Lowcountry outdoors: 2021 Edisto Land Trust - Queen Quet Gullah Blessing for Hutchinson House

Tuesday, August 17, 2021

2021 Edisto Land Trust - Queen Quet Gullah Blessing for Hutchinson House

Queen Quet at new trail dedication

The Edisto Island Open Land Trust (EIOLT) continues to steward their historic renovation project at the Hutchinson House on Point of Pines Road. The afternoon of Thursday August 5 EIOLT dedicated a new walking path on that property, and welcomed Queen Quet of the Gullah Geechee Nation to convey her blessings. EIOLT also announced a new grant for $170,000-dollars for the National Park Service for interior work at Hutchinson House. Not even a little rain could dampen the spirits of the crowd of more than 100 that gathered to celebrate this trifecta of good news.

Many stakeholders held the ceremonial ribbon

Queen Quet is the Chieftess of the Gullah Geechee Nation and she contacted Girault about coming to Hutchinson House, and the August 5 date fit perfectly since it was Gullah Appreciation Week. Queen Quet was one of many stakeholders to hold the tape during the ceremonial ribbon-cutting to dedicate the new walking trail. The trail consists of shell sand material and winds around the house, past the pollinator garden, and continues on to the back to the back of the property. Deer tracks in the sandy path speak to the serenity of this place.

“E bin a bless up time fa tru!,” said Queen Quet. “Dis ednin we celebratin A Gullah / Geechee Appreciation ‘Pun Edisto. E gwine be a historic ednin fo sho!” Over 400 people RSVP’d to attend, but rainy weather may have discouraged some from attending. Queen Quet runs a merchandise tent to sell books and clothing that support the Gullah Geechee Nation, and she also made a $500 donation to the Hutchinson House. “Ef hunnuh waan lun mo bout we store, hunnuh gwine hafa git e books fa see! Bring de famlee and jayn we. Tenki Tenki fa supportin’, E gwine be a time.”