Friends of Kit Jones Board Members Dorothy O'Niell, Maxine Woolsey, Laurie Poole, and Davis Poole, and GHS Historical Marker and Program Associate Breana James after the marker unveiling (l-r)

Darien, GA, March 21, 2025—The Georgia Historical Society (GHS), in partnership with the Friends of Kit Jones and the McIntosh County Board of Commissioners, unveiled a new historical marker, “The Vessel Kit Jones,” in Darien on March 21, 2025. Nearly 90 years old, the Kit Jones has served many functions since its launch on Sapelo Island in 1939: tugboat, ferry, World War II fire boat, research vessel, and more.

“The Georgia Historical Society is pleased to share the Kit Jones’s history through this historical marker,” said Breana James, Historical Marker and Program Associate, GHS. “From its creation on Sapelo Island by local hands and materials to the significant, extensive coastal research it contributed to for decades, the story of the Kit Jones reflects both McIntosh County’s and Georgia’s rich past.”

“We are deeply honored to receive the Kit Jones historical marker from the Georgia Historical Society," said Laurie Poole, Secretary and Promotions, Friends of Kit Jones. "Condensing more than 85 years of history onto a marker was no small feat, but through our collaboration with GHS, we believe we’ve successfully captured the essence of this remarkable story. As GHS so eloquently reflects; we share the belief in the value of our history, and believe our shared history is what binds us together as Americans."

The Kit Jones dates to Sapelo Island’s time as a part-time residence for North Carolina tobacco company heir Richard J. Reynolds, Jr. Like many wealthy northerners in the late 1800s and early 1900s, Reynolds purchased the Georgia barrier island as his private retreat. Wanting an island ferry, Reynolds commissioned the Kit Jones. A surviving example of Georgia’s coastal wood-boat building tradition, the Kit Jones was built by Sapelo Geechee and other residents using local oak and pine.

“This recognition of the Kit Jones is a significant moment for our community, as it highlights an important piece of our rich and complex history,” said Kate Pontello Karwacki, McIntosh County Board of Commissioners. “McIntosh County is proud of its heritage, and this marker serves as both a tribute to the past and an educational resource for future generations. This dedication is a celebration of our maritime heritage, and we are grateful to the Georgia Historical Society for recognizing its significance.”

Most notably, the Kit Jones has served as a research vessel for many scientists. Reynolds initiated this part of the vessel’s history first by loaning the vessel, then ultimately transferring ownership to the University of Georgia. Later owned by the University of Mississippi, the Kit Jones took part in decades of extensive coastal studies. The vessel even survived the devastation of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. A few years after its retirement in 2013, the Kit Jones was in danger of being scrapped. Concerned citizens—all with connections to the Kit Jones in one way or another—came together to restore the vessel and return it to Darien.

The marker dedication took place in the park where the Kit Jones is on permanent display (404 North Way). Speakers included Davis Poole, Mcintosh County Commissioner and President, Friends of Kit Jones; Laurie Poole, Secretary and Promotions, Friends of Kit Jones; Maxine Woolsey, Former Crew on the Kit Jones, and Board Member, Friends of Kit Jones; Breana James, Historical Marker and Program Associate, Georgia Historical Society; and Father Mike Gumulauskas, St. Andrews Episcopal Church.

The marker text reads:

The Vessel Kit Jones

Sapelo Island owner Richard J. Reynolds, Jr. commissioned the vessel Kit Jones in 1938 as the island’s ferry. Named after Reynolds’ friend Katharine Talbott Jones, Sapelo Geechee and other local residents built the vessel using native timber under the supervision of Danish shipwright Axel Holger Sparre. During World War II, the US Coast Guard used it as a fireboat. Following the establishment of the University of Georgia’s Marine Institute on Sapelo in 1953, the vessel was used by scientists including Dr. Eugene Odum, considered the “Father of Modern Ecology,” and Dr. Milton “Sam” Gray, namesake of Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary. The University of Mississippi acquired the vessel in 1985 for 28 more years of extensive research service. Nearly scrapped in 2017, concerned citizens purchased the Kit Jones, restoring and returning it to Darien.

Erected by the Georgia Historical Society, the Friends of Kit Jones, and the McIntosh County Board of Commissioners

For more information about “The Vessel Kit Jones” historical marker dedication or the Georgia Historical Society marker program, please contact Jill Scoggins, Director of Public Relations and Communications, 912.651.2125 ext. 153, or jscoggins@georgiahistory.com.

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ABOUT THE GEORGIA HISTORICAL SOCIETY

The Georgia Historical Society (GHS) is the premier independent statewide institution responsible for collecting, examining, and teaching Georgia and American history. GHS houses the oldest and most distinguished collection of materials related exclusively to Georgia history in the nation.
To learn more visit georgiahistory.com.