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June 2023 ~ Close to the Finish Line!

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May 18, 2022 ~ Kit Jones Is Back!

 

 

It has been a long and arduous process. Over 500 miles across four states, and more than 6 years; a dream is being realized.  A native, historic watercraft that was almost lost has been revitalized!

 

84 years ago, this strong, beautiful vessel named Kit Jones was launched from Sapelo Island. She is rich in Georgia history and thankfully, now a remarkable surviving example of the coastal wood-boat building tradition. 

  

The grain in her hull is now deep and textured. Passing a hand along, one feels the strength and structure of the wood. Without saying a word, it speaks of thousands of nautical miles, dozens of captains, hundreds of crews, years of research work, and of both stormy and calm seas. It speaks of eight remarkable decades of adventures.

 

In 1938, R.J. Reynolds, Jr. commissioned her to be constructed on Sapelo of native heart pine and Live Oak timbers, which were harvested and milled onsite. Under the direction of Danish shipwright Axel Sparre, many island residents who were Gullah-Geechee descendants assisted in the construction.  The style of the Kit was directly from plans drawn by yacht and sailboat designers, Sparkman & Stevens of New York.  

She was named for Katharine Talbott Jones (Kit), the wife of Alfred W. (Bill) Jones, friends of R.J. Reynolds, Jr.  Over the course of her life, the 60-foot, wood-hull vessel has served as a tugboat, a ferry that provided a lifeline to the mainland for the more than 500 residents of Sapelo Island, a freight hauler, and later, fireboat during her military service in World War II. In subsequent years, several McIntosh County residents served as masters and mates as she performed most notably as a research vessel.

Her long and stellar career in the service of coastal scientific research saw her employed by scientists and students from universities and research institutions worldwide, including Dr. Eugene Odum, known as the “Father of Modern Ecology”, Dr. Milton (Sam) Gray, for whom Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary is named, and Dr. Orrin Pilkey, globally renowned for his work on coastline preservation and protection.

By the early 1980s, the Kit Jones had fallen increasingly out of use and further into disrepair.  No longer of use to the University System of GA, she was acquired by the University of Mississippi in 1985, refurbished, and moved to her new home port in Biloxi, MS and worked for another 25 years.  

Capsized and nearly sunk in Hurricane Katrina in 2005, she survived to continue her years of research vessel service.  By 2013, the University of MS was no longer able to maintain or operate the vessel, and the Kit Jones was pulled from the water a final time.  She was put into drydock in Biloxi, and for many years faced an unknown future that seemed increasingly grim.  Former crew and first-mate, Maxine Woolsey, of Oxford, MS, along with another former crewmate/researcher, Dorothy O’Niell, from Athens, GA, spearheaded an effort to prevent the Kit from being lost.

She faced a near-certain future of salvage…she was to be dismantled for scrap if a purchaser could not be located. In November 2016, the Kit Jones was put up for auction. Local McIntoshian, Aimee Gaddis, told Davis Poole and his wife Laurie about the situation to see if they could help in the rescue process. Poole shared “I knew she was absolutely worth saving!” At the time, Davis was President of the McIntosh Rod & Gun Club. They took an interest in her future, and organized a successful last-minute bid, acquiring official title to her in January 2017.  

 

In 2018 Poole submitted application for the Kit Jones to become a Georgia Historic Trust ‘Places In Peril’ designee. She was selected as one of 10 and became not only a P.I.P., but the first and only “V.I.P.” (Vessel In Peril).

 

The 501c-3 Non-Profit, Friends of the Kit Jones, Inc. was formed to help, and aspire to build historic recognition of the vessel to accomplish their stated mission:  The restoration, preservation, and appreciation of the vessel Kit Jones as an historic, cultural and educational resource for McIntosh County and other coastal Georgia communities. 

 

That mission has nearly been completed. Local volunteers Davis & Laurie Poole went to work writing grants to raise money for the project. “We won a GA tourism grant for $10,000, and two Coastal Incentive Grants, administered by McIntosh County for $80,000 each. Private citizens donated the rest for this amazing, historic cause.” said Davis.

 

Summer of 2019, she made the 544-mile overland trip home from Biloxi, MS.  She has since rested in the Tidewater Industrial Development Park awaiting her facelift. COVID certainly caused a long delay in the process, but local volunteers Davis & Laurie Poole never gave up. They both serve on the FOKJ non-profit, and through the whole pandemic event, persevered looking for an experienced carpenter/craftsman who could help with the restoration.

 

Davis finally found that person in the form of McIntosh resident Steve Ellis. A working waterman from Massachusetts, he has decades of knowledge and craftsmanship to draw from. 

 

When Steve first read about the Kit coming back to Darien, he volunteered to help. Ellis reflected, “I love old wood boats much more than fiberglass boats. Wood boats have a heartbeat that starts when the keel is laid. As the boat is being built, her personality starts to emerge. The curves, the shapes all start to blend together…I'm stopping here because my words won't do the rest justice.”   

 

Ellis started working on fishing boats when he was 14 years old. “I got my Captain’s papers at 18. At 28, I had three businesses-all in fishing industries. All my fishing businesses were seasonal and during the off-season I worked at a local marina doing wood working, electrical and fiberglass. I also did boat surveys.” 

 

The Kit has had many iterations over the years as her workload has changed, but the earliest design is the one to which she will return.  The Friends of the Kit Jones steering committee purchased the original Sparkman & Stevens blueprints and agreed that her maiden configuration will be permanent.

 

“We tried very hard to hire locally as much as possible. Thankfully, we found Steve and he took the lead in the restoration process.” Explained Laurie Poole, Secretary for FOKJ.  “Everyone knows how difficult it was to work during the pandemic, and our project was no exception.”

 

Steve Ellis is no stranger to hard work or wooden vessels.  Ellis, Luke Martin and Jamie Pittman rolled up their sleeves and got down to the dirty work. The process began with an incredible amount of deconstruction to get rid of rotten wood, years of patches and repairs, and debris within the hull to get to a point of rebuilding.  

 

“The biggest challenge on the Kit Jones,” said Ellis, “was rot, rot, and more rot. It was difficult to use building lumber on a boat that had originally been built out of select native lumber. Hoping that the Kit Jones might last a few more years is something positive for the county and a salute to the men that originally did such an amazing job builder her on Sapelo Island.”

 

“We collected dozens of artifacts all along the way and documented the entire process for educational and historical purposes.” said Laurie, “Sandblasting came next and that revealed an amazing hull underneath! The grain that was uncovered gave insight to massive timbers harvested from Sapelo. Watching them peel away decades of paint down to the structure was amazing to see!”

 

Once the sandblasting was finished and the Kit was clean and ready for restoration, Ellis and his crew went to work repairing the soft wood, patching and filling gaps, replacing large section of boards that could not be simply repaired, and reconstructing sections inside to strengthen the structure. 

 

“We broke drill bits everywhere, but the stem, which is live oak, was like granite.” explained Ellis. “We treated a lot of the yellow pine with an acrylic stabilizer that binds to the fibers and helps prevent further rot. As far as I could tell, the hull planking had been refastened at least three times and the outside face of the ribs had gotten pretty ‘nail sick.’ A lot of the original work was in better shape than repairs that had been done over the years -- a testament to the craftsmanship of the original builders.” 

 

They then went to work to reconstruct the upper part of the hull, re-build the deck and re-create the railing according to the original plans.

 

Davis details the final section of construction; “Steve and Jamie built the pilot house so that it can actually be removed during transportation of the Kit to her site in Darien. There are too many low power lines to clear with it up there, so this was an additional challenge for him. Once she is in place, he will install it again permanently.”

 

Local painter John Stamey of Southern Custom Painting & Design was hired to put a final layer of protection on the Kit. A great deal of sealing and priming was necessary before the last step of painting. 

 

Her current color combination reflects back to when she was launched in 1939. “Bottom paint at that time was the deep red you will see on her now. We couldn’t bear to cover up all the grain and wanted visitors to be able to admire the history before their eyes, so we left the keel unpainted. We unfortunately had to cover all the rest of the beautiful wood just to keep her protected from the elements for years to come.” said Poole.

 

“It’s been a long process and a whole lot of work.” Explained Davis. “Laurie and I spent many weekends out at the restoration site with our tractor cleaning up the mounds of debris so that Steve could continue his work on Mondays. It’s very exciting that we can see the finish line now!” Once again, she will be moved by semi-truck to downtown Darien, where she will then be hoisted with cranes and set into place. McIntosh businessman, Bill Wallace, initially removed the massive brass prop for safekeeping, and will reinstall once the Kit is settled. He will also assist in placing the pilings that will aid in displaying the vessel.

 

The newly restored Kit Jones will be a distinguished maritime resident & landmark, proudly displayed in historic Darien at the intersection of GA Hwy. 99 & Hwy. 17 to highlight the working waterfront and seafaring people of McIntosh County. The county designated the site to be her final location next to the historic Old Jail & Art Center. Her destination will be turned into a park for everyone to enjoy.

 

While the group, ‘Friends of Kit Jones’ has raised enough money to bring her home and restore her, their next phase of fundraising for her final placement will allow fans & followers to play a unique part. Personalized, stamped bricks will be available to pave the ground around her prominent site. Commemorative benches will also be offered to build out the park for all to enjoy!  Tax deductible contributions may be made at www.savethekitjones.com, mailed to Friends of the Kit Jones at P.O. Box 1968 Darien, GA 31305, or contact Laurie Poole at savethekitjones@gmail.com.

From the very hands that crafted her, to those who captained or worked upon her, she has a following far beyond McIntosh County. Her rescue and restoration is a great opportunity to bring the diverse people in the community together by honoring her Sapelo Island roots as well as the families whose ancestors and relatives served as builders, masters, and strikers on the Kit.

Further information and photos, can be found on the website, or follow on Facebook.

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June 21, 2019 ~ It's Almost Time!

 

She won’t have the familiar look she’s had for the last several decades. There will be no steel outriggers, railings or anchor, no pilothouse or helm that guided her way through southern waters for 75 years. Her mantle is chipped and worn and rust stains stream down her hull. But her unmistakable lines will make her recognizable to those who know her. And in honor of her 80th birthday, the historic vessel Kit Jones is finally coming home. 

 

Intensive preparations have been made over the past several months to get her ready for the 544-mile overland trip home. Through coordinated efforts on two different coasts, June 27th-28th, she will return to McIntosh.
 

Kit Jones Steering Committee member, Maxine Woolsey, has been overseeing the details of the Kit’s de-construction in Biloxi, MS in order to be ready for the trip. Maxine’s late husband (and former Captain of the Kit), Bob Woolsey, was the last person to pilot her fromGeorgia to Biloxi, Mississippi.  As fate would have it, Maxine will be escorting Kit backhome to Georgia.

 

Paul Bodin of Bay Marine in Biloxi has tended the maintenance of the Kit Jones for the past several decades and was also hired to manage her disassembly and prep work. The pilothouse and handrails had to be carefully removed to meet the height requirements for transportation; also taking into consideration the attachment of a new cabin and pilothouse in the future. Keeping the integrity of the hull and stabilizing it were of the upmost importance.  Prior to removing the pilothouse, Bodin and his crew removed the interior panel lights, electrical boxes and electronics. Ms. Woolsey packed these in watertight boxes for transport. Winches and hydraulic cylinders were removed from the aft deck.

Once the pilothouse was lifted, the engine and generators were removed; which, due to their decrepit condition, can only be scrapped.  All of the carefully detailed work is focused on the goal of safely transporting the vessel intact. She will be moved by a travel lift with four straps and placed on a marine transport trailer. 

 

“It requires major coordination to lift all straps and both ends of the boat at the same time to prevent splitting the hull”, said Ms. Woolsey.  Mr. Bodin will mark the hull exterior so that all lifting straps are placed on the ‘ribs’ of the hull - which are the strongest supporting points.

Two escorted tractor-trailers will be used to bring the Kit, her pilothouse, and additional parts back to Darien. Her cross-country trek will temporarily end in the Tidewaters Industrial Park off Commissioners Way. A site has been prepared to accommodate the 60-foot long vessel, the tractor-trailers bringing her, and the crane that will unload her. Once there, she will be placed on keel boards and supported by stands for restoration work.

 

Following a ‘face-lift’ and transformation back to her original design, the Kit will be relocated to the grounds beside the Old Jail Art Center at 404 North Way in historic Darien. She will be displayed as a landmark attraction to highlight the working waterfront of McIntosh County.

 

The Kit Jones is a 2018 Georgia Historic Trust ‘Places In Peril’designee, but is no longer in danger of a tragic demise.

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