Savannah: Squares

Savannah is a beautiful city.  It was founded in 1733 by James Oglethorpe.  The city was laid out in a grid.  The plan called for several squares.  Then on each side of the square there would be either residential or commercial properties or some combination of both.  Initially, there were six planned squares.

Johnson Square was on of the first and is the largest.  It was named for Robert Johnson who was the Royal Governor of Charleston and a friend of James Oglethorpe.  Located in this square is the Nathanael Greene Monument.  Nathanael Greene, who is interred beneath the monument, is a Revolutionary War hero.  Many of our wanderings around the city were in the evening so some of the photos are at night.

Wright Square was the second square that was established.  The original name was Perceval Square named for John Perceval, the 1st Earl of Egmont.  It was renamed in 1763 to honor James Wright, the third and final Royal Governor of Georgia.

The monument in Wright Square is to William Washington Gordon who was the founder and president of the Central of Georgia Railway.  The monument is located in the same place where Tomochichi (the Yamacraw chief who aided James Oglethorpe in the settlement of Savannah) was buried.  His remains were relocated to the corner of the square and a new monument erected.

Ellis Square, originally called Decker Square for Sir Mathew Decker, one of the Trustees for the Establishment of the Colony of Georgia in America, was the site of the slave market.  The square was renamed for Sir Henry Ellis, the second Royal Governor of Georgia.

In the 1950's, the square was paved over for the construction of a parking garage.  The garage's lease expired fifty years later and the garage was dismantled and the square restored.  This is a statue of Johnny Mercer, a native son.  He was a lyricist.  The statue stands at the entrance of the City Market, which houses several shops and restaurants.

Telfair Square was originally called St. James Square after a park in London.  It was renamed to honor the Telfair family.  It is bordered by the Telfair Academy, which was originally the home of the Telfair family and donated to the Historical Society as a public museum.

While I did visit the museum and walk through this square several times during our stay, I did not take any photos of it.  I pulled this one off the internet.

Reynolds Square, originally called Lower New Square, was one of the original six squares laid out by James Oglethorpe.  The square was later renamed for Captain John Reynolds, governor of Georgia in the 1750's.  Once again, I know I walked through this square at least once but I failed to take any photographs.  The Olde Pink House sits on one side of this square.

This one is from the internet.  The statue is of John Wesley.  He is the founder of Methodism.  He undertook a mission to Savannah and started the first Sunday school in America.

Oglethorpe Square, the last of the original six, was originally named Upper New Square and was laid out in 1742.  The square was later renamed in honor of James Oglethorpe, founder of Savannah.

On one side of the square is the Owens-Thomas House and Slave Quarters.  

Washington Square was built in 1790 and was named for the first President of the United States.  

It was only one of two squares that were named for a living person.  This square was not far from the Pirate's House, which is on the outer edge of the historic district.  We only went by this square while on the tour so, again, no photos by me.  This one is from the internet.

Franklin Square was laid out in 1790 and named for Benjamin Franklin, who never actually visited Savannah but served as an agent for the colony of Georgia.

It sits on the entrance to the City Market.  This photo is taken from the patio of Belford's Restaurant where we had dinner.  Franklin Square has the Haitian memorial which commemorates the Haitian soldiers that fought on the American side during the Revolutionary War during the Siege of Savannah.

Warren Square was laid out in 1791 and is named for General Joseph Warren, a Revolutionary War hero killed at the Battle of Bunker Hill.

I am fast becoming amazed at how many squares we didn't photograph (this one is from the internet).  In fact, I don't think we even walked through this one.  It's close to the river but farther east than we walked.  We probably drove by on the city tour.

Columbia Square was laid out in 1799 and named for the poetic personification of the United States.  I'd never heard that before.

This fountain, that sits in the middle of the square, was from the Wormsloe Plantation.

The Davenport House sits on one of the corners of the square and the Kehoe Inn.

Green Square was laid out in 1799 and named for Revolutionary War hero Nathanael Greene.

Greene Square, which does NOT hold the monument to Nathanael Greene was along that far east strip of the city that we didn't get to.  It's unfortunate because it looks like a beautiful square.  The photo is from the internet.

Chippewa Square was laid out in 1815 and named in honor of the soldiers that fought in the Battle of Chippawa during the War of 1812.

In the center of the square is the statue of James Oglethorpe.  Oddly, the statue of James Oglethorpe is not in Oglethorpe Square.  It's a theme that runs throughout.  Note that he faces south, in the direction of Georgia's sworn enemy, the Spanish (in the form of Florida).

On this square is the Savannah Theater.  I loved how the Spanish moss hangs from the trees.  This is also the square in which Forrest Gump sat on bench telling his story.  The bench is now in a museum.

Orleans Square was also laid out in 1815 and is named for Andrew Jackson's victory in the Battle of New Orleans.

This is the German Memorial Fountain that honors the German immigrants that came to Savannah, of which there were many.

Lafayette Square name for Marquis de Lafayette, a Revolutionary War hero.

This is the memorial fountain installed by the DAR.

On one side of Lafayette Square is St. John the Baptist Cathedral.  On the other side of the square is the Flannery O'Connor childhood home.  Both are open to the public.

Pulaski Square was laid out in 1837 and is name for Casmir Pulaski, another Revolutionary War hero who was wounded during the Siege of Savannah.

The square is known for it's live oaks and it's one of the few squares without a monument.  There is a monument to Pulaski, it just isn't in this square.

Madison Square was laid out in 1837 and named for President James Madison.  

What you can't really see here is the William Jasper Monument.  William Jasper was a soldier during the Siege of Savannah who, though mortally wounded, recovered his company's banner.  We walked through this square many times.  I probably thought I had a really good picture of the statue.

Crawford Square was laid out in 1841 and is the smallest square.  Due to its location (on the other side of Colonial Park Cemetery), we didn't visit this square.  We didn't walk over in that direction much after the city tour.

Another lovely photo from the internet.  The square was named for William Harris Crawford who came in third for President in 1824.  He was beaten by John Quincy Adams and Andrew Jackson.  The square is fenced as all the other squares were initially.  This is the only one with the fence in place.  During the Jim Crow era, this was the only square in which African American were allowed to visit.

Chatham Square - Barnard and Wayne Streets: Designed in 1847 and named in honor of William Pitt, the Earl of Chatham even though he'd never been to Savannah.

This is the quietest square.  No monuments, no tour busses.  .  

We stayed on Gordon Street so if we went out our front door and turned left, this square was at the end of the street.  Wayne Street would cut through the middle of the square and Barnard is on both sides

Monterey Square was laid out in 1847 and commemorates the Battle of Monterrey during which Zachary Taylor captured the city of Monterrey during the Mexican-American War.

In the center of the square is the monument to Casmir Pulaski.  Why is it in Monterey Square instead of Pulaski Square?

Monterey Square also houses Mercer-Williams House, the infamous house in which Jim Williams shot Danny Hansford.  It's also the square that we tramped through most often.  It was our gateway to the north from which most of our wanderings around the city began.

Troup Square was laid out in 1851 and named for George Troup and was the second square named for a living person. George was a former Governor, Congressman and Senator for the state of Georgia.

This is an iron armillary sphere that stands in the middle of the square.  On top of the base but under the sphere are six small turtles..

Calhoun Square - Abercorn & Wayne Streets: Designed and named in honor of John C Calhoun.  This is the only square where all the historic buildings around it remain.  It was laid out in 1851.

Once again, while we walked through this square several times, we took no photographs.  This is also from the internet.  Since Calhoun was a slave owner, it is under consideration for renaming to Sankofa Square.

Whitefield Square was the final square built and was laid out in 1851.  It's named for Reverend George Whitefield founder of the Bethesda Home for Boys.

This park has a beautiful Gazebo in the center.  We met a Vietnam War veteran there and chatted with him for a while.  He settled in Savannah because he needed a place that he could walk (he injured his knees and needed to walk to keep they moving).  This is the other square that is under consideration for renaming.  They are looking at Jubilee Square.

The lost squares:

Liberty Square was laid out in 1799 and named for the Sons of Liberty.  It was located on Montgomery between State and York Streets.  It was paved over for highway improvements.  The only thing that remains is a sculpture called "Flame of Freedom".  We saw the strip of grass but didn't see the sculpture.

Elbert Square was laid out in 1801 and named for Samuel Elbert.  Elbert was the sheriff of Chatham County, a Revolutionary War hero and the Governor of Georgia.  The square was originally located between Montgomery between Hull and Perry streets but was paved over for highway improvements.  The only thing left is a small strip of land and a sign.

And finally....

Forsyth Park - After 1851, as the city expanded, the square concept was abandoned.  The park was originally a military parade ground.  The park was developed in the 1840's and named for James Forsyth who was Governor of Georgia.  

This fountain is one of the most photographed and is reminiscent of the fountains at Place de Concorde in Paris.

This is the "Georgia Volunteer" a memorial to the veterans from the Spanish American War.  He faces south to meet the eneny.

The Civil War Memorial was erected in 1874 and is the largest in the state.  The bronze statue of the soldier at the top was added in 1879.

We spent a lot of time here.  This is main pathway down the center of the park.  I love the canopy of trees.

We even had a picnic lunch here on one of the many benches.  Every time we went there were people doing things here.  They were doing yoga, playing frisbee, playing music, or just sitting and reading.  The park was busy day and night.

The Squares of Savannah are beautiful.  When we go back, and we will, I'll be sure to visit all the squares.