Lady's Island Oyster Factory

Front: The eastern oyster launched the Beaufort Co. commercial seafood industry. The first canning factory on this site, for which Factory Creek was named, was begun in 1883. Oysters were harvested from Sept. to May. Tomatoes and okra were canned in the summer. After the hurricane of 1893 the oyster industry became the largest employer in the county, providing jobs to approximately 3,500 Sea Islanders. Reverse: By 1929, this factory was the largest producer of cove oysters in the world. L.P. Maggione bought the factory in 1917. In the 1950s it had over 300 employees, canning oyster products, tomatoes, and okra. African American migration to northern states in the early-to-mid 20th century, accompanied by die off in oyster beds, led to decline of the industry and the work force shrank to 25. The factory closed in 1986.