The earliest mention of the mulberry tree in this area was recorded in diaries or letters of the Salzburgers who settled at Ebenezer in 1734. They were cultivating silk and planted white mulberry trees, after establishing their town, to provide leaves to feed the silkworms. The Salzburgers were among the most productive in silk culture in the state.
Most farms in the area a century ago had a grove of mulberry trees. Few still exist. Lester H. “Buzzie” Morgan Jr. and his wife Wanda have 13 trees on their farm. Buzzie recalls hearing that his grandfather Benjamin Lester Morgan planted these on their home site.
Livestock, which roamed out in the open, and chickens ate the berries when they fell on the ground. The berries are greenish white and turn red and finally black when ripened. His grandmother, Mary Catherine “Mamie” Hodges Morgan, married his grandfather in 1902. These trees are about 100 years old and his grandmother made a dessert called Mulberry Pudding using the berries. The pudding was cake-like, dotted with the mulberries and was served sliced with hard sauce which was whipped butter and sugar.
The recipe is featured in “Effingham’s Tasty Traditions,” a cookbook produced by Historic Effingham Society that is for sale in the Effingham Museum. The book features many heritage recipes like Mrs. Morgan’s, as well as many modern choices in all categories.
Some people never allowed their children to eat the mulberries because of worms, but most will tell you they ate them as children despite the warning. These berries were delicious and something I had never seen in my 55 years. Although there had been an orchard of mulberries on my grandfather’s farm, they were removed before my time. The Morgans’ beautiful berry trees provided much shade with the green foliage and obviously were hardy to have survived 100 years.
This article was written by Susan Exley of Historic Effingham Society. If you have questions, comments or photos to share, please call her at 754-6681 or e-mail: susanexley@historiceffinghamsociety.org
