Savannah, Georgia….Part I

Another beautiful Southern belle of a city is Savannah. We planned a full week this time around as our previous trip allotted only one day and 2 nights of exploration. It is absolutely fascinating and pleasureful to spend the day wandering around the city’s 22 “squares” on coble stone streets. These squares were an intentional design back in 1733. Each had its own neighborhood feel to it. James Oglethorpe was sent to the area by the then King George II to set up a town that could be used to buffer the city of Charleston from invasion from the south where the Spanish and French had outposts. Oglethorpe was a philanthropist and a military general. Not sure how those two titles go together but his design for the city is still basically the same as it is today almost 300 years later. The port of Savannah played a major role in the American Revolution and the American Civil War.

Our guide pointed out some interesting architectural objects. Below are a drain spout for the gutters on one older house and a trash can in one of the squares. Many such downspouts were incorporated into a house’s design because the myth is that evil spirits cannot cross water so the spout signifies that all evil spirits must turn back. Never mind the superstition involved here, the abundance of these throughout the city makes for a pleasant look and much conversation. The trash can, as most in the city, is shaped to look like a pineapple. Old customs state that a pineapple is placed as a center piece on the table before a party started letting folks know they are welcome there. When the hostess decides the party is over, she takes the pineapple away. This signifies to the guests that it is time to go. By making the trash cans look like pineapples, the city is saying all are welcome to stay.

Below are two hitching posts from another era. They no longer serve their original purpose but the historical society wanted them left in place. There are a number of them we “ran into” in the city. If the horse is facing toward the street it was a public post to be used by all but it faced the house it was known to be private and for use by the owner of the house. The one on the left has two rings for two horses but they are not facing the street or the house?

This iconic red phone booth is outside the famous Six Pence Tavern. The tavern and phone booth have appeared in many famous films. Julia Roberts played in the movie “Something to Talk About” in 1995.

Anyone recognize the famous spot below?

The house pictured below is called the Green-Meldrim House and is part of the complex for St. John’s church. General Sherman of the Union army used it as his headquarters after marching there from his terror campaign in Atlanta. He sent President Lincoln a wire giving him Savannah as a Christmas present.

Interesting story told to us by our guide was that as the parsonage building he was staying in was right next to the church he would be awoken by the church bells ringing every morning. When the ladies that rung the bell learned he was not pleased, they graciously decided to ring the bell all the time and not just on the hour. Sherman decided that this would not work so he had the bells removed! When the caretaker sent a note to her friend, Lincoln’s wife Mary, and told her of this Mary had her husband tell Sherman to put the bells back. He returned the bells, but did not return the clappers (the thing inside the bell that hits the side). Upon vacating the city he did return them.

Below are a few random shots of beauty in Savannah to leave you with