So, the last few weeks have been quite hectic. To start out with I had a project to work on a web site for a place that does self storage in Greenville, SC and that was closely followed by its sister site that also does self storage in Greenville, SC. I seem to recall several weekends that I worked through with one computer issue after another. including two hard drive replacements over one weekend… then after those projects we started passing a nasty bug around our family and as we recovered, then had to get everything together for our scheduled trip to the beach.

Somewhere in all that I thought about posting here several times. I had done a bit of research of where we were heading and the things we could go and see there. We had a Surfside Beach, SC family vacation during the school’s spring break week. Of course we went to see many things (including the beach) while we were there, but the highlight for the viewers of this site I think would have been Brookgreen Gardens.

Brookgreen Gardens is just a little south of Murrell’s Inlet on highway 17. The property originally was a rice plantation (in fact it was originally 3 rice plantations.) When the civil war ended and the plantation society collapsed the properties eventually were abandoned and a couple (Huntington was their last name) retired to the area purchasing ~9100 acres of three plantations as a showcase for Mrs. Huntingtons sculptures. (*If I heard correctly they paid in the range of $125,000 for the 9100 acres.) The state leases a parcel from the nonprofit that operates Brookgreen Gardens and operates it as Huntington Beach state park.

Brookgreen Gardens though has developed into one of the largest statuary collections as well as taking advantage of some of the original plantation gardens (and live oak alley). They also have done some archaeological work related to the original plantations that stood on the grounds. There are boat tours and there is also a zoo area. All in all, it was a fascinating stop and we could have spent all day (or a couple days) if we hadn’t had a 7 year old and 14 month old to try to keep entertained. (The zoo helped, as did the Children’s Discovery exhibit they had, but frankly it’s hard to entertain a 14 month old unless you’re red, furry and talk like Elmo and even that wears thin after a short time.)

Anyway, the tickets that you buy for Brookgreen Gardens are good for 7 days, so if you’re in that neck of the woods plan on going near the beginning of your visit and plan to go back! It would be well worth it. They also have picnic areas and if you live locally it would be worth being a member to visit anytime and walk, read, paint, etc.

We also passed by Camden on the trip and I would have loved to stop and look around there, but we just didn’t have the time. Maybe another trip we will be able to take more time with some “sidetrips” like that.

The 1870s saw these boys names most frequently given:

William,5693
John,5649
Charles,3476
James,3163
George,3021
Henry,1746
Joseph,1689
Frank,1677
Thomas,1632
Edward,1538
Robert,1268
Frederic,1168
Harry,892
Samuel,870
Albert,824
Walter,779
Lewis,757
Arthur,589
David,573
Benjamin,433

From this document.

and the following girls names:

Mary,6634
Ann,2998
Elizabet,2645
Emily,1870
Ada,1772
Ellen,1734
Margaret,1650
Catherin,1614
Sarah,1430
Minnie,1136
Helen,1097
Jane,985
Alice,985
Lou,947
Martha,920
Frances,914
Lily,873
Rose,865
Florence,746
Cora,733

(from this document.

1 John Mary
2 William Anna
3 James Elizabeth
4 George Margaret
5 Charles Emma
6 Frank Florence
7 Joseph Ethel
8 Robert Minnie
9 Henry Clara
10 Harry Bertha
11 Edward Bessie
12 Thomas Helen
13 Walter Grace
14 Arthur Alice
15 Fred Annie
16 Albert Ida
17 Clarence Mabel
18 Roy Edna
19 Louis Lillian
20 Samuel Nellie

Thanks for stopping by and may you all have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

1 John Mary
2 James Helen
3 William Margaret
4 Robert Dorothy
5 George Ruth
6 Joseph Anna
7 Charles Elizabeth
8 Frank Mildred
9 Edward Marie
10 Henry Alice
11 Willie Frances
12 Thomas Florence
13 Walter Ethel
14 Albert Lillian
15 Paul Gladys
16 Harry Rose
17 Arthur Evelyn
18 Harold Edna
19 Raymond Annie
20 Clarence Louise

1 Robert Mary
2 James Betty
3 John Dorothy
4 William Helen
5 Richard Margaret
6 Charles Barbara
7 Donald Patricia
8 George Joan
9 Joseph Doris
10 Edward Ruth
11 Thomas Shirley
12 Paul Virginia
13 Frank Dolores
14 Jack Jean
15 David Elizabeth
16 Kenneth Frances
17 Raymond Lois
18 Harold Joyce
19 Walter Evelyn
20 Billy Alice

1 James Linda
2 Robert Mary
3 John Patricia
4 Michael Barbara
5 David Susan
6 William Nancy
7 Richard Deborah
8 Thomas Sandra
9 Charles Carol
10 Gary Kathleen
11 Larry Sharon
12 Ronald Karen
13 Joseph Donna
14 Donald Brenda
15 Kenneth Margaret
16 Steven Diane
17 Dennis Pamela
18 Paul Janet
19 Stephen Shirley
20 George Carolyn

1 Michael Jennifer
2 James Lisa
3 David Kimberly
4 John Michelle
5 Robert Amy
6 Christopher Angela
7 William Melissa
8 Brian Tammy
9 Mark Mary
10 Richard Tracy
11 Jeffrey Julie
12 Scott Karen
13 Jason Laura
14 Kevin Christine
15 Steven Susan
16 Joseph Dawn
17 Thomas Stephanie
18 Eric Elizabeth
19 Daniel Heather
20 Timothy Kelly

1 Michael Jessica
2 Christopher Ashley
3 Matthew Brittany
4 Joshua Amanda
5 Daniel Samantha
6 David Sarah
7 Andrew Stephanie
8 James Jennifer
9 Justin Elizabeth
10 Joseph Lauren
11 Ryan Megan
12 John Emily
13 Robert Nicole
14 Nicholas Kayla
15 Anthony Amber
16 William Rachel
17 Jonathan Courtney
18 Kyle Danielle
19 Brandon Heather
20 Jacob Melissa

2007 - popular baby names:

1 Jacob Emily
2 Michael Isabella
3 Ethan Emma
4 Joshua Ava
5 Daniel Madison
6 Christopher Sophia
7 Anthony Olivia
8 William Abigail
9 Matthew Hannah
10 Andrew Elizabeth