History of Savannah, Georgia, USA

1816 has gone down in Almanac fame as the “poverty year,” and “eighteen hundred and froze-to-death.” It was comprised of a backward spring with record late snows (heavy snows fell in New England between June 6th and 11th), and an exceptionally cold summer featuring frosts in July and August. On July 4th, the high temperature at Savannah, Georgia, was only 46°F. Finally, there was a drought during early fall that culminated in a killing frost well before the end of September. “In all,” wrote weather historian David Ludlum, “a most distressing season for the rural economy of northern New York and northern New England.” But crop failures were widespread, not only in New England, but also across Canada and Western Europe. The apparent cause of this anomalously cold summer was the eruption of the Tambora Volcano, half a world away in Indonesia, in 1815. A tremendous cloud of fine ash and dust was ejected into the stratosphere, where it remained for a very long time. This ash significantly...

Savannah, a flourishing city and port of entry of Georgia, capital of Chatham county, and the largest and most commercial town of the state, is situated on the right bank of Savannah river, 18 miles from its month, 90 miles W. S. W. from Charleston, and 188 miles E. S. E. from Milledgeville. The site of the city is a sandy plain, elevated about 40 feet above low-water mark. It is regularly laid out with wide, sandy, and unpaved streets. At every other corner there is a public square, usually circular or oval in shape, planted with the Pride of India tree. The number of these squares is 24. Broad and Bay streets have grassy promenades in the middle, with carriage ways on each side. Many of the private dwellings are handsomely built of brick. Among the public buildings may be noticed the City Exchange, theatre, court house, jail, state arsenal, artillery armory, Lyceum, Oglethorpe Hall, St. Andrew's Hall, market house, Chat ham Academy, and the new custom house. The latter, which is 110 ...

turned a complete somersault, struck squarely on his feet, looked around to see if any one was hurt, and quietly climbed back to his work.

Savannah and Augusta, Ga., experienced severe damage when this hurricane came ashore in August 1881. Several barrier islands were completely submerged by the storm surge.

Hurricane timeline: The 1800s
Sun Sentinel
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
www.sun-sentinel.com

Savannah, Ga., Nov. 1. - A conflagration which had its origin Wednesday noon in the large cotton warehouse of Garnett, Stubbs & Co., in this city, destroyed a warehouse containing three thousand bales of cotton, and three hundred houses, covering an area of half a mile square, and caused a loss of at least five lives and probably eight or ten. An accurate statement of the losses and insurance is unobtainable, but a careful estimate fixes the former at nearly $1,000,000, and the latter at not half that amount. The exact origin of the fire will probably never be known. All shipping sought safety by dropping down the river.

While the firemen were pouring streams on the still-burning ruins of the warehouse they discovered the charred remains of three persons, a partly melted watch, and a few gilt buttons belonging to J. CASH, a white clerk aged twenty-five years, one of the victims, and it has since been learned that he ran back to get a hose when the fire first broke out. CASH was...

Savannah, Ga., July 24. - W. J. Bullard's three-story brick boarding house, 203 Congress Street, was blown up early this morning. Three people were killed and six injured. There were twelve people in the house. Most of the occupants were asleep and were hurled from their beds, and either buried under the falling debris or thrown on top of it.

Killed.
MRS. W. J. BULLARD.
JAMES LOCKLY.
GUS ROBIE.

Wounded.
JOHN ROBERTS, fractured ankle and concussion of brain.
L. J. TATE, concussion of face and chest.
MELDON HEYWOOD (colored), shoulder broken.
J. A. RIMES, EDWARD S. EVERETT, and MRS. EDWARD S. EVERETT, all slightly bruised.
SAM KING (colored), badly injured about the body.

George Maxwell (colored) has been arrested and jailed on suspicion. He had been employed in the house, but was discharged on Saturday night, when he swore that he would be revenged.
Workmen have been busy all day removing the debris. No signs of powder or dynamite have been discovered.

Many...

SAVANNAH, Oct. 28.- The Liberty Manufacturing Company's brick works, forty-eight miles from here on the Savannah, Florida and Western railroad burned the day before yesterday. Loss $40,000; insurance $20,000.

SAVANNAH, Ga., Aug 31 - The storm injured many buildings in Savannah and did great damage to the trees. Fifteen people are known to have been drowned and more are missing It is impossible to estimate the amount of property destroyed. More than 49 wrecks have been reported so far Fifteen vessels in the harbor and off Tybee were wrecked or badly damaged More than that number of smaller crafts are missing and are believed to have been lost. Six unknown vessels are reported ashore on Tybee beach from the outside. Nothing has been heard from the steamship City of Savannah now many hours overdue.

Tybee island is about wrecked. Houses were blown and washed away. The railway track was blown from the ground and parts of it stood up along the route like a fence. At least half the houses on the island have been blown down or badly damaged. The damage to the buildings in Savannah is being rapidly repaired.

Savannah, an important commercial city and port of entry of Georgia, is situated on the Savannah River. It is the terminus of the Central Railroad of Georgia, the Charleston & Savannah Railway, and the Georgia division of the Savannah, Florida & Western Railway. It is 18 miles from the sea, has a fine harbor, and its wharves are accessible to vessels drawing 22 1/ 2 feet. By current improvements, it is proposed to deepen the channel to 26 feet. he city is built chiefly upon an elevated plain 50 feet above low water, is handsomely laid out, having in the centre a beautiful park called Forsyth Place and within its limits some 30 small parks, besides one in the suburbs of 300 acres. Several of these are adorned with statues and fountains, and, like the streets, are shaded by live oaks, pines, magnolias, palmettos, and other native trees. There are monuments to General Nathanael Greene, Count Pulaski, and Sergeant Jasper, of Revolutionary fame; one in Court House Square to W. W. Gordon,...

...Savannah, Feb. 9. -- The temperature promises to go down to 5 degrees above zero in sections exposed. Peas, potatoes and other field crops are wiped out, but can be replanted in time for early shipment. Great suffering exists among the negroes and a number of deaths may result among them from exposure...

The city of Savannah is now a centre of railroad and steamship lines. It has the heaviest commerce of all the Atlantic ports south of Baltimore. It is the largest naval stores market in the world, and its cotton and lumber receipts are very considerable. But in spite of its commercial primacy Savannah preserves a distinct flavor of the olden time. On the shores of the Savannah River, where the British ships were burned in the Revolution, a railroad system is cutting slips and building piers, spending a million dollars in terminal facilities. The high bluff where the early colonists planted their crane in 1732 to move goods from the ships to the river bank is now walled in stone, and the strand is gridironed with steel rails. The powder magazine near "the Old Fort," afterwards seized by the patriots of the Revolution, is the site of flourishing foundries. The filature where early colonists were taught to spin silk has been dismantled, and long rows of brick tenements front upon the...

1. Forsyth Park:

Start your visit at this iconic 30-acre park, located in the historic district. It's known for its magnificent Forsyth Fountain, perfect for taking photos.
Stroll the walking paths, relax on the green lawns, or have a picnic under the shade of Spanish moss-draped trees.
The park often hosts events, from farmers' markets to music festivals.

2. Historic District:

Savannah's historic district is a UNESCO World Heritage Site filled with cobblestone streets and historic homes. Take a leisurely walk to explore the historic charm.
Don't miss the 22 historic squares, each with its unique character. Johnson Square and Wright Square are some must-see stops.

3. River Street:

This bustling waterfront street is lined with shops, restaurants, and bars. It's a hub of activity and a great place to soak up the local atmosphere.
While you're here, try some local treats, like pralines or fresh seafood.

4. Savannah Riverboat Cruises:

Take a relaxing cruise along...