Weaving an amazing career, 2 men honored for work at Original Hammock Shop

Weaving an amazing career, 2 men honored for work at Original Hammock Shop

It seems very fitting that on National Hammock Day, The Original Hammock Shop in Pawleys Island honored two longtime hammock weavers by dedicating the store’s Weaver Shed in their names.

The Grant-Woodberry Weavers Shed, named for Marvin Grant and Harry Woodbury, will stand as a permanent reminder of the contributions of these two important employees. The Georgetown County Chamber of Commerce joined officials with The Original Hammock Shop for a rope-cutting ceremony (an appropriate twist on the usual ribbon-cutting event) to commemorate the event.

“The Georgetown County Chamber of Commerce was honored to host this very special event in honor of Harry Woodbury, a hammock weaver for 24 years, and Marvin Grant, who’s been a weaver for 34 years and created a staggering 25,201 hammocks, so far, in his career,” said Beth Stedman, president/CEO of the Chamber. “Congratulations to Harry and Marvin. We are so proud of you both.”

Officials with the Original Hammock Shop spoke about the history tied to Pawleys Island Hammocks and these two men.

“I’m so excited to be here to dedicate this historical building to these two fine gentlemen,” said Walter Perkins, CEO of the Original Hammock Shop’s parent company, The Hammock Source. “It is unimaginable how many people they have talked to and touched and entertained and taught about hammocks as they walked through the Weavers Shed.”

Todd Nifong, vice president of sales and marketing for The Hammock Source, said that the Lowcountry coastline is enriched in history and part of that history has been interwoven with the Pawleys Island Hammock for more than 130 years.

“The Lowcountry coastline where we stand today is enriched with history,” Nifong said, “and a part of that has history has been interwoven with the Pawleys Island Hammock for over 130 years.”

The story of Pawleys Island Hammocks began in 1889 when Joshua John “Cap’n Josh” Ward, a river boat captain, simply wanted a good night’s sleep during the sultry summers. He set out with some rope and wood, a little gumption and grit, and he soon fashioned what would become the basis for the company: the rope hammock, a hand-woven bed, two wooden spreader bars, and a clew knot with a ring for hanging the hammock.

The Original Hammock Shop, opened in 1935 by Ward’s immediate family to better market the hammocks they were already selling, is still going strong today in Pawleys Island – shipping hammocks all over the world. When the shop first opened, it was among the only businesses in the sleepy Southern seaside town.

Nifong said naming the weavers shed for Grant and Woodberry honors them for carrying on the tradition of Pawleys Island Hammocks.

“For the last quarter century, two faces have been synonymous with the tradition of hand crafting hammocks and memories for the generation of families that have stepped through the doors behind me,” he said. “It is because of their unwavering dedication to the craft of hammock weaving and hospitality, the entire Pawleys Island Hammock family is proud to honor Marvin Grant and Harry Woodbury for the generations of visitors to come.”

For more information about The Original Hammock Shop and Pawleys Island Hammocks, click here.

By Clayton Stairs / tourism manager for the Georgetown County Chamber of Commerce and South Carolina’s Hammock Coast