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October 27-28, 2023
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Oral Histories

The SFA oral history program documents life stories from the American South. Collecting these stories, we honor the people whose labor defines the region. If you would like to contribute to SFA’s oral history collections, please send your ideas for oral history along with your CV or Resume and a portfolio of prior oral history work to info@southernfoodways.org.

< Back to Oral History project: Bowens Island Restaurant

ORAL HISTORY

Jack London, De facto Manager

Bowens Island Restaurant

A native of Georgia, Jack London ended up in Charleston when his father retired from the Army sometime in the 1960s. Jack had always heard of Bowens Island but never visited until he finished his own stint with the Army in 1977. Soon after his return, Jack and his brother began fishing for snapper and would tie their boat up there. Later, Jack worked on a shrimp boat that was docked at Bowens Island. Eventually he married a woman who worked in the restaurant and lived on the island with her. While they ultimately divorced, Jack remained married to the island and served as the de facto manager of Bowens Island Restaurant.

Jack London passed away in 2012.

Date of interview:
2007-01-17 00:00

Interviewer:
Amy Evans

Photographer:

Download Transcript

“

I started working shrimp boats out of Bowens Island. And there was a girl that I met that was living here, and she worked for Ms. Bowen. And we wound up getting married, and I lived here for a while. I was renting what we called a little shack that was here at Bowen’s for, I think it was $35 a month at the time. And I got to know Mrs. Bowen and Mr. Bowen through the unloading fish and whatnot here. ~ Jack London

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