The Stratchan Carriage House - St. Simons Island, GA

Duck Duck Quack Quack

Flying in during the pandemic, our ducks cannot swim very well, but they offer loads of kisses, giggles, and welcome greetings to our guests and family.



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Happy Earth Day

Happy Earth Day! From 1966-1976 Congressman Bill Stuckey and his family owned Beach Lawn, the estate on St. Simons Island which included the Strachan Carriage House (then a dirt floor garage). In 1970 Georgia had passed the Coastal Marshlands Protection Act. In 1972, during the time he and his family enjoyed summers at Beach Lawn, Stuckey pushed, promoted, and was finally successful in getting Congress to pass Public Law 92-536 that would “keep Cumberland (Island)’s natural and wild character.” Thank you, Congressman Stuckey, and all who saved our beautiful coast for generations to enjoy.

Happy National Tartan Day

Happy National Tartan Day (April 6). We celebrate the Strachan family. Captain Francis Garden Strachan ran away from the family farm in Banffshire, Scotland to sail clipper ships between Europe and the Orient in the 1870s. Then in 1885 he founded the Strachan Shipping Co in Savannah at the Cotton Exchange Building. From Brunswick his son FDM Strachan became Glynn County’s first millionaire by shipping timber, cotton, naval products throughout the world. Around 1910 FDMS built his summer cottage Beach Lawn on the southern end of St. Simons Island. The Strachan Carriage House (the historic four bay garage with servants quarters above and a 52 ft veranda) honors their memory and allows guests to enjoy stories and hospitality about Scots who made coastal GA home.



Savannah Cotton Exchange
Fgs Master
Ship Sailing Route
FG Strachan
Steamship Brokers

Ro/Ro The Big Boats

The Golden Ray ship is still turned over in the St. Simons Sound. You can view this “tourist attraction” from our street and get great photos when outgoing ships blow their horns and pass the Golden Ray and the fishing pier. The VB 10,000 is scheduled to cut up and remove the ship this summer. (www.ssiresponse.com) Brunswick is the nation’s second busiest port for import and export Ro/Ro cargo (i.e. Roll On/Roll Off).  As a dedicated RoRo facility without container competition, the Colonel’s Island Terminal in Brunswick features three on-terminal auto processors, including International Auto Processing, Mercedes-Benz USA, and Wallenius Wilhelmsen Solutions. The Port of Brunswick offers three modern Ro/Ro berths, served by nine steamship lines. Current annual capacity is more than 900,000 vehicles.

Shelter In Place Made Easy

My husband and I sheltered in place here for 7 weeks this spring much to the envy of our family and friends elsewhere. Truly it was easy. The weather was perfect to start my tan and splash in the pool. I read 7 books, tended to spring cleaning, and researched more fun historical facts about the Strachan family. The high speed internet and new Sonos audio kept my husband in synch with his work. Daily low tide beach walks were a must. Uncle Don’s Market was open for local lettuces and Florida tomatoes. St. Simons Seafood and City Market provided the freshest shrimp, mahi-mahi, flounder and sea trout. And take out from Mellow Mushroom in the village and Southern Soul BBQ worked very well when the chef (me) wanted a night off. Now restaurants, grocery stores, liquor stores, drug stores, small shops and bookstores are operational with smart social distancing rules. Go to (www.goldenisles.com) for latest updates. Our housekeeper Susan is following the CDC and travel industry cleaning protocols.  We want you and your family to enjoy the vacation we know you need. Spring 2020

Prohibition? No problem. Maybe.

Love owning a historic house and artwork with history – 91 years ago from Washington DC Star, March 22, 1928

“Yacht Libeled in Dry Coast”

Yacht Libeled in Dry Coast

Jacksonville, Fla, March 22
The $80,000 yacht Roamer, property F.D.M. Strachan, Savannah and Brunswick, Ga shipping man, today was subject of a Federal libel action intended to forfeit it to the Government for alleged violation of internal revenue laws. Strachan was arrested last Saturday when Coast Guardsmen discovered 41 quarts of whiskey on the yacht. He was later dismissed. He was charged jointly with the yacht Captain Alfred Throder Nielsen and four colored sailors with violation of prohibition laws.

Roamer was a steam yacht built by N.G. Herreshoff in 1902. FDMS purchased the yacht in Sept. 1922. This painting of Roamer was done by Joe Selby, an African American sailor turned artist in Florida. More stories of “The Old Pirate” await you on the veranda of The Strachan Carriage House. BYOB.

Resume Normal Operations

Resume Normal Operations Sign

This antique nautical sign spoke to us when we spied it at the Antiques Show in the village over Memorial Day. I think it was because we had spent nearly a week of nearly perfect weather doing nothing much but eating, drinking, reading racy beach books, laughing with old friends, and lounging in the pool. Not even close to anything like our “normal” operation of carpools, work, and emails. Now we understand what the new “normal” will be…