Just after you cross the bridges heading off the island, a small sign points the way to Buckingham Landing. This quaint community, one of the oldest in the area, boasts a rich history and unparalleled views. Yet for all its unique splendor, most folks pass by without realizing what they’re missing.
Buckingham Landing includes an eclectic mix of residents and homes. And, that’s all part of the appeal of the neighborhood, according to Debbie Morris. Debbie and her husband, Frank, along with their beloved dogs, Rosie and Sam, have called Buckingham Landing home for about a year. Debbie says she adores going kayaking and watching the dolphins. She loves the fact that she and Frank can sit on their porch and relax and enjoy nature. Debbie reports that she met some of her neighbors when they all came together to rescue a mother cat and her kittens. Debbie was touched by how concerned her neighbors were about the well-being of the felines. She was able to bond with them over the animals, and that has endeared them to her forever.
Longtime Buckingham Landing resident and area native Fran Heyward Marscher feels that her neighborhood allows her “to be a part of everything” and she “gets to avoid (most of) the traffic.” Although she’s lived in various other places, including Miami and Phoenix, for Fran, there really is “no place like home.”
When asked about the history of Buckingham Landing, Fran reports that the Baynard family once owned the property, as did the Ulmer family. Over time, the property was cut into large lots, and many folks came from surrounding areas to build summer or weekend homes in the Buckingham area. Some of these homes still stand today, although many have been updated or even totally re-done.
Marian Broome has been a Buckingham Landing resident since the 1950s. Her home is as unique as she is. Dubbed “Buckingham Palace” by her kids, Marian’s home was once painted pink, pale green, and white, and some knew it as the “birthday cake house.” Marian and her late husband, Douglas, were married for 55 years, and raised five children. Marian cherishes the decades of wonderful memories she made in Buckingham Landing with her beloved family and friends. She says she can’t imagine living anywhere else. She shares a special bond with her neighbors, who are more than friends to her.
Marian laughingly recalls how her children adored spending lots of time, especially during the summer, in the water. If they couldn’t find oars for the bateau, they would fashion oars out of pieces of wood. They simply didn’t let anything stop them from enjoying the water, which is a precious amenity to residents at Buckingham Landing.
Marian also recalls that, to get anywhere, you had to take the ferry at Buckingham Landing. She says folks just lined up their cars and chatted while they waited for the ferry. Originally, the ferry could only hold four cars at a time, but it was later “upgraded” to hold nine cars.
Alfred Mose Hudson, another early resident of Buckingham Landing, moved his family to the area in 1950. He did this because he did not want to send his children away to school, which was a popular choice back then. He wanted to keep his family together, so they moved from his home on Hilton Head to Buckingham Landing. He was co-captain of the local ferry, along with Donald O’Quinn, also a resident of Buckingham Landing. Additionally, Alfred Mose Hudson was on the board of directors for Palmetto Electric Co-Op, and he participated in decisions that helped bring electricity to the area.
Alfred Mose Hudson’s daughter, Ethel Hudson Propst, lovingly recalls her childhood in Buckingham Landing. She remembers it as a quiet place, with a dock at the end of the street. She and her family and friends enjoyed crabbing, fishing, and swimming. She has a lot of respect for her family, particularly her father, who was inadvertently an early pioneer in Buckingham Landing.
Ethel’s daughter, Gay Propst, now lives on her grandfather’s Buckingham Landing property. She says coming to her grandparents’ home was always “so awesome” to her. Her grandparents have a special place in her heart and her home makes her feel sentimental. Gay also says that the soil is amazing, that almost anything will grow there.
Although it’s off the well-traveled path, Buckingham Landing is a community worth visiting. Its rich history and easy access to the water make it an unforgettable community. Its residents, each as unique as the homes in the community, lend character and charm to our little corner of the world.
