Sapelo Island History
Sapelo Island is speculated to be the site of San Miguel de Gualdape, the short-lived (1526–1527) first European settlement in the present-day United States and, if true, it would also be the first place in the present-day U.S. that a Catholic mass was celebrated.
During the 17th century Sapelo Island was part of the Guale missionary province of Spanish Florida. After 1680, several missions were merged and relocated to the island under the mission Santa Catalina de Guale. Spalding opposed the abolition of slavery and he died in 1851 returning from a convention to assert Georgia's position on the matter. When freed, the former slaves established several settlements on the island; the last remaining is Hog Hammock, with approximately 70 remaining land owners. During the Civil War, the Spalding home was heavily vandalized and lay in ruins. …show more content…
There are several public areas, including a playground, and several public buildings - The Sapelo Island Cultural and Revitalization Society Inc. Multipurpose Center, the Senior Citizens Center, the Hogg Hummock Community Foundation, Inc. building, the Farmers Alliance Hall Building, and many historical homes. There are also two churches in the community; the First African Baptist and the St. Luke Baptist Churches. The roads are unpaved packed sandy soil. Mature trees are dominated by live oaks, loblolly pines, and red cedars. The people still maintain many elements of the unique West African culture, language, and traditions brought over from the "Rice Coast" of Africa by their ancestors from the Kisi and Gola people and continued on the isolated Sea
During the 17th century Sapelo Island was part of the Guale missionary province of Spanish Florida. After 1680, several missions were merged and relocated to the island under the mission Santa Catalina de Guale. Spalding opposed the abolition of slavery and he died in 1851 returning from a convention to assert Georgia's position on the matter. When freed, the former slaves established several settlements on the island; the last remaining is Hog Hammock, with approximately 70 remaining land owners. During the Civil War, the Spalding home was heavily vandalized and lay in ruins. …show more content…
There are several public areas, including a playground, and several public buildings - The Sapelo Island Cultural and Revitalization Society Inc. Multipurpose Center, the Senior Citizens Center, the Hogg Hummock Community Foundation, Inc. building, the Farmers Alliance Hall Building, and many historical homes. There are also two churches in the community; the First African Baptist and the St. Luke Baptist Churches. The roads are unpaved packed sandy soil. Mature trees are dominated by live oaks, loblolly pines, and red cedars. The people still maintain many elements of the unique West African culture, language, and traditions brought over from the "Rice Coast" of Africa by their ancestors from the Kisi and Gola people and continued on the isolated Sea