexican Train, Poker, Scrabble, Tripoloi

SERVICE

Neighbors in Service--formed to gain knowledge about living in Coastal Carolina.  Most people have moved to Brunswick Plantation from other areas of the country, where outdoor living year-round is not an option.  Learning about this region provides "inspiration" for our programs.  We have had speakers on gardening, crafts, history, medicine, nature, and the arts.  We have toured local spots of interest such as Brookgreen Gardens, nearby wineries, historic plantations, and herb and produce farms.

DINING AND CULINARY

We periodically have "special event" evenings at Brunswick House--dances, barbeques, and holiday celebrations.  We also have several "dining" groups:

Supper Club--meets four times a year at Brunswick House.

International Dinner Group--meets four times at year in members' homes--rather like a fancy "potluck" supper with emphasis on internation cuisine.

Meat and Potatoes Club--old fashioned American cuisine at its best--meets at Brunswick House.

NEEDLECRAFTS AND THE ARTS

Beach Border Quilters--Meets in Brunswick House and is a blend of beginners and experienced quilters.  They study different quilting techniques and make quilts for charity projects.

Scrapbooking--meets to share interest in scrapbooking. 

Brunswick Stitchers--Meets in Brunswick House to learn about and share the sewing arts.

Brunswick Knitters--Meets in Brunswick House and members' homes to learn more about their craft and do charity projects.

Arts--homeowners can be members of the local Waterway Arts Association which sponsors visiting art teachers, holds "paint-ins", and a yearly art show.  Groups here attend concerts and plays both in Myrtle Beach and Wilmington.  Homeowners hold an Annual Arts and Crafts Fair in October--exhibiters are only Brunswick Plantation homeowners but it is open to the public.

GARDENING

Brunswick Bloomers--meets periodically to learn about gardening in the South.  We also hold a yearly plant sale.

BIBLE STUDIES AND BOOKS

We have two Bible Study Groups and a Book Discussion Group.  We adopted the local Jessie Mae Monroe Elementary School to promote the learning atmosphere of students, including volunteering for tutoring, supporting fund raisers, and any other contribution as determined appropriate.



INTRACOASTAL MODEL RAILROAD CLUB

Meets periodically in members homes to promote interest in model railroads in any scale and toy trains.

There is fantastic news about the golf course here at Brunswick Plantation Golf Resort.  While a number of golf courses in the Grand Strand area converted their golf courses into housing developments, the developers here chose to go in a different direction.  They gave, in perpetuity, to the Smoky Mountain National Land Trust Inc. a conservation easement on all of the land that comprises the 27 holes of Brunswick Plantation Golf Resort, giving up the right to develop the land now, or at anytime in the future.

The purpose of the conservation easement is to preserve and protect the many native species of trees, shrubs, herbs, and the many species of wildlife located in the area.  Another purpose is to preserve the scenic views of the creeks and open vistas associated with the golf course.

The obvious benefit to the golf club members and all of the homeowners at Brunswick Plantation is peace of mind, but overtime, homeowners should enjoy higher home and land values.