
Episode #24
The Hosti Girls Grew Up
The Hosti sisters are the daughters of Ernest and Dot Hosti. Ernest was one of 9 children of Henri Leo Hosti of Strasbourg and Helen Elizabeth Hohnerlein of Berlichingen, Germany. Henri/Henry allegedly jumped ship in Savannah where he eventually met Helen. Henry was known to be a talented pianist and cook who was eventually employed by the Savannah Police Department. At the time of his WWI draft registration at 38 years old he was a naturalized citizen and working as a ship fitter. and Helen was largely a homemaker but also ran a neighborhood grocery store at times. The couple were devoutly Catholic and lived in Savannah but did come to Tybee at least once in their young adulthood. Many of their surviving children settled at Tybee following the post-WWII housing shortage and family business ventures with one brother establishing the Tybee Market. The family continues to live in the area today. Learn more about the topics, voices and music in this episode: Tybee Historical Society on Facebook Tybee Historical Society on Instagram Proudly produced by Dee Daniels Media - Podcast Production Company You can help Tybee Island Light Station and Museum continue to provide its great services to the public. You would be contributing towards the continuing education of all people who walk through our doors. All of this wouldn’t be possible without the generosity of our supporters. Tap the donate link to help us continue to tell Tybee’s story – and share this episode with someone you know. DONATE HERE By becoming a supporter, YOU too will be a part of the story Theme Music: "Tybee Where the Georgia Peaches Go" This rendition of the 1926 song by Samuel B. Miller, originally sung by Dewey Holm and His Savannahians on Tybrisa Pavilion, was rerecorded by Turner Horton, TV and Film Composer for the “Tybee Remembers When” podcast in 2024. Tap HERE for images of the original sheet music from the archives All recordings in this podcast are the thoughts and opinions of the speakers and do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of the Tybee Island Historical Society. Oral histories are, by nature, subjective accounts and should not be taken as unbiased fact without further verification. FIND A FAVORITE SPOT IN THIS EPISODE: 00:00 Podcast Intro 00:43 Meet the Hosti Sisters 02:22 Why the Family Moved 04:38 Inside Tybee Market Days 05:40 Animals and Home Life 07:28 First Tybee Memories 10:58 Bonfires and Old Neighbors 14:04 Fort Play and Hurricanes 17:12 Attic Bands and Parties 20:41 Getting Around and School 22:53 Life at St Michaels 25:59 City Fun and Brass Rail 28:30 Triangle Drive In Hangouts 30:18 North End vs South End 32:13 Music Spots and Girl Scouts 39:09 Black Families and Aunt Bertha 44:07 Crabbing With Neighbors 44:56 Family Tales And Aunt Faye 46:24 Grandma Hosti Memories 47:26 Triangle Nights And Uncle Jack 49:28 Old Phones And Island Families 50:18 Mary Jones And Close Calls 51:24 How Tybee Changed 52:28 Bars Shrimpers And Lazaretto 57:01 Best Memories Cook Shack 59:24 Remembering Tybee Characters 01:04:55 Old Restaurants And Local Lore 01:07:09 Rules Crowds And Community 01:16:13 Tybee Identity And Rising Costs 01:20:48 Final Thanks And Support

