Editing Isle of Hope, Georgia (section)

==History==
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Isle of Hope is an island surrounded on all sides by water at high tide. Early maps referred to in French as "L'Isle Desperance" (modern French: ''L'Île d'Espérance''). Legends abound of pirates using the island to hide their booty, and generations of children have gone digging for this treasure. Legend also states that French [[Huguenot]]s used the island as a place of refuge for fleeing persecution.

In 1733, when General [[James Oglethorpe]] founded the [[Province of Georgia|Georgia colony]], a surveyor named Noble Jones was granted a tract on the island that was eventually named [[Wormsloe Historic Site|Wormsloe]], possibly after an English estate but more probably due to the [[mulberry tree]]s that were grown there, the worms of which, it was hoped, would form the basis for a [[silk]] industry. A [[Colonial history of the United States|Colonial]]-era fortified home made of tabby was built at the Skidaway Narrows (now Jones' Narrows) and today can be visited as part of Wormsloe Historic Site.

Jones, along with James Fallowfield and Henry Parker, settled permanently on the island. During nearby [[Savannah, Georgia|Savannah's]] frequent [[yellow fever]] epidemics, the island was host to Savannahians fleeing the miasma of the city's fevers. As greater numbers of people discovered the island, the former plantation lands were subdivided and the lots sold, and it became a fashionable summer retreat. Several homes from the antebellum period remain, including the 1820 former caretaker's cottage of Carsten Hall plantation. Although the plantation itself burned in the early 20th century, the family moved into the caretaker's cottage overlooking the [[Intracoastal Waterway]].

In the early 20th century, with better transportation options, the summer resort became the year-round home of many, and the [[terrapin]] farm at Barbee's Pavilion became world-famous for the export of terrapins for stew, including to the major restaurants of [[New York City]] and to the Czar of [[Russia]]. It was also the destination of race car drivers from around the world for the International Grand Prix races.

The Isle of Hope United Methodist Church is another historic location on the island.  Built before the [[American Civil War|Civil War]], the property was used by the [[Confederate States of America|Confederates]] as an encampment and the church building as a hospital. During their recuperation, soldiers carved their initials into the pews, which they used for makeshift beds. When the old church burned down during its 1984 renovation, the pews had been removed and were saved. Thirty-three Confederate soldiers are buried in the churchyard. In 2000, the church finished construction of [[transept]]s to the main sanctuary structure.

The island's beauty and history has attracted a number of [[Cinema of the United States|Hollywood]] film productions, including the Oscar-winning ''[[Glory (1989 film)|Glory]]'', the original ''[[Cape Fear (1962 film)|Cape Fear]]'', ''[[The Last of the Belles]]'', ''[[Forrest Gump]]'', and ''[[The Last Song (2010 film)|The Last Song]]''.