May We Be...Fierce

FIERCE  firs | adjective

showing a heartfelt and powerful intensity: he kissed her with a fierce, demanding passion.

Wild. Ferocious. Untamed. These words are all synonyms for fierce. Release yourself from the cages that restrict you and show your true self. Be passionate about the things you love, whether it’s learning, creativity, or simply life itself. Be intensely focused and wildly enthusiastic about your endeavors. And, most importantly, don’t be afraid to roar!

If you need help finding your ferocity, look back through the pages of history to see the fierce men and women who came before us and channel their spirit. The warriors and fighters, the adventure-seekers and explorers, the groundbreakers and entrepreneurs. Because we shot the May feature's fashion photos in the breathtaking setting of the Strachan Carriage House, one such character that immediately comes to mind is F.D.M. Strachan. The man who built the carriage house as part of his summer cottage compound in 1910 was Glynn County’s first millionaire.

Not the only bold gent to bear the Strachan name, F.D.M.’s adventurous father, Captain Francis Garden Strachan ran away from the family farm in Banffshire, Scotland to sail clipper ships between Europe and the Orient in the 1870s. In 1885 he founded the Strachan Shipping Co. in Savannah at the Cotton Exchange Building. The family made their fortune at the turn of the century as brokers for steam and sailing ships which hauled cotton and timber from Georgia to eager overseas markets. F.D.M. Strachan was an experienced yachtsman and member of the New York Yacht Club. He won the prestigious Astor Cup yacht race in 1900.

Strachan was also an astute businessman who continued shipping from Brunswick. As the area’s turn-of-the-century power broker, he served on the boards of the bank and the railroad and fiercely promoted the area’s potential for business and outdoor life. Local lore is that after Strachan was rejected for membership in the Jekyll Island Club, he purchased the former Retreat Plantation property on the south end of St. Simons Island on which to build his imposing summer cottage. Intending to taunt the other millionaires across the water, he instructed his servants to burn the house lights brightly every night so it would appear that he was continuously enjoying lively parties to which the Jekyll Island Club members were not invited. The location of Beach Lawn, as the summer cottage was named, was noticeable to all tourists and residents who arrived by steamboat ferry at the St. Simons Pier and soon became an island landmark.

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A battery for defense being constructed on the property of Capt. F.D.M. Strachan during the Spanish American War

Coastal Georgia Historical Society

A battery for defense being constructed on the property of Capt. F.D.M. Strachan during the Spanish American War

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Strachan Compound

Strachan Compound

The Strachan compound included the big house with a detached kitchen, the two-story carriage house, two servant buildings, a large cistern used by the children as a swimming pool, and two Spanish-American War cannons aimed at Jekyll Island. (Like we said, this man was FIERCE!) While we diverge from Strachan’s personality, the rest of the Strachan home’s history is still remarkable and worth retelling. US Congressman William Stuckey (of the Stuckey Pecan Company) purchased the home in 1966 so that his children could enjoy idyllic childhood summers here. Ten years later, Sara and Joe Edwards (of Edwards Pie Company fame) acquired the main house and property with plans to use it as a Christian youth retreat. In addition, the couple renovated the carriage house, and turned it into a private residence. If you come across an April 1978 issue of Southern Living, you’ll find it featured in the magazine. In 1986, to make way for the new Butler Mews subdivision, the big house was placed on a barge and moved to Daufuskie Island, S.C. where it stands today as the clubhouse for Haig Point. In 1988, the ornamental top of the cistern, or water tower, located next to the Strachan House was given to the Coastal Georgia Historical Society. The circular building was carefully trucked to the Lighthouse grounds from Butler Avenue west of the Village and subsequently restored. It is now a gazebo where bands perform and weddings take place.

The carriage house with its historic four bay garage under servants’ quarters and a 52’ veranda remained on St. Simons Island and was purchased and expertly restored by Larry and Sybil d’Amico. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1971. The historic Strachan Carriage House is reminiscent of the Victorian-era when ladies and gentlemen sipped lemonade on the veranda and their adventures included riding Henry Ford’s newfangled automobiles into the roaring twenties. Now well-appointed for modern guests and close enough to the pier, lighthouse, and beach that no vehicle is needed, this gorgeously maintained property is ideal for evening parties like those loved by the bold man who built it. It’s also a perfect homage to the memory and achievements of the Strachan family and the mark their fierce determination made in our history. Learn more about Strachan Carriage House at stsimonscarriagehouse.com.

Another way to find your roar is to take in a performance of the Golden Isles Penguin Project’s presentation of Disney’sThe Lion King, JR.

This fantastic theatre program pairs mentors and young performers with special needs to bring to life inspiring musical productions of popular family classics. You too will be moved to find your own inner strength just as Simba does as he protects his beloved Pridelands and claims his destiny. Performances are June 15-18 with shows at 7:00 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and a 3:00 p.m. matinee on Sunday. Get your tickets early at goldenislesarts.org, as it usually sells out. You won’t want to miss seeing this inspiring show with kids who truly demonstrate what it means to be fearless and fierce.