Cumberland Island Strong Women: A Tale of Wild Horses and Bonded Spirits

Cumberland Island, located off the coast of Georgia, is a place that holds an air of mystery and adventure. Known for its untamed beauty and the incredible bond between its strong women and the wild horses that grace its shores, this barrier island is a testament to the strength and resilience of both nature and the human spirit. In this article, we delve into the captivating stories of Cumberland Island's strong women and their symbiotic relationship with the majestic wild horses that roam freely on this slice of paradise.

A Glimpse into Cumberland Island's History

Cumberland Island is a historical masterpiece, with remnants of Native American settlements and evidence of colonial occupation. However, its true allure lies in the stories of the powerful women who have left an indelible mark on this island.

One such woman is Margaret Carnegie Ricketson, an heiress of the Carnegie steel fortune, who fell in love with Cumberland Island and purchased it in 1881. Renowned for her strong-willed nature, she dedicated her life to preserving the island's unique ecosystem and its majestic inhabitants. Her passion for the land and its wild horses paved the way for the unbreakable bond between the strong women and these magnificent creatures.

Cumberland Island: Strong Women, Wild Horses

by Charles Seabrook(Kindle Edition)

4.5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	12816 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	402 pages

FREE

The Wild Horses of Cumberland Island

As you explore Cumberland Island's mesmerizing landscapes, the sight of wild horses galloping freely along the shoreline is truly enchanting. These majestic animals, known as Cumberland Island horses, are descendants of horses brought to the island by the Spanish conquistadors in the 16th century.

The Cumberland Island horses have developed a unique adaptation to their environment, resulting in a smaller stature and increased agility. They have formed a harmonious relationship with the island's strong women, with both entities sharing an unspoken understanding and mutual respect for each other's existence.

Strong Women and Wild Horses: An Unbreakable Bond

The strong women of Cumberland Island and the wild horses have an extraordinary connection that goes beyond words. It is a bond forged by shared strength, resilience, and an unwavering appreciation for the untamed beauty of the island.

These women, who have chosen to call Cumberland Island their home, find solace in the presence of these wild horses. They draw inspiration from their indomitable spirit and find renewed strength in their untamed nature. The horses, on the other hand, recognize and trust these women, forming a bond based on trust and companionship that has defied time.

The Role of Strong Women in Preserving the Island

The strong women of Cumberland Island play a vital role in preserving the delicate equilibrium of this natural haven. They have dedicated themselves to protecting the island's pristine beauty, ensuring that both the landscape and the wild horses remain unharmed by external threats.

These women work tirelessly to raise awareness about Cumberland Island, its unique ecosystem, and the importance of responsible tourism. They strive to educate visitors and ensure that their impact on the island is minimal, allowing both the strong women and the wild horses to coexist in harmony.

Visitors' Experiences: A Glimpse into the Magic

Cumberland Island is a place where visitors can immerse themselves in awe-inspiring beauty and witness the enduring bond between the strong women and the wild horses. Whether hiking through pristine forests, exploring the ruins of historic mansions, or catching a glimpse of horses galloping along the beach, each visitor departs with a newfound appreciation for the strength and resilience of both nature and the human spirit.

Cumberland Island stands as a testament to the power of strong women and the indomitable spirit of wild horses. It is a place where their stories intertwine, creating a symphony of resilience, beauty, and untamed spirits. As you visit Cumberland Island and witness the bond between these magnificent creatures and the women who call this island home, you cannot help but be captivated by the extraordinary connection that exists between them.

Cumberland Island: Strong Women, Wild Horses

by Charles Seabrook(Kindle Edition)

4.5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	12816 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	402 pages

FREE

In September 1996, Cumberland Island blasted onto the national news scene when it was revealed that John Kennedy, Jr., and Carolyn Bessette were married on the island in the First African Baptist Church—a simple one-room frame structure with eight handmade pews. When the flotilla of writers and photographers arrived on the island a few days later only to find themselves itching, sweating, and swatting at pestiferous gnats and bloodthirsty mosquitoes, they wondered why such a worldly and sophisticated couple had chosen such a tick-infested spot. In Cumberland Island, Charles Seabrook uses his talent as an award-winning environmental writer to describe the island’s natural bounty and to tell its long and intriguing history. You’ll meet Catherine “Caty” Greene Miller, the widow of Revolutionary War hero Nathanael Greene and the woman who inspired Eli Whitney to invent the cotton gin. There’s Miss Lucy Ferguson, considered by many to be the toughest and orneriest of all the strong women who inhabited the island, reigning over it during the 1960s and ’70s. The present-day generation is represented by Janet “GoGo” Ferguson, Miss Lucy’s granddaughter, who made the arrangements for the Kennedy and Bessette wedding and crafted their wedding rings as well. Today, the island serves as a lightning rod for controversy. Although the island is currently under the purview of the National Park Service, some descendants still reside on the island. The dispute over the sale of land by cash-strapped landowners to commercial developers creates as much heated debate as the discussion of how the Park Service should balance the management of a wilderness area with the privileges accorded the residents. Included in these two debates are the questions of whether the island’s signature wild-horse herd should be dispersed because of the environmental damage it wreaks and whether the historic mansions that still pepper the island be allowed to crumble to ruin for the sake of wilderness preservation.

Charles Seabrook has been a long-time environmental writer for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. His popular weekly column called "Wild Georgia" was the victim of cutbacks. However, in 2008, the paper reinstituted the column due to reader demand. In 1981, Seabrook was one of the first reporters in the world to write about a mysterious and burgeoning disease that would soon be known as AIDS. In addition, he has written extensively on global warming, air and water pollution, and songbird decline. He has won awards from the National Wildlife Federation, the Southern Environmental Law Center, and various press organizations. His newspaper series about Georgia’s mining industry won the Investigative Reporters and Editors “Best Story of the Year” award in 1994. In 2001, the state of Georgia gave him the R. L. "Rock" Howard Award, its highest conservation award. He lives in Decatur, Georgia.