In this episode of Tybee Remembers When, host Kelsey Chandler interviews Renee DeRossett about her first visits to Tybee, her move to the island, and how Tybee’s nature and community drew her back—especially Little Tybee.

View photos from this episode: {PHOTOS}

Learn more about the topics, voices and music in this episode:

Tybee Historical Society on Facebook

Tybee Historical Society on Instagram

Proudly produced by Dee Daniels Media - Podcast Production Company

You can help Tybee Island Light Station and Museum continue to provide its great services to the public. You would be contributing towards the continuing education of all people who walk through our doors. All of this wouldn’t be possible without the generosity of our supporters. Tap the donate link to help us continue to tell Tybee’s story – and share this episode with someone you know.

DONATE HERE

By becoming a supporter, YOU too will be a part of the story

Theme Music: "Tybee Where the Georgia Peaches Go"

This rendition of the 1926 song by Samuel B. Miller, originally sung by Dewey Holm and His Savannahians on Tybrisa Pavilion, was rerecorded by Turner Horton, TV and Film Composer for the “Tybee Remembers When” podcast in 2024.

Tap HERE for images of the original sheet music from the archives

All recordings in this podcast are the thoughts and opinions of the speakers and do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of the Tybee Island Historical Society. Oral histories are, by nature, subjective accounts and should not be taken as unbiased fact without further verification.

FIND A FAVORITE SPOT IN THIS EPISODE:

00:00 Podcast Intro

00:40 Meet Renee

01:14 First Tybee Visit

02:04 Tybee Whee Memories

03:43 Little Tybee Love

04:07 Fannys On The Beach

06:25 Theater Roots

08:59 Dreaming Post Theater

10:59 Arts Association Begins

12:31 Building Black Box

13:19 Early Players Legacy

14:36 Challenges Without Venue

15:31 Big Gym Productions

17:28 Tech Talent Nick Correa

19:13 Kim Trammell Partnership

24:43 Favorite Roles Directors

26:40 Why Tybee Theater Works

27:27 Tour de Art and Listening Rooms

29:12 Artist Colony Roots

30:35 Losing the Art Center

33:24 Why Black Box Matters

35:07 Youth Camps and Confidence

38:36 Building the Post Theater

40:55 Tybee Got Talent Legacy

44:21 Tybee Loves Tybee

45:41 Tourism and Community Loss

49:17 Keeping Arts Alive

51:13 Future and Getting Involved

54:15 Closing Thanks and Lighthouse

In this Tybee Remembers When interview, Michael Hugh “Mike” Braswell recalls childhood trips to Tybee Island tied to his father’s house-moving work and the freedom of walking to Chu’s and the Tybee Market, including a failed attempt to buy his dad beer at age five.

View photos from this episode: {PHOTOS}

Enhanced and decorative images were created by Mike Braswell

Other images were of his family’s building moving business and his time on Tybee

Learn more about the topics, voices and music in this episode:

Tybee Historical Society on Facebook

Tybee Historical Society on Instagram

Proudly produced by Dee Daniels Media - Podcast Production Company

You can help Tybee Island Light Station and Museum continue to provide its great services to the public. You would be contributing towards the continuing education of all people who walk through our doors. All of this wouldn’t be possible without the generosity of our supporters. Tap the donate link to help us continue to tell Tybee’s story – and share this episode with someone you know.

DONATE HERE

By becoming a supporter, YOU too will be a part of the story

Theme Music: "Tybee Where the Georgia Peaches Go"

This rendition of the 1926 song by Samuel B. Miller, originally sung by Dewey Holm and His Savannahians on Tybrisa Pavilion, was rerecorded by Turner Horton, TV and Film Composer for the “Tybee Remembers When” podcast in 2024.

Tap HERE for images of the original sheet music from the archives

All recordings in this podcast are the thoughts and opinions of the speakers and do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of the Tybee Island Historical Society. Oral histories are, by nature, subjective accounts and should not be taken as unbiased fact without further verification.

FIND A FAVORITE SPOT IN THIS EPISODE:

00:00 Podcast Intro

00:40 Meet Mike Braswell

01:43 Spearman Arms Memories

04:08 Chews Store Beer Run

05:43 Tybee Childhood Freedom

06:57 Spearman Legacy

08:39 Fishing Pier Mentor

11:16 Shark Raft Mishap

14:29 689 Pound Shark Saga

27:33 Cool Bus And Hurricane

29:50 Old Tybee Carnival Days

31:44 Quiet Beach Days

32:05 Christys Lunch Counter

32:29 Wrestlers Off Season

34:18 Seashell Tower Tale

36:34 Crab Neck Nickname

37:13 Fishing Lifelong Passion

37:58 Moving Near Tybee

38:46 First Mate Adventures

40:40 Bikini Contest Videos

43:36 Sleeping Under Pavilion

45:51 House Moving Legacy

49:02 Chapel Movie Set Move

49:59 Gilliard Cottage Pride

50:31 North Beach Memories

53:30 Why Tybee Calls Back

55:21 Living By The Tides

56:49 Support The Lighthouse

The Hosti sisters are the daughters of Ernest and Dot Hosti. Ernest was one of 9 children of Henri Leo Hosti of Strasbourg and Helen Elizabeth Hohnerlein of Berlichingen, Germany.

Henri/Henry allegedly jumped ship in Savannah where he eventually met Helen. Henry was known to be a talented pianist and cook who was eventually employed by the Savannah Police Department. At the time of his WWI draft registration at 38 years old he was a naturalized citizen and working as a ship fitter. and Helen was largely a homemaker but also ran a neighborhood grocery store at times.

The couple were devoutly Catholic and lived in Savannah but did come to Tybee at least once in their young adulthood. Many of their surviving children settled at Tybee following the post-WWII housing shortage and family business ventures with one brother establishing the Tybee Market. The family continues to live in the area today.

Learn more about the topics, voices and music in this episode:

Tybee Historical Society on Facebook

Tybee Historical Society on Instagram

Proudly produced by Dee Daniels Media - Podcast Production Company

You can help Tybee Island Light Station and Museum continue to provide its great services to the public. You would be contributing towards the continuing education of all people who walk through our doors. All of this wouldn’t be possible without the generosity of our supporters. Tap the donate link to help us continue to tell Tybee’s story – and share this episode with someone you know.

DONATE HERE

By becoming a supporter, YOU too will be a part of the story

Theme Music: "Tybee Where the Georgia Peaches Go"

This rendition of the 1926 song by Samuel B. Miller, originally sung by Dewey Holm and His Savannahians on Tybrisa Pavilion, was rerecorded by Turner Horton, TV and Film Composer for the “Tybee Remembers When” podcast in 2024.

Tap HERE for images of the original sheet music from the archives

All recordings in this podcast are the thoughts and opinions of the speakers and do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of the Tybee Island Historical Society. Oral histories are, by nature, subjective accounts and should not be taken as unbiased fact without further verification.

FIND A FAVORITE SPOT IN THIS EPISODE:

00:00 Podcast Intro

00:43 Meet the Hosti Sisters

02:22 Why the Family Moved

04:38 Inside Tybee Market Days

05:40 Animals and Home Life

07:28 First Tybee Memories

10:58 Bonfires and Old Neighbors

14:04 Fort Play and Hurricanes

17:12 Attic Bands and Parties

20:41 Getting Around and School

22:53 Life at St Michaels

25:59 City Fun and Brass Rail

28:30 Triangle Drive In Hangouts

30:18 North End vs South End

32:13 Music Spots and Girl Scouts

39:09 Black Families and Aunt Bertha

44:07 Crabbing With Neighbors

44:56 Family Tales And Aunt Faye

46:24 Grandma Hosti Memories

47:26 Triangle Nights And Uncle Jack

49:28 Old Phones And Island Families

50:18 Mary Jones And Close Calls

51:24 How Tybee Changed

52:28 Bars Shrimpers And Lazaretto

57:01 Best Memories Cook Shack

59:24 Remembering Tybee Characters

01:04:55 Old Restaurants And Local Lore

01:07:09 Rules Crowds And Community

01:16:13 Tybee Identity And Rising Costs

01:20:48 Final Thanks And Support