Designed at the behest of Mayor P. W. Meldrim by Eichberg & Witcover, the architects also responsible for Savannah City Hall, the municipal powder magazine was built by John R. Eason. On average, it provided safe storage for 96,000 pounds of black powder and 8,500 pounds of dynamite. The 15-acre property originally contained a keeper’s cottage, as well.
Abandoned since 1963, it’s the last surviving municipal powder magazine in Georgia. Because of its fortress-like construction, including 3-foot-thick walls, it’s considered the sturdiest structure in Chatham County. This has insured its survival over the years, but today its future is uncertain.
Though concealed in overgrown woods, it is located in a busy and rapidly growing area of the city.
Homeless people have been known to use the facility for shelter and there always seems to be some amount of debris inside.
A Powder Magazine Park Commission was created by Tommy Holland to explore viable alternatives for the preservation of the property, and after years of neglect, it appears serious work is being done to move forward. Mr. Holland notes that the Savannah Powder Magazine Facebook page is the best source for updates on the project.
This is Tommy Holland and the organization I formed some 30 years ago when the city attempted to sell this property has been revitalized due to post such as yours , we are in discussion with the city of Savannah who owns the facility and presently are working on an understanding where the property will be preserved and used for public use The Savannah Powder Magazine has a Facebook page so anyone reading this would like more information and more updates feel free to go to our page and please help us preserve this facility.
Thank you, Mr. Holland, for your efforts in saving this important reminder of the past.