Savannah, A Model for Historic Preservation
Not many historic American cities have survived the passage into modernity without significant changes to their initial town layouts. Major urban epicenters like those in New York City, Boston, or Philadelphia, bedrocks of the American Revolution, suffered from the deterioration of their historic landscapes by fulfilling new urban needs. Historic buildings were demolished to clear the way for interstate highways, and a prolonged post-WWII economic downturn led to the neglect of historical landmarks, all leading to a troubling future for the historic centers of American cities.
Savannah, the coastal Georgia city, iconic in the Southern US, known for its unique charm as a walkable paradise, made possible through its ingenious Oglethorpe town plan, was not an exception. The city, like many others, suffered from the neglect which had inflicted many historic centers throughout the US. An example of this unfortunate dismissal of history and relentless urbanization struck Ellis Square. The square, originally known as Market Square and as one of the 24 squares of the unique Oglethorpe plan, was the location of four different markets between 1733 and 1950. Although considered a unique meeting point of Georgian and Southern history, by 1954, it became a parking garage, dismissing the unique history of this cultural crossroad.
Fortunately, the situation with Ellis Square, along with the
Isaiah Davenport House, would help spark a reinvigorated interest in preserving the arresting beauty of Savannah. Simultaneous with the desire to create automobile-oriented infrastructure projects of the 1950s, of creating modern metropolitan centers, citizens began to take conscience of Savannah's architectural patrimony. Through the notion of historic preservation, the city's fortune would change.
"By the mid-1950s, much of the downtown was wallowing in disinvestment and decay. Buildings were blighted and empty, crime was high, residents were fleeing to the southside, and there was little to no tourism. In 1954, the demolition of the beloved City Market on Ellis Square for a parking garage served as the catalyst for a nascent preservation movement."
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During this time, the Isaiah Davenport House, a funeral home dating to the 1820s, was planned to be purchased, demolished, and turned into a surface parking lot. Journalist, artist, and activist Anna Colquitt Hunter gathered with six of her friends to block the demolition of the iconic building and started the Historic Savannah Foundation. This foundation eventually grew to be one of the most respected and exemplary preservation organizations in the county. Arising from an effort to save one historic home, the momentum this action generated developed into a concerted movement that would change the city's fate and help preserve the historical architecture of Savannah.
Perhaps destiny always had it in the cards to spare the city of Savannah from losing its landmark architecture. An example of this serendipity occurred during the Civil War. As General William T. Sherman of the Union Army marched southeast through Georgian cities, from Atlanta towards Savannah, he implemented the "scorched earth" policy. This strategy aimed at destroying anything that could be useful to the enemy, whether military targets, industrial infrastructure, or private property. Known as Sherman's March to Sea or the Savannah campaign, beginning in November 1864, the Union Army destroyed Atlanta. It marched towards Savannah, "scorching" everything useful in its path. As the general's army reached Savannah, the city's mayor, Richard Dennis Alton, and a delegation met with the general. He surrendered the city without resistance on the condition that the city, its citizens, and property would not be harmed— a fortunate set of occurrences that undoubtedly saved the longevity of the historic downtown in Savannah. And which perhaps envisage Savannah as a model for historic preservation, where history, its citizenry, and its edifices matter.
These days, generations of American's can feel the presence of the preservationist flare that Savannah embodies. Palpable in its streets is the notion that history and heritage are paramount. Under the canopies of ancient oak trees, through historic quarters and their complex history, and under the enchantment of Southern charm, the beauty and history of Savannah can still be enjoyed by generations today through the impetus of historic preservation.
