Before surfing, folks on Folly rode mattress covers full of air
Mattress surfing was a popular pastime in the 1940s on Folly, before regular surfing caught on. Canvas mattress covers, sometimes acquired from the Coast Guard base at the island’s east end, were filled with air by running down the beach while holding the ends open. With the cover full of air, people would immediately throw them down and tie up the end. In this photograph, Breck Barnett catches his breath after a session catching a few waves.
The photo below and many more like it are included in Stratton Lawrence’s book, Images of America: Folly Beach. To purchase your own personalized signed copies, delivered to your home on Folly Beach, or to share a photo and story for next month’s Folly Flashback column, email strattonlawrence@gmail.com.
