April 14, 2017
In the early years of the twentieth century, a number of prominent, wealthy Northerners purchased land on the Waccamaw Neck. Bernard Baruch, who bought Hobcaw Barony in 1905 as a winter vacation home and hunting retreat, was the first, followed by the Huntingtons, Vanderbilts and others. The infusion of money brought by these millionaires was a mixed blessing for the local residents, most of whom were African- American. They had experienced a degree of autonomy since emancipation. Now many of them worked to support the lavish lifestyle of the new landowners. Melissa Cooper, Professor of History at Rutgers University discusses this sea island trend.
