Bradley Memorial Beach – Subdivided in 1953

From 1888, the ‘Christopher’ family owned the land that include Bradley Memorial Beach Subdivision, and most of what is now ‘Driessen Beach Park’. It was half of a combined 20 acre parcel on the ocean – which was transferred to the ‘McDew’ family of Savannah (who still have a home there); and subdivided into single family lots in 1953. At one point, there was even a small hotel and a pavilion for large family celebrations. Bradley Beach became a popular vacation destination for African American families, and was known to have been free of the serious racism that was often encountered elsewhere (even just north of Bradley Beach at Folly Field – as indicated by Luana M. Graves Sellars – in an excellent article titled “Bradley Beach – the Story Behind The Name” (in her blog Lowcountry Gullah).

These families (local Gullah families, Lowcountry families from Savannah and beyond – and many others) enjoyed these lands together, long before much of this land was either donated or sold to the Town of HH for a beach park (and long before any vacation homes were built on Bradley Beach Road and Bradley Circle beginning in the 1960’s). Part of current beach park and the entirety of Bradley Circle were originally ‘Driessen’ family lands – another local Hilton Head family. Much of the park was transferred by Mr. ‘Henry Driessen Jr.’ to the Town of Hilton Head, specifically for the benefit of the general public.

While these are not ‘gated-communities’ (and are therefore open to the pubic); they are, in fact, some of the safest places on the entire island (and were safe, long before security cameras were installed). Living here since there were still dirt roads, I can attest to this. At that time, there were only a handful of ‘second homes’ – used sporadically throughout the year by these families (mostly from Savannah). Change came slowly, and gained serious momentum only in the last few years. But the unique history and legacy of this area remains, and is worth knowing about.

The greater ‘Bradley Beach area’ (within the ‘Chaplin Community’) is special (which runs from Bradley Beach Road – past Burkes Beach (lands of the ‘Burke’ family) and to ‘The Folly’ – on the north side of Singleton Beach Road. These were the very last places on the oceanside of the island to see any serious development (Singleton Beach being the first, around the same time that a fire destroyed the remaining Gullah social club there). As more wealthy folks choose to build and live here – they will hopefully learn and appreciate this history – including the open-access nature of neighborhoods located on public roads (and not attempt to close them off, in an attempt to become more like the gated-communities that make up most of the island).

These are the great Hilton Head public-access beaches that everyone enjoys today. The dynamic ‘Folly’ area off of Burkes Beach / Singleton Road is a natural tidal inlet that nearly separates the island into two. It is known to produce the best waves on the island. The tidal inlet is full of life, and the area has been popular for fishing and crabbing for many generations of locals (and visitors). Because these areas somehow managed to not be captured by a large ‘Plantation’ (or Planned Unit Development); they eventually evolved into the accessible public beaches and parks that we have today.

Chaplin Park (off of Burkes Beach Road) includes ‘The Folly’ and is the largest oceanfront park of it’s kind on the island. Between Driessen Beach Park at Bradley Beach, and Chaplin Park at Burkes Beach (and the newest beach park at the end of Singleton Beach Road); this area has a truly incredible amount of ocean-oriented nature parks and beautiful beaches; without even considering the other public amenities, including recreational facilities such as public tennis courts. However, it’s because of this area’s unique history that these lands remain the beautiful public-access lands that they are today – for all to enjoy.