Chambers Chatter

A huge thank you to Chambers Helms Group, Keller Williams Realty of the Lowcountry for sponsoring this episode! If you’re looking to buy or sell real estate in the Beaufort area, they’re a team you can trust. With strong local knowledge and a client-first approach, they’re there to guide you every step of the way.📞 Call them at (843) 252-1274🌐 Visit their website: realestatebeaufortsc.com━━━━━━━━━━━━━━Chambers Chatter Ep. 27 - Orange Grove Plantation Beaufort SC | Historic Lowcountry EstateIn this episode of Chambers Chatter, we visit the historic Orange Grove Plantation in Beaufort, SC on St. Helena Island to uncover the incredible history behind one of the Lowcountry’s most fascinating estates.Ashley Rhodes shares the story of Orange Grove Plantation, its restoration, conservation easement, family history, and the future of this historic Beaufort property as a wedding and event venue in the South Carolina Lowcountry.This episode explores:Orange Grove Plantation Beaufort SCHistoric homes in Beaufort South CarolinaSt. Helena Island historyLowcountry plantation historyConservation easements in South CarolinaHistoric property restorationBeaufort SC wedding venuesLowcountry real estate and preservationIf you love Beaufort history, South Carolina history, historic plantations, Lowcountry living, and hidden stories from the South Carolina coast, this episode is for you.Subscribe for more Beaufort SC stories, Lowcountry history, real estate conversations, local business spotlights, and Chambers Chatter podcast episodes.#OrangeGrovePlantation #BeaufortSC #StHelenaIsland #Lowcountry #HistoricHomes #SouthCarolina #ChambersChatter #PlantationHistory #LowcountryLiving #HistoricRestoration━━━━━━━━━━━━━━Chapters:0:00 Welcome to Chambers Chatter Ep. 270:29 Inside Orange Grove Plantation0:55 Ashley Rhodes’ Connection to Orange Grove1:52 Discovering Family History at Orange Grove Plantation3:14 The History of Orange Grove Plantation Beaufort SC4:05 The 1927 Historic Home on St. Helena Island5:08 Restoring the Historic Beaufort Estate6:11 Chambers Helms Group Sponsor Segment6:51 Bringing Orange Grove Back to Life7:08 Conservation Easement & Preservation7:53 Exploring the 850-Acre Property8:48 Family History & Lowcountry Conservation9:14 Career Changes That Led to Orange Grove10:11 Weddings at Orange Grove Plantation10:51 Planning the 100-Year Celebration11:03 Hidden Discoveries During Restoration11:59 Salvaging Historic Architectural Pieces12:53 Favorite Features of the Home13:06 Final Thoughts

A huge thank you to Chambers Helms Group, Keller Williams Realty of the Lowcountry for sponsoring this episode! If you’re looking to buy or sell real estate in the Beaufort area, they’re a team you can trust. With strong local knowledge and a client-first approach, they’re there to guide you every step of the way.📞 Call them at (843) 252-1274🌐 Visit their website: realestatebeaufortsc.com━━━━━━━━━━━━━━Chambers Chatter Ep. 26 - Beaufort South Carolina history, Old Beaufort stories, and Lowcountry history with Walter “Spanky” Lubkin.In this episode of Chambers Chatter, we explore Beaufort South Carolina history through real stories of Old Beaufort and Lowcountry life.This episode covers:• Beaufort South Carolina history• Old Beaufort stories• Lowcountry history• Beaufort seafood industry• Pritchards Island historyIf you are interested in Beaufort South Carolina history, Old Beaufort, and Lowcountry history, this episode is for you.━━━━━━━━━━━━━━Chapters:00:00 Introduction to Walter “Spanky” Lubkin00:30 How “Spanky” got his name01:48 Growing up in Old Beaufort03:31 First streetlight in Beaufort06:10 Life without air conditioning06:21 Seafood business & Blue Channel08:18 Growth of Beaufort industry09:35 Hidden history of Bay Point hotel11:35 Life on the river & early days12:35 Pritchards Island stories15:29 Living off the land & wild trips18:42 Boating before modern engines20:52 Advice for future generations━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

A huge thank you to Chambers Helms Group, Keller Williams Realty of the Lowcountry for sponsoring this episode!
If you’re looking to buy or sell real estate in the Beaufort area, they’re a team you can trust. With strong local knowledge and a client-first approach, they’ll guide you every step of the way.

📞 (843) 252-1274
🌐 realestatebeaufortsc.com

Chambers Chatter Ep. 25 – Robert Smalls Beaufort SC Story | Rebecca Bruff Interview

In this episode of Chambers Chatter, Laura Chambers Babalis and Shae Chambers Helms sit down with Rebecca Bruff, author of Trouble the Water, to explore the powerful and often untold story of Robert Smalls in Beaufort, South Carolina.

This conversation dives into Beaufort’s rich history, the legacy of Robert Smalls, and the inspiration behind bringing his story to life through historical fiction.

What we cover:
• The story of Robert Smalls and his Civil War escape
• Why his story isn’t widely taught
• The inspiration behind Trouble the Water
• Beaufort’s history and Lowcountry culture
• The role of historical fiction in preserving history

If you’re interested in Beaufort, Lowcountry living, or South Carolina history, this episode is for you.

Chapters:
0:00 Welcome to Episode 25
0:13 Meet Rebecca Bruff & Trouble the Water
0:35 Moving to Beaufort SC
1:11 Discovering Robert Smalls
1:54 Writing the Book
2:32 Why Robert Smalls Matters
3:47 Why His Story Was Hidden
5:05 Research Process
7:05 Who Was Robert Smalls
8:52 Untold History
9:28 Escape to Freedom
10:55 Historical Fiction Approach
12:31 Favorite Stories
14:12 Family & Legacy
15:23 Impact on Beaufort
16:24 Penn Center Explained
17:48 Beaufort History & Culture
18:17 Life in the Lowcountry
20:24 Future Projects
20:54 About the Book
22:20 Where to Buy
22:58 Final Thoughts

A huge thank you to Chambers Helms Group, Keller Williams Realty of the Lowcountry for sponsoring this episode! If you’re looking to buy or sell real estate in the Beaufort area, they’re a team you can trust. With strong local knowledge and a client-first approach, they’re there to guide you every step of the way.📞 Call them at (843) 252-1274🌐 Visit their website: realestatebeaufortsc.com━━━━━━━━━━━━━━What is Gullah Geechee history in South Carolina? In this episode of Chambers Chatter, we explore Gullah Geechee history, St. Helena Island history, and the story of Dr. Buzzard, a legendary root doctor of the South Carolina Lowcountry.Laura Chambers Babalis and Shae Chambers Helms sit down with Andy Tate to discuss Dr. Buzzard (Stefan Robinson), who was born in 1860 on St. Helena Island and became one of the most well-known figures in Gullah Geechee culture and Lowcountry history.In this episode:• Gullah Geechee culture in South Carolina• St. Helena Island history• Root doctor traditions and herbal healing• Hoodoo and conjure in the Lowcountry• The mystery surrounding Dr. Buzzard• Preserving Gullah Geechee heritageDr. Buzzard remains a fascinating part of Beaufort County history and Gullah Geechee history in South Carolina.━━━━━━━━━━━━━━Chapters:00:00 Welcome to Episode 2400:09 Introducing Andy Tate00:27 How Andy discovered Dr. Buzzard01:22 Who Was Dr. Buzzard?02:45 Gullah Geechee history on St. Helena Island04:48 Dr. Buzzard as a historical figure06:58 The mystery behind his reputation09:09 Quick overview of Dr. Buzzard10:34 Why people visited the root doctor12:20 Rootwork and herbal healing explained14:13 The FDR connection16:03 Shaman, secrecy, and Lowcountry folklore19:20 How Gullah Geechee culture has changed20:14 Andy’s mission to preserve history27:35 The object from the beach30:47 Low Country Root Works podcast33:43 What to expect from Dr. Buzzard episodes34:51 Final thoughts━━━━━━━━━━━━━━Subscribe for more Beaufort, Lowcountry, and South Carolina history conversations.#BeaufortSC #GullahGeechee #LowcountryHistory #StHelenaIsland #SouthCarolinaHistory

A huge thank you to Chambers Helms Group, Keller Williams Realty of the Lowcountry for sponsoring this episode. If you’re looking to buy or sell real estate in the Beaufort area, they’re a team you can trust.

📞 (843) 252-1274
🌐 realestatebeaufortsc.com

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Chambers Chatter Ep. 23: Factory Creek Stories, Water Festival, and Old Beaufort Life

Laura Chambers Babalis and Shae Chambers Helms sit down with Charley Webb and Leith Webb to share what it was really like growing up in Beaufort. From Factory Creek and shrimp boats to the Water Festival, the Breeze Theater, local characters, and Gullah culture, this episode is packed with unforgettable Lowcountry stories.

Guests: Charley Webb and Leith Webb
Location: Beaufort, South Carolina (Factory Creek, Port Royal, Lady’s Island)

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Chapters

00:00 Welcome back to Episode 23
00:02 Meet Charley Webb and Leith Webb
00:40 Growing up on Factory Creek and first jobs
01:54 Beaufort’s old economy: bases, farming, fishing, seafood docks
02:31 Living on a boat at 14 and running it at 15
03:36 Fripp Island nights and small-town Beaufort life
04:35 Water Festival, shrimp boats, and river chaos
05:22 Blue lights, sirens, and the court story
07:30 Church pews, courting, and the gander goose prank
09:31 “Jelly Brain,” bikes, and homemade shrimp boat adventures
10:29 The Christmas boat, river limits, and sinking 13 times
12:06 Breeze Theater, Tarzan melting, and Raisinets wars
13:02 Segregated theater memories and changing times
14:54 Desegregation, Beaufort Academy, and growing up local
15:45 The old wooden bridge and river barge stories
17:40 Shark fishing, scuba diving, and phone-line work
19:19 Carrie Lee stories and Beaufort characters
23:31 Lady’s Island hunting, stores, and penny candy memories
27:32 “Snake Eyes,” Gullah language, and local dialect
29:24 “Rice and peas is peas and rice”
30:49 Nicknames and football on the green
33:42 Offshore reef work, Fripp Island, and wrap up

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#BeaufortSC #FactoryCreek #ChambersChatter

A huge thank you to Chambers Helms Group, Keller Williams Realty of the Lowcountry for sponsoring this episode! If you’re looking to buy or sell real estate in the Beaufort area, they’re a team you can trust. With strong local knowledge and a client-first approach, they’re there to guide you every step of the way.📞 Call them at (843) 252-1274🌐 Visit their website: realestatebeaufortsc.com━━━━━━━━━━━━━━Chambers Chatter Ep. 22 is a Beaufort SC podcast featuring a conversation with Ricky Pollitzer, sharing true stories about Beaufort SC history, Lowcountry life, and growing up in Beaufort, South Carolina.This Beaufort SC podcast explores what life was like in Old Beaufort, from sailing and boating to aviation and small-town life. If you love Beaufort SC podcasts, local history, and authentic Lowcountry storytelling, this episode of Chambers Chatter is for you.In this episode of the Chambers Chatter Beaufort podcast, we discuss:Beaufort SC history and family rootsGrowing up in Beaufort South CarolinaLife in the Lowcountry and coastal South CarolinaBeaufort sailing and boating storiesAviation stories and flying careersHow Beaufort SC has changed over the yearsThis episode of Chambers Chatter is a must-watch Beaufort SC podcast for anyone interested in Lowcountry history, Beaufort locals, and real stories from coastal South Carolina.━━━━━━━━━━━━━━Chapters:00:00 Welcome to Chambers Chatter Ep. 2200:11 Sponsors & introduction to Ricky Pollitzer00:36 Family history in Beaufort dating back to the 1800s01:10 Growing up in Burton, South Carolina02:30 Childhood memories, cotton fields, and country stores03:46 Moving to Beaufort and learning to sail04:31 Early Beaufort sailing clubs and yacht culture06:02 Life on The Point and growing up in Beaufort07:56 Walking Bay Street and small-town life08:56 Learning to fly and joining the Air Guard09:48 Flying for Eastern Airlines and aviation career11:11 Sailing to Central America with family12:29 How Beaufort has changed over the years14:10 Meeting his wife and family life16:18 Final reflections and closing thoughts━━━━━━━━━━━━━━👍 Like, comment, and subscribe for more Beaufort stories, local history, and Lowcountry conversations.

A huge thank you to Chambers Helms Group, Keller Williams Realty of the Lowcountry for sponsoring this episode! If you’re looking to buy or sell real estate in the Beaufort area, they’re a team you can trust. With strong local knowledge and a client-first approach, they’re there to guide you every step of the way.📞 Call them at (843) 252-1274🌐 Visit their website: realestatebeaufortsc.com━━━━━━━━━━━━━━Chambers Chatter Ep. 21: Alan Patterson on Beaufort History, Building, and Operation Jackpot is a wild, local Beaufort SC story. In this episode of Chambers Chatter, Laura Chambers Babalis and Shae Chambers Helms interview Alan Patterson of Alan Patterson Builders about growing up in Beaufort South Carolina, old Beaufort memories, construction roots in the Lowcountry, and the real-life story behind Operation Jackpot.If you love Beaufort SC, Lowcountry history, and conversations with the people who helped shape the community, this one is for you.━━━━━━━━━━━━━━Chapters0:00 Chambers Chatter Ep. 21 begins0:05 Alan Patterson Builders and growing up in Beaufort SC2:09 Construction family history in Beaufort South Carolina5:45 Early real estate stories in the Lowcountry11:54 Starting Alan Patterson Builders12:26 Operation Jackpot and rebuilding life17:10 On the run stories22:31 The moment he got caught40:08 Back to Beaufort and local traditions41:19 Final thoughts━━━━━━━━━━━━━━#ChambersChatter #BeaufortSC #BeaufortSouthCarolina #Lowcountry #LowcountryHistory #AlanPatterson #AlanPattersonBuilders #OperationJackpot #BeaufortPodcast #SouthCarolinaPodcastSearch terms: Chambers Chatter Ep 21, Chambers Chatter Episode 21, Alan Patterson Beaufort, Alan Patterson Builders Beaufort SC, Beaufort history podcast, Beaufort SC podcast, Lowcountry podcast, Pigeon Point Beaufort, Bay Street Beaufort

A huge thank you to Chambers Helms Group, Keller Williams Realty of the Lowcountry for sponsoring this episode!

If you’re looking to buy or sell real estate in the Beaufort area, they’re a team you can trust. With strong local knowledge and a client-first approach, they’re there to guide you every step of the way.

📞 (843) 252-1274
🌐 realestatebeaufortsc.com

Chambers Chatter Ep. 20

This episode explores Old Beaufort, Ladies Island, and Lowcountry history with the Aimar twins, Sandra and Sharon Aimar.

We capture rare, firsthand stories of growing up in Beaufort, South Carolina before modern development. Hosted by Laura Chambers Babalis and Shae Chambers Helms, the Aimar twins share unforgettable memories of dolphins and whales in Beaufort waters, swimming across Factory Creek, early life on Ladies Island, the founding of Beaufort Academy, and their family’s deep roots in Lowcountry pharmacy and community life.

The conversation also reflects on how Beaufort SC has changed over time, touching on Oyster Factory Creek, Hunting Island, Boundary Street nightlife, Gullah culture, and the evolution of volunteerism in the Lowcountry. The episode wraps with the origin story of Twin Talk, the twins’ popular social media series.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the Aimar twins
00:10 Sponsor message
00:38 First babies born in Savannah in 1962
01:34 Dolphin encounters in Beaufort waters
03:19 Pilot whales near Beaufort
05:12 Growing up on Ladies Island
06:11 Country life with ponies and chickens
07:53 Factory Creek memories and river swims
10:12 The founding of Beaufort Academy
12:06 Oyster Factory Creek history
14:18 Aimar family pharmacy legacy
17:00 Family connection to Cookie
19:17 Development and volunteerism in Beaufort
21:10 Hunting Island erosion and lighthouse history
22:18 Boundary Street nightlife and Studio 54 stories
25:04 Gullah culture and community memories
27:17 The Mustang story and Sunset Boulevard
28:36 How Twin Talk began

💬 Help us share more Beaufort stories
Know someone we should interview next? Comment or message us on social media. Your suggestions help keep this series alive.

Keywords
Chambers Chatter, Chambers Chatter Ep 20, Aimar Twins, Sandra Aimar, Sharon Aimar, Twin Talk, Beaufort SC, Beaufort South Carolina, Old Beaufort, Ladies Island, Lowcountry, Lowcountry History, Beaufort Podcast, Beaufort SC Podcast, Factory Creek, Oyster Factory Creek, Hunting Island, Beaufort Academy, Boundary Street Beaufort, Gullah Culture

Chambers Chatter Ep. 19: Inside Beaufort’s Bluff House (1790) | Historic Federal Home Tour takes you inside one of the most historic homes in Beaufort, South Carolina. In this episode, Shae Chambers Helms and Laura Chambers Babalis tour Beaufort’s Bluff House, also known as the Means-Gage House, with homeowners Wallace and Catherine Scarborough. This full historic federal home tour showcases original 1790 architecture, archaeological discoveries, and incredible stories from one of the oldest Federal-period homes in the Lowcountry.If you're searching for Beaufort SC historic homes, Bluff House Beaufort, Federal home tours, or historic home restoration, this episode gives you an in-depth look at a rare surviving 18th-century property.━━━━━━━━━━━━━━⭐ What You’ll See• Full interior tour of Beaufort’s Bluff House (1790)• Federal-period details: 9-over-9 windows, pegged doors, plaster walls• Original drawing room, dining room, and Palladian smoking lounge• Two archaeological privy digs, the original well, colonoware & slipware• Charleston brick, heart pine floors, marble mantels• Ghost stories from the Means-Gage House• Megalodon tooth and artifacts from the property• How the Scarboroughs restored—rather than modernized—the 1790 homeThis home is one of the most intact Federal homes left in the United States, making this historic federal home tour especially meaningful for preservation lovers, history enthusiasts, and fans of Beaufort SC architecture.━━━━━━━━━━━━━━Chapters:00:00 – Welcome to Episode 1900:11 – Inside the Bluff House (1790)00:21 – Meet Wallace & Catherine Scarborough00:38 – History of the Means-Gage House01:12 – Living modern in a 1790 home01:34 – 2016 historic restoration02:06 – Drawing room02:18 – George & Frances “Fanny” Gage02:52 – Sea Islands hurricane03:25 – Original construction04:20 – Pegged doors & 1790 craftsmanship04:52 – Removing 325 lbs of paint05:38 – Mantel composition06:56 – Federal architecture & windows07:57 – Ghost stories begin09:39 – Sighting behind the curtain10:42 – Dining room mirror layout11:30 – Charleston historic colors12:14 – Fireplaces & breezes13:09 – Privy discoveries14:30 – Liverpool china (1806)15:12 – Colonoware15:25 – Mary Hudson Barnwell’s teapot16:20 – Early slipware17:15 – Mocha ware18:22 – Everyday 18th-century dishes19:20 – Medicine vials20:07 – Inside the privy dig20:29 – Intact 1790s chicken egg21:01 – Megalodon tooth22:08 – Chamber pots & bottles23:01 – Working yard history23:35 – Sugar bowl reconstruction23:57 – Federal central hall24:44 – Mahogany handrail25:52 – Staircase & smoking lounge26:13 – Rear receiving room27:21 – Beaufort “T” design27:44 – Civil War history28:06 – Hand-painted wallpaper29:38 – Mantel ghost story31:27 – Restoring the 1790 layout33:00 – Hidden fireplace uncovered33:44 – Joist turned mantel35:08 – Reclaimed church beams36:58 – Oldest kitchen structure38:06 – Laundry & dishwashing room39:02 – Tabby remains39:49 – Black walnut counters40:13 – Early fireplace design40:35 – Basement & slave bell41:10 – Charleston brick foundation42:06 – Hand-hewn joists42:49 – Original cistern43:13 – Palladian smoking lounge44:45 – Hidden side windows45:21 – Secret bathroom45:42 – Cedar shingles discovery46:25 – Guest bedroom restoration47:52 – Guest bathroom addition48:27 – Admiral Denby heating system49:12 – Original Beaufort city lamp49:58 – Discovery of original well50:22 – Charleston brick authentication51:06 – Well construction52:49 – Refuse pit discovery53:57 – Sifting artifacts55:04 – Final message: restore, don’t destroy━━━━━━━━━━━━━━💬 Help us share more Beaufort storiesKnow someone we should interview next?Comment below or message us on social media. Your suggestions help keep this series alive.

What is it really like living in Beaufort, SC?

In Episode 18 of Chambers Chatter, sisters Laura Chambers Babalis and Shae Chambers Helms share what it’s truly like growing up in Beaufort, moving away, and eventually returning to raise their families. With deep Lowcountry roots, they talk about childhood memories, the pull of home, and why Beaufort continues to shape who they are.

If you’re thinking about moving to Beaufort, curious about life in the Lowcountry, or simply enjoy listening to real stories from locals, this episode gives an honest, personal look at what makes Beaufort special. You’ll hear about family history, community traditions, and the unique culture that defines everyday life here.

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💬 Topics in this episode:

• What it’s like living in Beaufort, SC
• Why Laura moved home after living in Europe
• Why Shae left New Orleans to raise her family in Beaufort
• Multi-generational Beaufort roots
• Local traditions, memories, and childhood stories
• Life on the water, the river, and the sandbars
• How Chambers Helms Group began
• Why community involvement in Beaufort matters
• How younger generations can reconnect with local history

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Chapters:
00:00 – Welcome to Episode 18
00:11 – Why we chose to do this episode
00:28 – Childhood connections to Beaufort
00:50 – Preserving family stories
01:12 – How community shaped us
01:24 – The heart and history of Beaufort
01:36 – Why Laura moved back from Europe
01:48 – Returning home to start a family
02:08 – Leaving Beaufort and realizing its importance
02:18 – Shae’s journey of leaving and returning
02:30 – Coast Guard life away from home
02:51 – Choosing family and coming back
03:02 – Shae and Jason’s long history
03:27 – Jason’s years away
03:41 – Moving from California, Boston, and New Orleans
03:51 – Did they always plan to return?
04:02 – How kids change perspective
04:12 – Reflecting on life direction
04:24 – Favorite childhood memories
04:34 – Local hangout spots
04:46 – The Beaufort lifestyle
04:54 – Growing up before social media
05:07 – Generational changes
05:20 – Laura’s horse-riding years
05:31 – Memories with their sister
05:53 – Getting close again
06:05 – When their relationship grew
06:15 – Visiting Germany
06:26 – How Chambers Helms Group began
06:37 – Real estate during the 2021 boom
06:47 – Different memories of how it started
06:59 – Why Laura entered real estate
07:10 – Shae’s early career
07:21 – Watching each other grow
07:34 – Building careers with young kids
07:44 – Learning from each other
07:56 – Why the podcast matters
08:07 – Bringing Beaufort stories to life
08:19 – Hearing from newcomers
08:31 – Deep Beaufort roots
08:41 – Generations of family history
08:51 – How many generations
09:03 – Roots from their mom’s side
09:14 – Family history discoveries
09:26 – Recognizing historical figures
09:37 – Learning their heritage
09:47 – Their grandfather’s impact
09:58 – His contributions
10:10 – Why community involvement matters
10:21 – Encouraging younger generations
10:32 – How to get involved
10:44 – Helping others find their place
10:55 – Ways to contribute
11:07 – Connecting with the community
11:17 – Finding purpose
11:29 – What they hope to contribute
11:40 – What this podcast is building
11:52 – Connections through stories
12:03 – Raising kids and balancing time
12:15 – Community involvement as young professionals
12:25 – Lowcountry Young Professionals
12:35 – Helping younger people connect
12:46 – Excitement for the podcast’s future
12:57 – Family reliving memories
13:08 – Capturing meaningful stories
13:20 – Special guests and leaders
13:32 – Preserving memories
13:42 – Why capturing stories matters
13:52 – Community suggestions
14:03 – Inviting viewers to get involved
14:14 – Closing thoughts

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