The Wharf Pavilion Gets Some TLC
Amy Hollis, Historic Resources Manager

History of the Building
The wharf pavilion was the gateway to the Jekyll Island Club, one of the most exclusive private clubs in America at that time. It would have been the first and last glimpse of the Club every season. Until the causeway was finished in 1954, it was essentially the only way to get onto the island.

As a result of several developments, including hurricane damage to the original wharf, extension of the sea wall, and the construction of Sans Souci, a new wharf was built in 1916 to the north extending more directly from the Clubhouse property.

The pavilion was built in late 1916 by George Cowman of Brunswick. Mr. Cowman’s records have provided much of the information used in planning the roof restoration at the pavilion.

According to Cowman’s cost estimate for the pavilion’s construction, the architect was William Welles Bosworth. He was the designer of the AT&T Building in New York City for Theodore Vail (a JIC member), the McLaurin buildings on the campus of MIT, and the gardens at Kykuit, the John D. Rockefeller estate. Bosworth is present in the photograph of the first transatlantic call from Jekyll Island. He most often worked in a conservative Neoclassical style, like that of the wharf pavilion.

Current Project
Because of water infiltration in the banquet room of the restaurant, an investigation of the wharf pavilion roof was initiated. There were many shingle failures over the entire roof span, and water damage is visible on rafters and purlins. The damage was too extensive to repair with patches, and the structure was evaluated before any work began in earnest. Photographic and archival research has yielded an abundance of information about the evolution of the pavilion building.
The previous roof was undecked, and covered in cypress shingles. Originally, according to the Cowman materials list, it was decked in either pine or cypress and covered by asbestos shingles. We also have hand-colored period post cards that show a green roof color. To replicate the look of asbestos-fiber cement shingles, we installed green fiberglass shingles, which are not as heavy, will withstand the harsh conditions of the wharf, and not incur the health and environmental problems associated with asbestos.

Before the roof could be reshingled, however, the structure was repaired as necessary and the sag in the center rectified. The cupola has been taken down for repairs. Once the cupola work has been completed, it will be replaced.

Cupola Restoration
The Friends of Historic Jekyll Island have raised funds for the cupola restoration. The cupola is approximately 9 feet tall from the base to the crest of the dome, supported by an octagonal copper-clad base and topped by a small wooden spire.

Currently, the wooden areas of the cupola are showing considerable wear, as well as the copper cladding around the base and dome. Much of the molding will need to be replaced, but the columns should be fine with a few repairs.
At one time, a weathervane stood atop the dome, but there is currently not enough documentation to replicate it faithfully. One of our most exciting discoveries during the research phase concerns the dome: we have evidence from photographs, postcards, and Cowman’s notes, that the dome was gilded.