James Edward Oglethorpe (1698-1785) arrived from England and landed on Yamacraw Bluff in 1733. "The river here forms a half moon...is pretty wide...and from the key of the town you can see its whole course to the sea..." wrote Oglethorpe. He then planned a city built around squares.
Individual lots were sold to colonists and land was provided for public buildings. He named the land given to him by King George, Georgia, in honor of the king.
River Street History
River Street , then known as "The Bay", was the major export and import of goods to the Savannah area. Rice and cotton were the success stories of Savannah's exportation. The development of warehouses and wharfs along the Bay provided easy access to the Savannah River. In 1796 Savannah was virtually destroyed by a fire which swept across the entire northern section along the Bay. The need to rebuild a whole city lured to Savannah, for the first time, men whose skills marked them as "architects" or "master builders". The present look of Historic Savannah dates from the first decades of the nineteenth century. The first City Hall, called the Exchange, was built at the turn of the century by a Frenchman named Adrian Boucher. The Exchange was the largest building in the state. In 1819, and again in 1834, the Bay was the scene of international maritime history. The sailing of the SS Savannah and then the SS John Randolph , the first successful iron-hulled steam vessel in America. In the late 1830's, the Central of Georgia Railroad came to the bay extending to Macon, the longest track owned by one company in the world. In the 1850's, the walls of the sandy bluff were shored up with cobblestones from the ballast of hundreds of ships that had docked at Savannah, and with brick and stone, which give the waterfront walls the look of today.
Savannah's Twenty-Five Squares
Calhoun Square was erected in 1851 and named after John C. Calhoun. In 1856 Massie Common School in Calhoun Ward was erected as Savannah's first city-operated elementary school. It closed in 1974 after 118 years of service. A historic plaque in Calhoun Square commemorates Massie School's elevation to the National Register of Historic Places. Calhoun Square is located on Abercorn Street between Taylor Street and Gordon Street.
Chatham Square was named for William Pitt, The earl of Chatham. Pitt spoke eloquently about England's obligation to uphold its own laws for every English subject, wherever he lived. He maintained that the English Bill of Rights must also apply to the colonists of Georgia. For these sentiments he was admired throughout the colonies, and his name was honored in many cities. When Georgia changed it's political subdivisions from the parishes of the royal colony to counties, the first named was Chatham.
Crawford Square was erected in the 1840's and named after William Harris Crawford, born in Savannah in 1772. He was once thought to be a future President. Crawford later served as Treasury Secretary for President James Madison who, in 1813 appointed Crawford to the most important ambassadorial position in the nation, minister to the Emperor Napoleon. It was said that Crawford was the only foreign envoy to whom Napoleon consented to bow. A memorial marker in Crawford square marks the last remaining cistern cover in the city a reminder of days when fire was a constant threat.
Columbia Square features the "Wormsloe Fountain" which was added to the square in 1970 as a memorial to Augusta and Wymberley DeRenne, descendants of Noble Jones, "Georgia's number one citizen". The Wormsloe Plantation, located about ten miles south of the Savannah river on Isle of Hope, was established circa 1735 by Noble Jones.
Chippewa Square was named for the War of 1812. It was christened in 1815 and was the center of Savannah's night life. William Jay's Savannah Theatre was the hot spot for theatricals, musicals, and lectures. Chippewa Square is home to the James Oglethorpe statue which faces southward to keep an eye out for the Spaniards.
Elbert Square was erected in 1801and was named after Samuel Elbert, a migrant from South Carolina. He was governor in 1785, then died in 1788, while still sheriff of Chatham County. Not much of Elbert Square remains. The Civic Center sits on part of it.
Ellis Square was named after Governor Henry Ellis. It was the true marketplace of the city with a flea market atmosphere. Unfortunately, Ellis Square is now a parking lot.
Franklin Square was dedicated to Ben Franklin in 1791. Franklin served as Georgia's personal agent in London. He sent samples of Chinese rice and tallow trees to Noble Jones for planting in Savannah. Franklin Square has not been restored. Much of it is taken by highway today.
Greene Square is named in honor of General Nathaniel Greene, second in command to George Washington in the Revolutionary War. He visited Savannah only once, for he died here after a long day in the heat. He was buried in the Colonial Cemetery in June of 1786. An elaborate funeral was given with the Artillery firing minute guns. They forgot one thing, to mark the grave! General Nathaniel Greene remains were found and they are now marked. Buried with him is a sealed scroll in a copper tube accurately identifying General Greene.
Johnson Square was the first square to be laid out by General Oglethorpe. It was named after Robert Johnson who was the South Carolina Governor at the time. The Greene Monument was unveiled more than 150 years ago in honor of General Nathaniel Greene. Johnson Square was erected as a business square with the Trustees' Store, the Publick Oven and Publick Mill, and a House for Strangers- the bed and breakfast for visitors. Johnson has remained the heart of Savannah for over 250 years!
Lafayette Square was named for the Marquis de Lafayette in 1837. Many points of interest are on this square- the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, the center of the Catholic faith in Savannah, the Flannery O'Conner House, and the Hamilton Turner House.
Liberty Square was located on Montgomery Street. It was laid out in 1799 but later lost. It was named to "perpetuate the dawn of freedom and independence."
Madison Square is located on Bull Street. It was erected in 1827 and named after President James Madison. In the middle of Madison Square is the monument of William Jasper, a simple man who was mortally wounded on the walls of Savannah. In 1888 Savannah remembered the soldier who died in 1779. Jasper is Savannah's essential American hero and honored still today.
Monterey Square was erected in 1847 when the Irish Jasper Greens, one of Savannah's proudest military groups, returned home from the Mexican War. In the center of the square is a monument to Revolutionary War hero Count Casmir Pulaski.
Oglethorpe Square was laid out in 1742 for Savannah's founder, General James Edward Oglethorpe. In December of 1817, the famous architect William Jay arrived in Savannah. His first commission in Savannah was the Richardson House- now called the Owens-Thomas House. In 1825, the Marquis de Lafayette was housed there, greeting crowds of Savannahians from the side balcony.
Orleans Square was named in honor of the hero's of the War of 1812. The Champion-McAlpin-Fowlkes House is the sole reminder of the palatial past on this square.
Pulaski Square was named in 1837 to honor Revolutionary War hero Count Pulaski- the highest ranking foreign soldier to die during the American Revolution.
Reynolds Square was named for the first royal governor of Georgia, Captain John Reynolds. His tenure is Georgia was brief and unprofitable, lasting less than two years. On the northeast trust lot was the Filature. It was the center of silk industry hopes in Savannah. Here the cocoons were brought and the silk processed and wound. In addition to the silk trade, the Filature was used as the governments meeting hall, a general purpose place for public gatherings, a storage bin for the governor's gunpowder, and an entertainment center where plays were presented.
Telfair Square was originally the St. John's square prior to 1833. It is one of the few squares to officially have its name changed. It was named Telfair Square to honor Georgia Governor Edward Telfair. The Governor's family had the Telfair House built after his death. It was later a gift of Mary Telfair, Georgia's first public museum, opening in 1886. The statues of Rembrandt, Michelangelo, Rubens, Phidias, and Raphael meet you at the entrance of now The Telfair Academy of Arts and Sciences.
Troup Square was erected in 1851. It was named for George Michael Troup, congressional representative from Chatham County, governor, and senator. It was the first time a square had been named for a living person. The Armillary in Troup Square is Savannah's only modern sculpture on prominent display. Traditionalists still consider it a controversial piece.
Warren Square was named for General Joseph Warren who fought in the Battle at Bunker Hill. Though defeated, the Americans had inflicted severe losses on a trained professional army. Gunpowder seized by the Savannah Liberty Boys found its way to New England and was used at Bunker Hill.
Washington Square was erected on January 12, 1791 and named for the first president of The United States. In 1776 the area which became Washington Square was the scene of one of the greatest celebrations in all Savannah's history- the first Fourth of July. For more than fifty years, Washington Square was the scene of the biggest New Year's Eve celebrations in town, the highlight being the torching of bonfires taller than all the surrounding buildings.
Whitefield Square is the last of the Savannah squares to be developed in the 1850's. In the center sits a Victorian gazebo where peaceful days have been spent by many. It was named for the Rev. George Whitefield, founder of Savannah's Bethesda Orphanage.
Wright Square was laid out in 1733, one of Savannah's original squares. It was named after James Wright, the most admired of colonial governors. Wright Square was often the scene of public auctions. The William Washington Gordon Monument was erected in 1883 in honor of Savannah's railroad pioneer. It sits in the center of Wright Square.
The Last Square- Forsyth Park was laid out in 1851, and named for John Forsyth, Former governor and secretary of state to Presidents Andrew Jackson and Martin Van Buren. This was a period when public parks were popular and Savannah wanted its own. William Bischoff of Bavaria was hired to landscape the park, while a contract of $10,000 was let to the Wickersham Company of New York for iron railings to enclose the park. In 1858 the piece de resistance was unveiled- the spectacular fountain which is now known as Forsyth Fountain.
Spanish Moss
Spanish Moss grows from hanging branches of trees all over Historic Savannah. It requires warm temperatures and high humidity to grow, which it gets plenty of in Savannah! Though is pretty and you may be tempted to take home a little for a souvenir, it contains red bugs that bite and cause major itching and redness. Please spare yourself.
