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| The two RV Gypsies enjoyed Swamp Island Drive; a long walk to a tower, and Chesser Island Homestead. They started the day with the one-mile long boardwalk through the swamp area to get to the tower. | |
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Below: The
two RV Gypsies climbed the stairs up the 5-story tower for a look at the
view. |
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Below: Before
climbing the stairs up to the top of the tower, Lee Duquette checked out
the view of the area. |
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Below: Lee Duquette
stayed at the bottom of the tower while Karen Duquette went up a few flights
and told him to look up. Then they took photos of each other. |
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Below: The
two RV Gypsies at the top of the tower |
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 Lee
Duquette saw a snake but didn't tell Karen. Later, she begrudgingly posted
the photo here as per Lee's request. |
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 In
the late 1800s, W.T. Chesser came from the Tattnall and Liberty County
area to settle on the edge of the Okefenokee Swamp. He settled the area
currently known as Chesser Island, a 592 acre island filled with forests
of longleaf pine, slash pine and pond pine in low areas, and an occasional
oak hammock. The original homestead was south of the current buildings. W. T. Chesser had six sons. Son Robert Allen Chesser married Lizzie and had 13 children. Son Sam Chesser married Sara and had 9 children. Tom Chesser, the youngest son of Sam and Sara, built the current homestead in 1927, with his wife Iva. The home is built of yellow pine and reportedly
cost $200.00 to build. Originally, the building had four rooms and it
featured an indoor kitchen. Bathroom facilities were outside, but a bathtub
was located on the back porch. Two bedrooms were added as the family grew
to seven children. Outbuildings include a smokehouse, syrup shed, chicken
coop, corncrib, and hog pen. The yard retains its original character -
it is free of all vegetation, as was the custom of the time to reduce
fire danger and increase visibility of snakes. Typical of families at the time, they told stories, attended church all day on Sunday, and played with toys made at home. The Chesser's were fond of a distinctive type of music - four-note or sacred harp singing. Chesser descendants continue to sing these primitive, acapella, harmonies today. Most of the Okefenokee Swamp became a national wildlife refuge in 1936; slowly the Chesser family located to other areas. Tom and Iva Chesser were the last family to leave the island, in 1958. Many members of the Chesser family remain in the local area. |
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Below: Lee
Duquette Inside the house playing with the water pump that pumps water
into the bathtub. |
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Below: When
the bathtub was emptied, this is how the water was drained out of the
tub and to the outside of the house. |
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Below: Lee
Duquette saw an old wash tub and wringer and volunteered to do laundry. |
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You may view the items in the menu below in any order you choose. The page you are on is grayed out and cannot be chosen. |
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Swamp
Island Drive (this page) |
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On
the walk back to the car, Karen Duquette got ATTACKED by a VINE stretching
over the boardwalk.
After
you have visited all three (3) sections above, please continue on to
the next adventure of the two RV Gypsies - 
