Ashantilly Center: A Legacy of History, Preservation, and the Printed Word
Welcome to Ashantilly Center!
Our Mission
The mission of Ashantilly Center, Inc. is to preserve the Ashantilly property and its legacy while promoting conservation, education, and community engagement. The Center provides opportunities for continuing education, scientific inquiry, and cultural enrichment that highlight both the natural and built environments of Georgia’s coast.
Standing quietly beneath centuries-old live oaks just north of Darien, Georgia, the Ashantilly Center, affectionately known as “Old Tabby”, has witnessed more than two hundred years of Georgia history. From its beginnings as the home of one of the state’s most influential early leaders to its transformation into a nationally recognized center for art, history, and letterpress printing, Ashantilly’s story is one of resilience, creativity, and preservation.
Thomas Spalding and the Birth of Ashantilly
Around 1820, Thomas Spalding (1774–1851), one of Georgia’s most prominent planters, agricultural innovators, and legislators, built Ashantilly as his mainland residence. Constructed of tabby, a durable mixture of oyster shells, lime, sand, and water, the home was named after Spalding’s ancestral estate in Perthshire, Scotland. Built through the labor of enslaved people, the home became a symbol of the prosperity generated by the plantation economy of coastal Georgia.
Spalding was widely respected for his contributions to Georgia agriculture, particularly his innovations in Sea Island cotton cultivation and his influence on the state’s early development. While his nearby Sapelo Island plantation served as his primary agricultural enterprise, Ashantilly provided a mainland retreat where he conducted business, welcomed guests, and spent his later years. He died at Ashantilly in 1851 and was laid to rest in the family cemetery in St. Andrew’s Cemetery, where his grave remains today.
Following Spalding’s death and the economic hardships that followed the Civil War, the property changed hands several times. The Wilcox family purchased the estate in 1870 and made significant alterations to the house, including replacing the original flat roof with a hipped roof and enclosing the open loggias.
The Haynes Family Arrives
A new chapter began in 1918 when William Greaner Haynes, Sr., and his wife, Laura Grant Haynes, purchased Ashantilly and moved their family from Columbia, South Carolina, to the historic property. Their children, Anne Lee, Frances, and William “Bill” Haynes, Jr., grew up exploring the marshes, forests, and rich history surrounding the old tabby home. Those experiences would leave a lasting impression on young Bill and inspire a lifelong devotion to art, history, and conservation.
Fire and Rebirth
Tragedy struck in 1937 when a devastating fire gutted the interior of Ashantilly, leaving only the tabby walls standing. Many would have viewed the house as a total loss, but the Haynes family saw an opportunity to preserve an irreplaceable piece of Georgia history.
Beginning in 1939, Bill Haynes, together with his family, undertook the painstaking restoration of the home. Rather than simply rebuilding, they thoughtfully incorporated architectural elements salvaged from historic buildings throughout Savannah, Charleston, and other Southern communities. Antique doors, mantels, staircases, windows, and handcrafted details found new life within Ashantilly’s walls, creating a home that honored the past while becoming a work of art in its own right. Over the following decades, the restoration continued as an ongoing labor of love rather than a finished project.
Service to Country
When World War II called, Bill Haynes put aside his artistic pursuits to serve his country. He enlisted in the United States Army and served from 1941 until 1945, spending two years with an anti-aircraft battalion in New Guinea in the South Pacific. His military service exposed him to new experiences and strengthened the quiet determination that would later define his life’s work.
Following the war, Bill returned to New York City, where he studied advertising, typography, and graphic design at Cooper Union. During this period he also worked professionally in printing, refining the skills that would become his life’s passion. While in New York, he met Natalie Erdman, whom he married in 1952.
The Birth of the Ashantilly Press
Bill and Natalie returned to Georgia in 1954, bringing with them a vision that would place Ashantilly on the national map of fine letterpress printing. In 1955, Bill established the Ashantilly Press, initially operating from the library of the family home before expanding into a dedicated print shop on the property. His first publication was a beautifully printed map of Fort King George, followed shortly thereafter by Anchored Yesterdays in 1956.
Over the next thirty-five years, the Ashantilly Press became one of the most respected private presses in the American South. Bill personally designed, illustrated, typeset, and printed thirty books, along with countless broadsides, maps, greeting cards, posters, and limited-edition publications. His exceptional craftsmanship earned repeated recognition in the Southern Books Competition, making Ashantilly Press one of Georgia’s most celebrated private presses.
Yet Bill’s legacy extended far beyond printing. An accomplished artist, preservationist, and passionate environmental advocate, he devoted his life to protecting the natural beauty and historic character of coastal Georgia. His efforts helped preserve local history while inspiring generations to appreciate the unique heritage of the Georgia coast.
Today, the Ashantilly Center continues Bill Haynes’ vision as a nonprofit educational and cultural organization. Visitors experience not only the remarkable history of “Old Tabby,” but also the living traditions of letterpress printing, historic preservation, art, education, and environmental stewardship. Every class, exhibition, artist residency, and printed broadside serves as a reminder that Ashantilly is more than a historic home; it is a living legacy built upon two centuries of history and one man’s unwavering commitment to preserving it for generations to come.
We want to thank our members, sponsors, supporters, and volunteers for all their contributions. Without your support, we could not continue Bill’s Mission.
Visit our website often for updates and news! Call (912) 437-4473 to arrange a tour. Or email AshantillyCenter@gmail.com for more information!
Visitor Comments
The latest Ashantilly Press projects have us inspired!
Jane Jones
We learned all about the benefits of growing native plants.
J. K. Rowling
It was like stepping out of time during our visit along the Georgia Coast.
Rebecca Taylor