I’m always surprised to find new places and landmarks on St. Simons Island that I’ve never explored before. This Island has an abundance of history, and I was glad to learn more about it when I visited Epworth last weekend. In the 1730s, John and Charles Wesley spent a fair amount of time in the area that is now Epworth, while they worked as missionaries. In 1738 John Wesley returned to England and founded the Methodist Church. Thus the area has strong ties to the early Methodist Church as well as the rich history of Saint Simons. This land also served as the former Hamilton Plantation. This fully functioning plantation produced Sea Island cotton, as well as oak and pine timbers.

Today, there are two remaining tabby cabins from the plantation that you can visit on, thanks to a meticulous restoration. The Cassina Garden Club has been meeting in these cabins since 1932 and was given the property in 1950. They completed a beautiful restoration of the cabins that has preserved the integrity of the cabins and highlights the artifacts and history. From June through August you can tour the grounds and learn more about the history of the Hamilton Plantation.

To explore these gorgeous grounds I wore a silk Tibi off the shoulder dress. It is smocked at the waist, making it a trendy summer choice. The loose and flowy fit also makes it a wonderful look for a warm and sunny day. I paired it with my tan Loeffler Randall strappy shoes and finished the look with gold honeycomb stud earrings.

Kelli Boyd Photography