Author: Stan Deatherage | Published: November 13th, 2009

The Grand Lady of the Old South is Preserved for Posterity

  The most enduring commentary on Savannah's citizen's commitment to preserving their past, and the legacy of their ancestors, is the preservation of the park squares and the architecturally significant structures that are prevalent throughout the downtown of one of the South's busiest seaports. Savannah is located atop a bluff, along the southern banks of the Savannah River, in the low country along the northeastern shore of Georgia's abutment to the Atlantic Ocean.

  In 1733, James Oglethorpe, a British General and philanthropic debtor prison activist, left his native land and sailed with 120 folks in the good ship Anne to Georgia, the last chartered colony in the colonial United States of America. The land was given by the British Government to the Georgia Trustees to establish a land where those prisoners of debtor prisons, as well as other misfortunate folks could live, without oppression, and hopefully thrive as good citizens of this new colony.

   To provide relief to the debtors of England
   To help the English poor and unemployed
   To remove the poor, so England would not have to support them.
   To provide relief to persecuted Protestants such as the Salzburgers.
   To act as a buffer to protect South Carolina from Spaniards in Florida.
   To strengthen the British Empire by the success of the colony and its population.
   To have the colony supply raw products such as wine, hemp, silk, flax, etc. to
    manufacturers in England.
   To establish another market for exported English made products.

  What evolved from this philanthropic seed was the fruit of a "shining city on a hill" that has endured two wars, and is now an example of civic pride and the beauty that flourishes from those endeavors. James Oglethorpe designed a city that now boasts 21 public parks (24 parks originally), which accentuate the beauty of these restored antebellum homes throughout the inner city. On Bull Street, the center of the best of Savannah's significant architecture, there is the square in which Tom Hanks sat on a park bench and recounted his story as Forest Gump in the classic film "Forest Gump." In a more northern square on that street is a monument to James Oglethorpe as shown below.



  The City of Savannah was planned in England by General Oglethorpe as a grid pattern, with the original 24 aforementioned parks, and land set aside for commerce. It was built on a bluff reckoned to be about 40' high above the river on sandy soil draining well to the river, and the abutting salt marsh that is so prevalent in Georgia's coastal Plain. The colonists were given a lot in the city proper, and they could purchase farmland, but not in excess of 500 acres. Many of these original colonists in this young country, with such a disparate past did flourish, and by the look of their homes or the homes of their children, or their children�s children they certainly did leave a legacy of their accomplishment.





  From East River Street along the southern shore of the Savannah River to East Oglethorpe Avenue, the bustling crowds of tourists and locals negotiate the narrow streets of this scenic southern city to frequent the quaint shops, art galleries and fine eating establishments that have made this part of the city the commercial district since its inception 275 years before this day. These shops that inhabit the refurbished warehouses, and the mostly 3 to 4 story neo federal brick structures, circa late 19th century, that front the brick cobbled street of East River Street to the brick cobbled lanes throughout the district offer a gentile and hospitable ambience to the curious shopper and the hungry patron in yester years and in the here and now.


Click map to enlarge to a much larger version of the map of the Savannah, Tybee Island and Hilton Head Island area.

  While visiting the port of Savannah, we strolled along East River Street until we found ourselves a bit famished, so we ducked into the Fiddlers Crab House for their version of the "Low Country Boil" (1/2 lb. of steamed shrimp, link of polish sausage, boiled potatoes, corn on the cob, dirty rice and coleslaw). Quite filling, and most necessary to provide the sustenance to sustain us the balance of the night as we ambled north on Bull Street to see the fine restored homes in the glow of the lamp lights, and retracing our path, we stop in small shops, an art gallery of two, and finally in a few fine parlors, the libation of fine beverages.



  Featured above are two views on East River Street (nearly 150 degrees in vectored views at    sunset).



  Featured below is the Forsyth Park Fountain (one day time picture and one night time picture shot without the benefit of a tripod) that begins on the north side of East Garner Street and runs for quite a few blocks and comprises a number of acres. The Park has a promenade that runs through the middle of the park and has for centuries been the location for many military marches and is now the starting point of the cities massive St. Patrick's Day Parade that goes on for hours. The park is one of the oldest large parks in the United States as it was part of the initial plan developed into fruition by James Oglethorpe. The Park's fountain is wrought in cast iron and painted with a luminescent fiber optic lighting system that is quite spectacular at night. The fountain was installed in 1858.





  In the beginning of The War Between the States (probably at various occasions in 1861), Forsythe Park was the reviewing grounds for the young men going off to fight great war for the South's independence. It was a war that was only to last a few months to a year at the worst before the South would be able to sue the North for peace and secession. On December 21, 1864, General William Tecumseh Sherman offers the captured the port city of Savannah, and offered it to President Lincoln as an early Christmas present.

  Lincoln's reply, "Save the city." And to that end, the city was not put the torch as so many Southern cities were. Savannah was saved, and the renovated grandeur that survives to this day is not only a testament to the successes and good works of these formerly oppressed people, but a legacy, in brick and mortar, to formerly architecturally magnificent cities of the old South that did not survive that terrible war.

  These outstanding homes of Savannah, which I have had the opportunity to visit just a fraction of, are of many architectural styles that represent their respective eras of the good taste of artistic refinement. This refinement is so evident in this city; that the forbearing presence of the city�s �Southern Gothic� charm is prevalent charm for all who are receptive to its allure.

  That could be why so many stories have been written with Savannah as a backdrop, and some of those have been made into films. On such film is Clint Eastwood's "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil." It is based on the true story of the rich and respected art dealer, Jim Williams, who was accused of murdering Danny Hansford - later determined to be William's gay lover. The house where the murder took place and much of the movie was filmed is the house Jim Williams purchased from the family of famed songwriter Johnny Mercer. The house is located on the western edge of one of the many parks in Savannah just off Bull Street.

  Below is a picture of the Williams / Mercer House and the horse drawn carriage tours (shown below the Williams / Mercer House), with guides that talk about this home, as well as the park square (bisected by Bull Street), where much of "Forest Gump" was filmed as shown below the tour guide picture.







  I intend to return to Savannah in the future, maybe on a trip to Hilton Head Island, and I intend to take more pictures, so we can continue this discussion of what's left and what's best in the Old South. I may even bring my tripod so I can present better twilight and night pictures. Until that time I will leave you with a couple of pictures of more of Savannah's beautiful homes and the park's foliage (read that as more magnificent live oaks that are indigenous to the South Carolina and Georgia lowlands). Until that moment in our lives: I pray that you have safe and happy travels.

Washington, DC: Part II >>