Dedication of Pin Point Community Marker
Savannah’s Black Pin Point Community, located near Skidaway Island, is one of the last mainland waterfront communities along the entire Eastern seaboard still owned by descendants of the original African-American settlers. Located within the community is the newly dedicated Pin Point Heritage Museum, built on the grounds of a closed seafood factory.
Situated on Shipyard Creek, Pin Point was once part of the Beaulieu Plantation. Mr. Henry McAlpin purchased the land with the intent to sell it to wealthy white Savannahians as vacation property. As Pin Point was only accessible by the creek it was considered less desirable and Mr. McAlpin sold several lots to African-Americans in early 1987. Pin Point was mostly settled by former slaves and their descendants from Ossabaw, Green and Skidaway Islands and nearby plantations. Pin Point was a logical destination for them because land on the islands was not open for sale to them, and they sought to escape the devastating hurricanes that pounded the barrier islands from whence they came. Two of the earlier settlers started the Sweetfield of Eden Baptist Church (formerly the Hinder Me Not church of Ossabaw), which for a time also served as the community’s school. Later Pin Point children attended the Rosenwald school in the community. This school was one of several schools established throughout the south by the president of Sears, Roebuck & Company to provide education for African Americans within segregated environments.
Pin Point’s location along the marsh and river was perfect for ventures into the maritime industries and in 1926 the Varn Oyster Factory opened and remained in operation until 1985, providing the area with its prime source of income. Crab, oysters, and shrimp were harvested, prepared, and shipped to local markets by boat and by street car to places as far away as New York. Men and women in the community worked in a variety of capacities at Varn’s seafood factory: harvesting and processing oysters in the winter and crabs in the summer. Bateau building, net knitting, and crab trap making were home industries related to the seafood business in Pin Point. Children earned money by scrubbing crab barks and women prepared deviled crabs for area restaurants. The business closed in 1985 deeply affecting the propserity of its residents.
Today, Pin Point represents one of the few traditional Gullah-Geechee communities remaining on the Coast of Georgia. The people of Pin Point are determined to save their way of life, to preserve their heritage, to raise their children free of crime, drugs and apathy. Pin Point remains a thriving community with an active neighborhood association. In 2009 the Pinpoint Community became an active participant in “Blueprints for Successful Communities” and was recently listed to the Chatham County Register of Historic Places.
In 2006, with the passage of the National Heritage Areas Act, ten new national heritage areas were established, one of which is The Gullah-Geechee National Heritage Corridor (2006). The Heritage Corridor was created to recognize the important contributions made to American Culture by Africans and African-americans known as the Gullah Geechee who settled in the coast counties of northern Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and southern North Carolina, and to assist in identifying and preserving sites, historical data, artifacts and objects associated with the Gullah Geechee culture. In November of 2011, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas returned home to Pin Point to participate in the dedication of the Pin Point Heritage Museum and the placement of the Pin Point Community Marker as a part of the Gullah-Geechee National Heritage Corridor.
Savannah Inns celebrates the rich black history of Savannah with a powerful two-day Black History Package during the months of January and February. Book now while these limited packages are still available!
