Though it has been extensively modified, the William Scarbrough House is nonetheless a significant example of Greek Revival domestic architecture in Savannah. Built in 1819, it was designed by English architect William Jay, the most accomplished architect of his time in Savannah. Not long after its completion, the Scarbroughs hosted President James Monroe when he visited Savannah.
William Scarbrough (1776-1838) was a wealthy shipping merchant and the first president of the Savannah Steamship Company. He was an investor in the SS Savannah, which, as the first steamship to cross the Atlantic Ocean, in 1819, was internationally famous and a source of great pride to its namesake city. Unfortunately, the Savannah‘s glory was short-lived and an initial lack of interest in this new mode of travel led to financial ruin for its investors, including Scarbrough. After being converted to a sailing vessel, the Savannah sunk off Long Island in 1821. William Scarbrough went into a deep depression around this time and was essentially bankrupt, though a wealthy relative who purchased his home allowed him to remain there. He worked with Upper Darien Steam Rice and Saw Mill in McIntosh County in the late 1820s and early 1830s, returning to Savannah in 1835. He died in New York City while visiting his son-in-law, Godfrey Barnsley, in 1838.
From 1873-1962, the Scarbrough House was owned by the City of Savannah. During this time, the West Broad Street Colored School was housed here.
Les Chasseurs Volontaires de Saint Domingue, one of Savannah’s newest monuments, and one of its most significant acknowledgements of the city’s early Black history
The octagonal base of the monument contains text on each panel:
(West face) In its fourth year, the American Revolution had become an international conflict. Rebelling American Colonies and their French allies attempted to capture Savannah from the British in 1779. Haitian soldiers of African descent were part of the Allied forces. Following the battle, many of these Haitians were diverted to other military duties, returning to their homes years later, if at all. Several veterans of the campaign became leaders of the movement that made Haiti the second nation in the Western Hemisphere to throw off the yoke of European colonialism.
(Southwest face) Although hundreds of other “Chasseurs Volontaires” remain anonymous today, a number of them are documented and listed below. Pierre Astrel; Louis Jacques Beavais; Jean-Baptiste Mars Belley; Martial Besse; Guillaume Bleck; Pierre Cange; Jean- Baptiste Chavannes; Henri Christophe; Pierre Faubert; Laurent Férou; Jean-Louis Froumentaine; Barthélemy-Médor Icard; Gédéon Jourdan; Jean-Pierre Lambert; Jean-Baptiste Léveillé Christophe Mornet; Pierre Obas; Luc-Vincent Oliver; Pierre Pinchinat; Jean Piverger; Andre Riguad; Césaire Savary; Pierre Tessier; Jérome Thoby; Jean-Louis Villate
We Honor All Of Their Collective Sacrifices, Known And Unknown.
(South face) Acknowledging the deeds of “Les Chasseurs Volontaires de Saint Domingue” at Savannah, American Secretary Of State Cordell Hull dedicated a commemorative plaque on April 25, 1944, at the Cathedral in Saint Marc, Haiti, with these words: “Nous Payons Aujourd’hui Tribut Au Courage Et à L’Espirit des Volontaires Haitiens de 1779 Qui Risquèrent Leurs Vies Pour La Cause de La Liberté Dans Les Amériques.” “Today we pay tribute to the courage and spirit of those Haitian Volunteers who in 1779, risked their lives in the cause of American Liberty.”
(Southeast face) In the Battle of Savannah on October 9, 1779, “Les Chasseurs Volontaires de Saint Domingue,” our forefathers, fought alongside the American Army of General Benjamin Lincoln. Distinguishing themselves by their bravery, as part of the reserve, they provided cover during the retreat of American and French Allies, saving many lives by deterring a fierce counter attack of defending British troops.
(East face) In the fall of 1779, over 500 “Chasseurs Volontaires” sailed from Saint Domingue, the modern island of Haiti. soldiers of African descent, “Les Chasseurs Volontaires de Saint Domingue,” left their families to participate in the Georgia Campaign, under French commander Charles Henri d’Estaing.
(Northeast face) The drummer represents young Henri Christophe, who participated in the October 9, 1779 Battle of Savannah. Christophe later became a leader in the struggle for Haitian Independence from French colonial rule, ending in 1804. A commander of the Haitian army, he became King of Haiti, being among the first heads of state of African descent in the Western Hemisphere.
(North face) The largest unit of soldiers of African descent who fought in the American Revolution was the brave “Les Chasseurs Volontaires de Saint Domingue” from Haiti. This regiment consisted of free men who volunteered for a campaign to capture Savannah from the British in 1779. Their sacrifice reminds us that men of African descent were also present on many other battlefields during the Revolution.
(Northwest face) A Project of the Haitian American Historical Society, 2001- 2007: Board of Directors (List of 13 members)
The young drummer represents Henri Christophe, who participated in the Battle of Savannah and went on to become King of Haiti.
Savannah Historic District, National Historic Landmark
Savannah First African Baptist Church was organized in 1773 and built this historic chapel in 1859. It is one of the oldest Black congregations in North America.
The following history, shared from their website, notes: “First African Baptist Church (FABC) was organized in 1773 under the leadership of Reverend George Leile. The 1773 organization date for the church makes it clear that FABC is older than the United States (1776). In May of 1775 Rev. Leile was ordained as the pastor and December of 1777 the church was officially constituted as a body of organized believers. Four converts Rev. Andrew Bryan, his wife, Hannah Bryan, Kate Hogg, and Hagar Simpson would form a part of the nucleus of First African Baptist Church’s early membership.”
“In 1782, rather than risk reenslavement, Pastor Leile left with the British when Savannah was evacuated and migrated to Jamaica. He became the first American missionary, 30 years before Adoniram Judson left for Burma. He was also the first Baptist missionary in Jamaica.”
“Under the leadership of the 3rd Pastor Reverend Andrew C. Marshall, the congregation obtained the property where the present sanctuary stands. Reverend Marshall also organized the first black Sunday School in North America and changed the name of the church from “First Colored Baptist” to “First African Baptist”. The sanctuary was completed in 1859 under the direction of the 4th Pastor, Reverend William J. Campbell.”
“March Haynes, a deacon of the church, enlisted in the Civil War on the Union side and did valiant service. He was active in helping captive Africans to escape to the Union side, where they enjoyed freedom. Deacon Haynes was an unsung hero of the movement of freedom known popularly as the “Underground Railroad”.”
“First African Baptist Church has been a place of leadership and service since its inception. Reverend Emmanuel King Love, 6th Pastor, led the movement to establish Savannah State University, formerly known as Georgia State Industrial College for Colored Youth. Rev. Love also played a big role in the establishment of Morehouse College in Atlanta, GA; Paine College in Augusta, GA.”
Savannah’s Catholic Cemetery was established by Bishop Francis Xavier Gartland (1805-1854) in 1853 when local politicians denied the congregation’s request for a specially consecrated section in Laurel Grove. An eight-acre purchase on the grounds of the former Rhinehart Plantation was the genesis of this large park-like necropolis. Many remains first buried in Colonial Park were re-interred here, which explains the memorials which predate the existence of the Catholic Cemetery. Surprisingly, this property is not listed on the National Register of Historic Places. While Bonaventure, Colonial Park, and the Laurel Grove cemeteries get scores of visitors, the Catholic Cemetery is often overlooked.
After the surrender of Savannah to General Sherman’s troops on 23 November 1864, Union soldiers encamped here for a time and are known to have desecrated graves. Some of these were restored in 1867 after pleas by Bishop Augustin Verot to President Andrew Johnson and Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton. Several additions have expanded the cemetery over the years.
The memorials and monuments depicted here are presented in no particular order, and I will add more images in the future.
Prince – He loved his master
It’s rare to see pets buried in human cemeteries. Prince, a beloved companion of Patrick Hagan (1843-1912), is one of the most sought-out and photographed monuments in the Catholic Cemetery.
This depiction of a welcoming Christ graces a Buttimer family plot and is located near the cemetery entrance.
Joseph Truchelut (1769-1826)
This is one of two memorials for Joseph Truchelut, a native of Rehon, France. He was originally buried in Colonial Park and re-interred here in the 1850s.
Kennedy family
This grotto, the only vernacular memorial I found in the Catholic Cemetery, is located beside the grave of Frank Kennedy.
Mary Raffial (1816-1859)
Mary Raffial was born in St. Augustine and died in Savannah in 1859. The willow seen on her headstone was a common theme in Victorian funerary art, representing sorrow and the acceptance of loss.
Hugh Cullens (unknown-1861) & family
This was the Hugh Cullens family vault. Cullens was a native of Ireland. Brick mausoleums of this design were popular in mid-19th century Savannah.
John Cass (1807-1859) & family
John Cass was an Irish immigrant. His obituary in the Savannah Morning News noted: “…Mr. Cass was, at the time of his death, the proprietor of the City Hotel, and Vice President of the Hibernian Society. His remains were followed to the grave…by the Chatham Artillery, members of the Hibernian Society, and a large concourse of citizens.”
James Monahan (unknown-1879) & family
This is another typical 19th-century mausoleum design found in various Savannah cemeteries, with stacked granite and marble trim. Mr. Monahan was a private in Olmstead’s 1st Georgia Infantry during the Civil War.
William Doody (1818-1873) & family
This mausoleum was installed in 1906. William Doody was an Irish immigrant.
Dempsey family
This Gothic Steeple monument is unique in the Catholic Cemetery, though the style can be found in other historic Savannah locations.
John Rourke, Sr. (1837-1932) & family
John Rourke, Sr., immigrated to America from County Wicklow, Ireland. His wife, Johanna Reedy Rourke (1845-1940), was from County Limerick.
John Jasper Rourke (1879-1879) & Mary Frances Rourke (1874-1880)
A cherub and cross mark the final resting place of two of John and Johanna Rourke’s children.
Capt. John Flannery (1835-1910) & family
John Flannery was an Irish immigrant, born in Nenagh, County Tipperary, who became one of the most prominent citizens of Savannah. The captain of the Irish Jasper Greens, he was beloved by his fellow soldiers and remained active in commemorations and parades honoring their service well into old age. He organized and served as president of the Southern Bank, which later merged with the Citizens Bank to become the Citizens and Southern Bank (C&S).
Capt. John Flannery monument (detail)
His monumental memorial, featuring a depiction of the crucified Christ, is among the most notable in the Catholic Cemetery.
Irish Jasper Greens monument (detail)
This Confederate soldier, standing atop a much taller base, memorializes the 28 members of the Irish Jasper Greens who died during the Civil War. It was erected in 1910.
Joseph Francis O’Brien (1867-1928) and Agnes L. Fitzgerald O’Brien (1872-1904)
These cross memorials are quite impressive, and larger than they appear in the photograph.
Francis James “Frank” Bohan (1871-1900)
This Celtic cross features the name “Frank” at the center.
Eliza C. Brown Johnston (1847-1908)
A memorial published on the anniversary of Mrs. Johnston’s death in the Savannah Morning News on 15 March 1909 noted: “…Mrs. Johnston worked as a trained nurse under Dr. James B. Read for twenty-four years and, before the era of the professional trained nurse, was considered the best nurse that Savannah could boast of. She was noted for her many deeds of charity and cared as tenderly for those who could give no reward as if they were the wealthiest in the land…” Mrs. Johnston was a native of Charleston.
James J. Paul (1893-1904)
The lamb is a typical symbol on the graves of children. This memorial was created by Savannah’s most accomplished monument maker, John Walz.
John Feeley (1834-1892)
This sarcophagus-style memorial features elements of the Egyptian Revival.
Natalie Caroline Bettelini Maggioni (1854-1915)
Mrs. Maggioni was a Swiss immigrant of Italian ancestry. Her memorial is quite beautiful.
Drury-McDonald Memorial with John Waltz cherubs
Those familiar with Savannah cemeteries are likely aware of the work of John Walz. He is perhaps best known for his cherubs.
Drury-McDonald Memorial with John Waltz cherubs
These cherubs are often located at the corners of small pillar stones and are quite distinctive.
Drury-McDonald Memorial with John Waltz cherubs
They survive in various conditions.
Joseph Pelli (1844-1913) & family
This memorial features a depiction of the Pietà.
Fogarty family plot
Christ depicted with the Crown of Thorns is but a small part of this memorial, but quite poignant.
Lula Margaret Smith (1861-1897)
The angel in a grotto adorning the gravesite of Lula Margaret Smith was created by John Walz.
Katie Walker McGuire (1865-1954)
The Sacred Heart of Jesus is one of the most common symbols in Catholic iconography and is often depicted as pierced or flaming, surrounded by thorns.
This neon sign, lit up along West Oglethorpe Avenue at night, may be the coolest thing about the Thunderbird Inn, but the whole place has an amazing retro vibe, harking back to the days of roadside motels. As American automobile ownership began to increase in the 1930s, quaint motor courts with numerous tiny cottages began to fill the need for travelers. By the end of World War II, motels began to replace them, because they were less expensive to build and maintain, and because tourists demanded more convenience. Motor hotels, or motels, popped up on busy state and national highways all across the country. The Thunderbird Inn opened on the Coastal Highway (US 17) in 1964 and quickly became a popular Savannah destination. The Jackson Five even stayed here on their rise to fame. Savannah has changed a lot since then, but the Thunderbird Inn has stayed true to its origins, thanks to restoration and updates over the past 20 years. I’ve stayed several times, and it’s one of my favorite locations.
Savannah Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
East Side Theater, at the corner of East Broad and East Gwinnett
The old East Side Theater is the last survivor among several historic venues which once catered to African-Americans in Jim Crow-era Savannah. Others, including the Star and the Dunbar, have been lost to history, while the nearby Melody Theater was repurposed as the St. James AME Church. The 675-seat Streamline Moderne structure was designed by local architect Oscar M. Hansen and opened on 14 March 1946. It cost its owner, the Bailey Company, $100,000 to build, which was quite extravagant at the time. Over the years, it also hosted live performers, including James Brown. It closed in 1969, and other than housing Hungry World Missionary and a storage warehouse for a few years, has been empty ever since.
Savannah may be as well known for its moss-draped ancient oaks as for its superb architecture, and the Candler Oak may just be the biggest and oldest of them all. Located about midway on the Drayton Street side of Forsyth Park, this regal oak is 54-feet tall, boasts a circumference of 17-feet, and has a crown spread of over 110-feet.
It’s older than Georgia itself, and at approximately 300 years old, is believed to have been a sapling in the early 1700s. By the time its branches shaded Union prisoners held in stockade here during the Civil War, it was already a substantial tree. From 1819 until 1980, the tree was a well-known landmark on the grounds of the Savannah Poor House & Hospital and Candler Hospital [the tree’s namesake]. It’s now adjacent to SCAD’s Deloitte Foundry.
It was nearly lost to progress and development, but was saved by the Savannah Tree Foundation in 1982, when that group obtained a conservation easement of 6,804 feet that insured its protection well into the future. This is the first known easement for a single tree. It’s now held together by screws and cables, surrounded by a formidable fence, and monitored by 24-hour video surveillance. Hopefully, all these protections will allow it to live long into the future.
Savannah Historic District, National Historic Landmark
Patt Gunn (second from right) and friends pose with the newly revealed Taylor Square sign
Mayor Van Johnson summed up Saturday’s dedication of Taylor Square, noting that “We’re not rewriting history…and we’re not making history. We’re making sense.”
For the first time in its nearly 300 year history, one of Savannah’s signature squares has been named for a woman, and an African-American. A large and festive crowd numbering in the hundreds was on hand on Saturday to see the dedication of Taylor Square, formerly known as Calhoun Square. Its previous namesake, vice-president John C. Calhoun, was a fierce advocate of slavery.
Susannah “Susie” Baker King Taylor (1848-1912) Courtesy Library of Congress
Its new namesake, Susannah “Susie” Baker King Taylor, was born into slavery and went on to become the first African-American nurse in the U. S. military and the only African-American woman to publish a memoir of her Civil War service (Reminisces of My Life in Camp). She was also a staunch advocate of creating educational opportunities for Black children and is believed to be the first Black teacher to openly teach African-Americans in Georgia. She established two schools in Savannah and another in Liberty County.
Savannah City Manager Joseph Melder introduced the event.
Reverend Jamie Maury of the Episcopal Diocese of Georgia led the ceremony with a prayer.
Patt Gunn
Patt Gunn, of the Susie King Taylor Center for Jubilee, who with Rosalyn Rouse spearheaded the effort to rename the square, thanked those in the neighborhood for their support. She also made references to her Gullah Geechee roots.
Donald Lovett
Donald Lovett, chairman of the Liberty County commission, spoke of Mrs. Taylor’s Liberty County origins.
Music was provided by the Wesley Monumental United Methodist Church choir.
Hermina Glass-Hill
Hermina Glass-Hill, who leads the Susie King Taylor Women’s Institute and Ecology Center in Midway, is the foremost authority on Mrs. Taylor’s life. She noted, “I can assure you that this revolution of unity in the city of Savannah…would certainly make her [Mrs. Baker] proud.”
Mayor Van Johnson
Mayor Johnson described the effort to rename the park, thanking those who led the effort and countless volunteers.
Dr. Bertice Berry
Dr. Bertice Berry inspired the crowd.
Rev. Ben Martin
Rev. Ben Martin is the senior pastor at Wesley Monumental United Methodist Church, which faces Taylor Square. He noted that the congregation was proud of the work done here.
The city hosted an all-day celebration in the square, with activities throughout the day.
This was a source of pride for the historic district.
Letha Moore (r) and Gena Taylor, who serves as Executive Director of the Greenbriar Children’s Center
I was honored to meet Letha Moore and even let her take my picture. She told me that she’s the unofficial photographer for her church.
People of all generations took in the festivities.
Hermina Glass-Hill poses with friends.
Van Johnson, Edna Jackson, Otis Johnson
Here, Mayor Van Johnson prepares to reveal the new sign, while former mayors Edna Jackson and Otis Johnson look on.
Savannah Historic District, National Historic Landmark
This freight depot on Louisville Road, which sits just outside the boundaries of the National Historic Landmark District, is slated for partial demolition to make way for a new development for SCAD (Savannah College of Art & Design) in the near future. This was initially planned by private developers in 2016 and 2019 but intervening factors halted the process. In the interim, the city condemned the property after finding it to be unfit for human habitation, improperly secured, covered in graffiti, surrounded by litter and a harbor for vagrants and criminal activity. The office section, or “head house”, seen at the foreground of the photo below, will be preserved and six- and seven-story student housing and parking decks will be built around it.
Built to handle freight for the Seaboard Air Line, a forerunner of CSX, it served that purpose until the 1950s or early 1960s and was repurposed for various uses in the 1960s and 1970s. Over time, its original floors were removed, along with light fixtures, and other architectural elements.
One of my favorite buildings in Savannah, this exotic Moorish Revival landmark [with a dose of Manueline inspiration and Gothic elements] was built by the Georgia Hussars as a retail space to fund their armory, which was located next door. The painted terracotta facade is truly one of the most memorable works of architecture in the city. As Rafe Semmes noted, it may best be remembered as the Pars Oriental Rug Company . It’s now home to Artillery Bar.
