Savannah is home to a
National Historic Landmark District of two and a half square miles and more than
eleven hundred architecturally significant buildings. The Victorian District is
one of the nation's largest collections of that period's architecture. We looked
at just a few of them.
The
Mercer House, now called the
Mercer-Williams
House Museum, 429 Bull Street, stands at the southwest end of Monterey
Square.
In 1964, a boy chasing pigeons on the roof fell over the edge and impaled
himself on the iron fence below. In 1913 a previous owner tripped over the
second floor banister, fractured his hip and suffered a concussion, dying three
days later. The house was the scene of the shooting of Jim
Williams'
assistant, Danny Hansford. This story was turned in to a novel in 1994 by John
Berendt
calles Midnight in the Garden of Good and
Evil.
Also a Clint Eastwood film starring Kevin Spacey and John
Cusack.
History: Construction of the house began in 1860. Designed by John S.
Norris
for General Hugh Weedon
Mercer
(great-grandfather of the songwriter Johnny
Mercer who wrote for Bing Crosby and many others – who
won four Oscars including one for Moon River).
Building was interrupted by the American Civil
War,
finally completed around 1868 by the new owner, John Wilder.
For
a period in the twentieth century, the building was used as the Savannah
Shriners Alee Temple. It then lay vacant for a decade until in 1969 when
Jim
Williams,
one of Savannah’s earliest and most dedicated private restorationists, bought
the house and restored it. The house is now owned by his sister Dorothy Kingery and is open as a museum and features on the ghost
tours. Quite a story.
Andrew Low House: Andrew Low
was a plucky 16 year-old Scotsman who came to Savannah seeking his fortune in
the late 1820’s. He became involved in one of the key import/export businesses
of the day – that of buying and selling cotton. By 1847 he was a rich man with a
beautiful wife, two daughters and a young son. Low commissioned the renowned
architect John Norris to design a stylish mansion for his young family, but
before they could move in, Low’s wife and son died suddenly. Low moved into the
house in 1849 as a devastated single parent with his two daughters. He married
again five years later and produced more children including a son and heir,
William Mackey Low. The house was filled with children, dogs and many
distinguished guests who were friends of Andrew Low, including Gen. Robert E.
Lee and the British author William Makepeace Thackeray.
Andrew Low would largely be forgotten today, but his
daughter-in-law Juliette Gordon Low, founded the Girl Scouts of the USA in the
parlour of the stately home. She died there in 1927 and the house was purchased
by the National Society for the Colonial Dames of America in the State of
Georgia. The home was lovingly restored to its former grandeur and has been open
to the public since 1952.
As we bimbled we saw this house for
sale and looked it up later to see what Sotheby's had to say and of
course to find out it’s price:
$725,000. Historic
Townhouse of Laurence Connell c1852. This captivating 3250 square foot Colonial
home features 4 BR, 3.5 BA and is available for the first time in 36 years! The
historic home offers 6 fireplaces, hardwood flooring and 9 + foot ceilings. The
bold wrought iron facade encasing the balcony adds character to the freestanding
3 story building. A walled courtyard and 2 off-street parking places are
included with the property. Great opportunity to own a true piece of American
History.
In 1860, Connell was a
justice of the peace living here with a wife and three sons. At least one of his
sons, Laurence Connell Jr., served in the CSA.
Random pics to
show some
features
ALL IN ALL QUITE
SOMETHING TO SEE SO MANY PERIOD HOUSES IN ONE SMALL AREA
VERY PRETTY AND OLDY-WORLDY FOR
AMERICA
.
