Georgia Outdoor News and Vernon Holt

Vernon Holt
The Saga of Harris Neck NWR

THE SAGA OF THE HARRIS NECK WILDLIFE REFUGE
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At the recent mention of hunting on the Harris Neck National Wildlife Refuge, I thought it might be of interest to give an account of how the refuge came into being.

The refuge occupies 2800 acres of coastal land and is in reality an island, being separated from the mainland by salt water rivers, marsh, and tidal creeks. The lands originally were granted to a handful of influential individuals (the Kings, Harris’, and Thomas’) in the 1736’s to 1740’s. They were slaveholders who cleared and worked the land for long staple Sea Island Cotton as well as for rice culture.

This agricultural system thrived until the Civil War period when this source of labor no longer existed. With it no longer feasible to work the plantations, the lands were simply abandoned since they had virtually no value.

The freedmen were given small tracts or were simply allowed to squat on the lands which they had formerly tended. Harris Neck then became an isolated community of small farms scattered over some four square miles. These people were self sufficient, working their small farms and gardens, and tending their livestock. Many of them were heavily dependent upon the bounty of the sounds, streams, and marshes. They rowed their heavy bateaus out to the oyster grounds on ebb tide, where they harvested the bounty when low tide exposed the fine quality oysters. They returned to the landing, utilizing the flood tide to make the task less burdensome. They utilized the same process to make their way to the mud flats where they cast their handknitted nets for the bounteous shrimp and mullet. I have heard it said many times, “you could never starve a man who lives on the river”

All was peaceful for these people and their little bit of Eden until the advent of air travel dictated a need for emergency landing strips at intervals along the coast. In the mid 1930’s the Civil Aeronautical Adm. Acquired some 200 acres in the middle of Harris Neck and constructed a grass landing strip capable of handling DC-2 aircraft. With minimal effect the people of Harris Neck carried on with their normal lifestyle.

All was well until 1941 when the US was thrust into World War II. Surveyors and Lawyers moved into the community of Harris Neck without warning and began condemnation proceedings to acquire lands for an Army Air Corps base. The people were totally bewildered and helpless to resist the taking of their lands. They were told to move immediately. As they did so their houses, barns and any evidence that people had once lived there were bulldozed and totally removed.

The air base was activated in 1942 and operated until 1944 when the war ended in Europe . During this time it served as a training facility for fighter pilots (P-39’s and P-40’s) which were utilized mostly for enemy submarine patrol along the coast.

Shortly after the war ended, the property was deeded to McIntosh County with the provision that the county keep it open for air traffic and further that they do an acceptable job of maintaining the facilities, including lights on the runways. In complete defiance of the special provisions in the deed, the county powers that be (County Commissioners and Sheriff)) proceeded to strip and loot everything of value from the base, wiring, plumbing, pumps, electric motors, even to the extent of moving entire buildings which were converted into dwellings.

In addition to the looting of the facility the county commissioners leased the entire airbase, including the old colonial Livingston Mansion (which had been the officers club) to the county sheriff to be operated as an “exclusive club”. When the Feds learned that the county had sub-leased the property to the sheriff, they promptly informed the county that they were repossessing the property due to failure to perform the requirements of the provisional deed.

The Harris Neck Army Airbase was then turned over to the US General Services Adm. For disposal. When the US Fish and Wildlife learned of this turn of events, they requested that the land be turned over to them to be utilized as a waterfowl refuge with emphasis on providing a rest stop for migrating geese. Their request was honored.

The US F&W Service wanted the land because it was available, and not because of its suitability as a waterfowl refuge. Land in this coastal area leans heavily toward wetland. Not so with this particular piece of land. I would estimate that no more than 5% of the total area is in wetland. To counter this wetland shortfall, the Service diked areas on and around the old runways and then dug wells and set up huge pumps to provide water for the man made potholes. One small wetland on the edge of the refuge provided a site for a rookery for Egrets, Herons, Wood Storks, and Alligators.

What Might Have Been: If the Fish and Wildlife Service truly needed a Waterfowl Refuge at this point along the Ga. Coast, prime wetland sites were available for their choosing. Fact of the matter is that they could establish a dozen new refuges today on the Atlantic Flyway and they would not increase the number of ducks. Ducks cannot be manipulated like chessmen.

There is a social aspect to this matter. Condemnation continues to this day to be a controversial subject. This land was taken from these people for a worthy cause. Most people who are familiar with this history have strong feelings that the land should have been turned over to the families of the former owners. I happen to be one of these.

The Harris Neck Wildlife Refuge is a lovely place to visit today. While it makes little impact on “waterfowl” today, the service promotes it as a great place for bird watching. As a token to hunters, they allow three days for hunting deer. They also have a boat launching ramp. The humanitarian aspect associated with this refuge is seldom mentioned today.

My knowledge of this area stems from the fact that I lived within five miles of Harris Neck while this story unraveled. I knew many of the people who were affected by this based being established. I also knew the local officials who by their own greed cost the citizens of McIntosh a wonderful resource. I hunted for 35 years on property immediately adjacent to Harris Neck.