Farewell, lovely Savannah

Our final day in Savannah was spent completing Walks 2 & 3.

'Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil' made the Mercer-Williams House a landmark.  Constructed in the 1860's, it is most famous for being the site of the murder of male escort, Danny Hansford, in the study, the room on the downstairs left of the house.  Jim Williams, a Savannah preservationist and successful antiques dealer was ultimately found not guilty after his fourth trial.

Savannah's streets and walkways are shaded by arbors of live oaks like this one in Forsythe Park where this beautiful fountain, the most photographed site in Savannah is located.  Ordered from a mail order catalogue in 1858 for $2,500, this gorgeous cast iron fountain was designed along the lines of the fountains at the Place de la Concorde in Paris.  Similar fountains can be found in Cuzco, Peru and Poughkeepsie, NY.

Never to be allowed to touch 'Yankee' soil, the Confederate Monument in Forsythe Park was made in Canada and transported by ship to Savannah.  A piece of the flag that waved above Ft. Sumter during the first battle of the Civil War rests in the cornerstone, while the monument faces the enemy to the North.

Lush, cool, inviting gardens abound everywhere you look in this sleepy town.

As a junior in college, one of my favorite English courses was the one on short stories.  Flannery O'Connor's  'Southern Gothic' tales, many based on her life experiences in this house and her Catholic upbringing in the nearby Cathedral of St. John the Baptist made a lasting impression with their bizarre tales of morality and ethics.  For a naive, sheltered rural Texas gal, her tales of the South and a host of grotesque characters were a coming of age experience.  'A Good Man is Hard to Find' was one of my favorites. It took me 18 years to find Mike, so it must have been prophetic for me! I must reread them soon.  Sadly, she died of lupus at the much too young age of 39 in 1972.

This beautiful inn, the Hamilton-Turner House, was the first to have electric lights.  It was featured in the movie 'Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil' as Mandy's, the party hotspot of the day.  It is said that the original owner, jeweler Samuel Pugh Hamilton and his children still make frequent surprise visits to their old homeplace!  WOOOOOOO........

The Cathedral of St. John the Baptist is an awe-inspiring structure built between 1873 and 1896.  Almost completely destroyed by the awful fire that engulfed half of Savannah in 1898, it was rebuilt by 1899.  Its diocese serves 90 Georgia counties today.

Oglethorpe's statue, 1910, dominates Chippewa Square, laid out in 1813 to commemorate the Battle of Chippewa where American forces achieved a defining victory against the British in the War of 1812.  His statue is one of the most noteworthy monuments in the city, designed by Daniel Chester French, who also designed Lincoln's statue in the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.  As was the tradition of the time, Oglethorpe is facing south, keeping an eagle eye on his enemy, the Spanish in Florida.

Whimsical cast iron downspouts abound throughout the city, boasting of their owners' wealth and status.

Who can forget the solitary white feather gliding slowly down, down, down from the steeple in the opening scene of 'Forrest Gump'?  The steeple of the Independent Presbyterian Church is a standout as you drive into Savannah and survey its lovely, inviting skyline.  The building, 1890, is constructed of white granite and is a late Georgian colonial design.  In keeping with the congregation's desire for simplicity, there are no stained glass windows.

Guided surrey tours are a slow-paced, romantic way to see Savannah.

Tomochichi was Chief of the Yamacraw Indians, a tribe that welcomed Oglethorpe and the colonists and moved his people to another location so that the colony could start in its present location on the high bluff above the river.  The two peoples coexisted in peace, largely due to his leadership.  When he died in 1739, he was buried among the colonists at his request.  Oglethorpe served as a pall bearer to his dear friend.   Contrary to legend, he was not a towering seven feet tall, but was of 'medium build'.  This boulder is placed in Wright Square in his honor.  He is buried beneath the monument at the center of the square.

Mike had great fun taking pics of our feet at all of Savannah's squares we visited.   There will be a coffee table book of them available in time for Christmas gift giving.  Just let me know how many you would like to purchase. Mastercard and Visa accepted.  lol

Telfair Academy of Arts and Science is the oldest public museum in the South.

Savannah's City Hall, 1905, gleams brilliantly in the sunlight with its dome of 23kt gold.  It is like a beacon welcoming you to Savannah.

The lush shade of Spainsh moss-draped live oaks, the sound of splashing fountains, the delightful sounds of birds chirping, the smells of delicious meals wafting on the breeze, the pealing of church bells, the politeness of genteel folks....yes, we have fallen in love with this lovely, graceful city, a true gem of the South.  Thank you, General Sherman, for recognizing its beauty and saving it from destruction during your March to the Sea.