SANKOFA'S PLANTATION DATABASE
Lazaretto
Landing
Location: Lazaretto, GA
Constructed:
Learn more at: UWEC
Geog188 Vogeler
Information:
History: Lazaretto is hardly visible on maps today--only the name of the river
by the same name identifies the place. Yet the Works Progress Administration
(WPA) Guidebook for Georgia describes it as: the quarantine station for the
port of Charleston before the Civil War. Sick passengers, including slaves,
were kept here in a hospital, and those who died were buried in the local cemetery.
Healthy slaves were sold in Savannah.
Associated Free White Names
- Henry Middleton: owned a total of 50,000 acres and 20 plantations;
Middleton Place was only one of them
Associated Black Slave Names
- Henry Middleton owned a total of 800 slaves
Agriculture
- Rice: Slaves, who were experienced growing rice in West Africa, drained
the cypress swamps for paddy rice all along the South Carolina coast.
- The 1741-started gardens in the French and English traditions were
created by 100 slaves over 10 years (in the off-season). The one 900-year
old life oak and the many trees over 400 years old were incorporated into
the design of the gardens.
Description of Associated Architecture
- The estate still has a row of nine 18th-century brick slave cabins.
The proximity of the slave quarters along the road to The Big House and the
expensive brick construction of the slave cabins indicates that Captain Thomas
Boone was displaying his wealth and status to other planters as they rode
up to the main house.
- Cotton Gin House located on the property
- The rest of the plantation consists of family buildings and one restored
wooden slave cabin.