Gustav George Gerbing – A renaissance man

Submitted by Susan Hardee Steger
January 7, 2015, 3:47  p.m.

“The whole word outside was alive, and I wanted to be out there in the middle of it.” Gustav George Gerbing

On Wednesday during the Amelia Island Museum of History Brown Bag Luncheon, Jayne Nasrallah enthralled local history buffs as she presented a lecture on Gustav Gerbing titled “Gustav George Gerbing – A Renaissance Man.”

Gerbing’s who grew up on 12 acres of Amelia Island land purchased by his father in 1897, was a noted horticulturist who developed “Gerbing Gardens” a popular tourist attraction in the 1930’s and 40’s.  The gardens were located on Amelia’s south end in an area known as Amelia City.

Gerbing was a former raccoon hunter, fishing pier operator, oyster cultivator, restaurateur, and shrimper, who began a career later in life propagating azaleas and camellias, and eventually opened his meticulously landscaped gardens to the public.

The demand for Gerbing azaleas and camellias was so great, plants were loaded on railroad cars and delivered nationwide. His rare flowers were also placed in the bottom of crush proof boxes and flown to New York City florists.

Nasrallah, whose major source of information on Gerbing was from the Amelia Island Museum Archives, spoke of the shrimping industry in 1912 when the Otter Trawl was introduced offering bountiful catches to area shrimpers. Gerbing recalled 20 to 30 railroad cars loaded with shrimp leaving the island on a regular basis. Shrimping was an important industry from 1912 – 1920, but after 1920, according to Gerbing, its earlier success faded due to over fishing.

Fernandina’s transformation to a mill town in 1937 caused great distress for Gerbing. He noted the environmental impact of millions of gallons of industrial waste entering the rivers and ocean. Gerbing sued one pulp and paper mill for 1 million dollars over concern of the mill discharge and its impact on oysters, shrimp, fish, and wildlife. No mention was made of the outcome of the lawsuit.

In 1934, after cashing in an insurance policy, Gerbing on a whim purchased his first camellias and began single- handedly planting camellias and azaleas transforming his now 15 acre Amelia City parcel into “Gerbing Gardens.”  Eventually he hired an assistant Ralph May. It is said at the peak of Gerbing’s business his property contained some 250,000 camellias and thousands of azaleas.

His propagation efforts resulted in beautiful hybrids which he named to honor important people and places in his life. Examples include the “David,” named after his son who was tragically killed, the “Fernandina,” and “Amelia” camellias and the “Mrs. G. G. Gerbing” azaela named after his wife.

Gerbing approached local bank President Everett Mizell for a loan to publish a book titled “Camellias by G. G. Gerbing.” He planned to sell the books at what was considered a hefty price of $15.  Mizell’s reaction; “This time Gerbing had gone off the deep end!” Gerbing ended up funding the publication himself and sold more than 3000 copies. The sales rose even higher after two additional publications and they are still selling! At least two attendees after Wednesday’s presentation made internet purchases of Gerbing’s books at a cost of $30.  Some of his books are listed as high as $130.

“Nearly everything I have ever built in my lifetime has been destroyed,” said Gerbing during a moment of reflection.  His nursery and gardens were closed and his fishing pier was destroyed by fire. “The only thing no one will ever destroy is the book which I wrote; that no one will ever take from me.”

Throughout Nasrallah’s  presentation she provided a “Wish List” of Gerbing items needed to enhance the museum collection. Her wish list includes a copy of the “Gerbing Nursery Catalog,” a photo of Ralph May who worked with Gerbing, and who in 1944 purchased the nursery business, and more articles and information mentioning Gerbing’s environmental activism.  So check your attics, contact Gerbing descendants, and help keep our local history alive.

Editor’s Note:  On a 2001 trip to Houston with my mother and Bob and Mary Agnes White, long time Fernandina residents, we toured the historic home of Ima Hogg, daughter of a former Texas governor.  Just as I opened the garden gate, I glanced down to see a beautiful white Azalea and the name plate reading, “Mrs. G. G. Gerbing!” Although a long way from home,  a part of Amelia Island was with us.