Currently, out
of twenty five, there are nineteen standing chimneys in various stages of ruin located among large oak trees next to a large field. The collection of chimneys are
the remains of a slave quarter complex of plantation owner Robert Stafford.
The
housing complex deteriorated after the Civil War and legend grew that Stafford had
burned down the complex. Archaeological studies at the site dispelled
the legend as there was no evidence of
ashes indicating that the houses were not burned.
Since the chimneys are a valuable resource to understanding
the African-American experience on Cumberland Island, the park staff has
implemented a strategic plan to preserve and stabilize the chimneys. Archaeological investigations were conducted in 1979. The link below will direct you to the details of that research.
The chimneys were built by using tabby bricks and wood lintels.
The complex comprises of three parallel rows of chimneys that run on a north-south axis. At the north end, there is an intersecting double row that runs east-west.
The location is in an area of a private retained estate and is not accessible to visitors to the island.
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