friends of fort fremont fort fremont preserve sign

Fort Fremont Historical Preserve

Saint Helena Island, South Carolina
Presented by Friends of Fort Fremont


Friends of Fort Fremont Events

TOUR FORT FREMONT By Request

The History Center is now open on Fridays 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, on Saturdays from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, and Sundays from 1:00 to 4:00 pm. Always FREE Admission. Docent-led tours by request on Saturdays. The Fort Fremont Preserve grounds are open Monday through Sunday from dawn to dusk.

2024 oyster roast

2024 OYSTER ROAST

You missed our 2024 Oyster Roast at Live Oak Park in Port Royal, on March 15, 2024.

Including a fantastic list of
AUCTION ITEMS


Hospital Tour Fundraiser — Christmas 1910 at Fort Fremont

hospital tour

On December 2nd, 2023, a longstanding Board member and former Friends President opened her home–the former hospital at Fort Fremont. The home was beautifully decorated for Christmas in the style of 1910 by the Lady's Island Garden Club. The fundraiser was a complete success.

Sincere thanks to our sponsors, vendors, and volunteers for contributing to the success of the Fort Fremont Harvest Festival and Hospital Tour!

Sponsors:

JH Heirs Construction
The Clark Troutman Group, Merrill Lynch
AlphaGraphics
Michael McFee
Sea Eagle Market
New South Shirts

Vendors:

Gullah Grub
Beddos
Music by Tina Fripp
Marshview Farm
Marshview Community Organic Farm
Miller’s Wellness Spot

Floral Arrangements:

Lady’s Island Garden Club

And to the many
Friends of Fort Fremont Volunteers!

Fort Fremont Harvest Festival — Christmas 1910 at Fort Fremont

On Sunday, November 5th,
we celebrated 1910 at the Fort Fremont Preserve.
Music, food, vendors;
a fine time was had by all!

The Fort Fremont History Center Grand Opening

And a grand time was had by all. Please enjoy this slide show that Jo Panayotoff created of the Grand Opening Ceremonies. It is MP4 format, approx 178 MB.

Preservation Grants

We are pleased to announce that Friends of Fort Fremont has been awarded grants by the Coast Defense Study Group, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and South Carolina Department of Archives and History’s Federal Historic Preservation Grant. The grants will enable us to contract with an engineering firm to obtain a structural engineering survey of Batteries Jesup and Fornance. The survey will document the condition of the structures; identify structural, safety and preservation issues; and provide recommendations for future plans to preserve the structures, enhance public safety, and make improvements for possible enhancements to the visitor experience.

The Fort Fremont Diorama - At the History Center

Including the model of the 10" Disappearing Gun

Now that the History Center is open, our diorama of the fort is on display in all its glory. Friends of Fort Fremont is grateful for our relationship with the Saint Helena Branch Library where our miniature fort was housed during construction.

Older Events

Riverview Charter School at Fort Fremont

Riverview School at Fort Fremont Historical Park

Pete Richards and Joe Lee, President, hosted a group of thity-eight 8th graders from Riverview Charter School for their community service day. They toured the fort, did property cleanup and had lunch. Great group of students, teachers and parents....thanks to everyone. Click the photo for slideshow.

Winter Planting Summary—February 13, 2010

We had a very successful winter planting at the Fort Fremont park site. We had twenty four volunteers who came out on a cold February day to install buffer plants they included Master Naturalists, Master Gardeners and Friends of Fort Fremont. We collected $250.00 to purchase plants. In addition, individuals brought individual plants.

The volunteers installed approximately 40 plants including wax myrtles, crossvine, inkberry holly, saw palmettos, beautyberry, oakleaf hydrangea, yaupon holly, Carolina laurel-cherry, and a toothache tree. All of the newly installed plants are clearly marked with bright orange flags and several vegetative islands were designated with string and orange as recommended by Mark Roseneau.

We have 11 more plants on back order which will be used to complete buffers on the north and east fence lines. Wendy Wilson will coordinate a future planting to complete the buffer planting. In addition the volunteers trimmed back some brush by the front entrance and began the process of digging out a large growth of smilax located in the south fence line. There were two brush piles left at the entrance and another in the southwest corner by the fence for County pick up.

We accomplished a great deal thanks to the hard work of all of our volunteers and we would like also to acknowledge the great effort of our partners in the County Government Special thanks to PALS director Christina Roberson for her strong support and Mark Roseneau County Facilities Director who arranged for the Portable John and the placement of an important bollard at the front entrance, and to Chief Kline from the Ladys Island/Saint Helena fire department who helped us with the critical watering after the initial planting.

A Call to Arms-with a Shovel!! Native Plant Restoration at Fort Fremont Historic Park
View the Flyer

Native Plant Society members are invited to participate in a native plant restoration project at Fort Fremont Historic Park sponsored by the LowCountry Master Naturalist Association (LMNA) on February 13 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Beaufort County acquired Fort Fremont in 2004 through Beaufort County’s Rural and Critical Lands Program and the Trust for Public Lands. This important land acquisition contains one of the few remaining intact fortifications from the Spanish American War era and preserves open space in an area that is experiencing environmental strains of rapid development. Located on St. Helena Island on the banks of the Beaufort River and Port Royal Sound, this 15-acre site is a prime example of a maritime forest unique to the coastal Sea Islands. The historic significance and natural setting of this property make it ideal for a community park and educational learning site.

LCMA has been working with the County to provide volunteer support to assist in planning and maintaining the site as a passive park. A key element of the master plan is to restore native plants to promote biodiversity, raise community awareness of plant conservation, and preserve the natural and historic legacy of the site. We worked with the Southcoast Chapter of the Native Plant Society and Daniel Payne of Naturescapes to select native and naturalized plants based on soil and light conditions and drought tolerance.

On February 13, LCMA and other community organizations will begin the restoration by installing plants, including wax myrtle, beautyberry, saw palmetto, yellow Jessamine, sparkleberry, inkberry holly, and yucca. If you have any plants that you would like to donate or if you would like to be involved contact Wendy Wilson via e-mail or by phone. Come be a part of history!!