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| Ellis Square | ||
| This is the City's first square, laid out in 1733. It was named for Robert Johnson, Governor of South Carolina when the Georgia colony was founded. The public mill and oven were located on this square and it was the site of the earliest church, Christ Church, which is still there; but not in the original building. The Savannah Bank Building, now First Union, was the City's first "skyscraper." It was built in 1911 on the Northeast corner of Bull Street and Bryan. This is the banking square and many of the City's banks are located here. In the center of the square is the Nathanial Greene Monument. The Greene Monument, constructed in 1825, located in the center of Johnson Square is a tribute to General Nathanael Greene (1742-86) of Rhode Island, Revolutionary War hero. Greene was second to Washington, head of the Southern Department, and commander of the Carolina Campaign of 1780-81. He was called the "saviour of the South". The monument is an obelisk fifty feet tall of white New York marble. The base is 20 feet by 11 feet; the pedestal 8 feet 5 inches by 4 feet 8 3/4 inches. It rises 13 feet, surmounted by a cornice of 1 foot; the needle is 5 feet 4 inches at the base and 4 feet by 2 feet 3 inches at the apex, rising 36 feet. The pedestal is formed of 12 pieces, each 1 foot 7 inches in height, weighing altogether 56,000 pounds. Two large rectangular bronze tablets were attached in 1886. The tablet on the north side has an inscription. The tablet on the south side has a bas-relief full-length figure of General Greene. In 1902, another smaller bronze tablet was attached below the bas-relief on the south side, in the shape of a wreath of laurel tied at the top with a ribbon, with the insignia of the DAR, and an inscription. |
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| LaFayette Square | ||
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| TThis square, located on Abercorn Street between Charlton and Harris Streets was laid out in 1837. Until 1846, the City jail was located here; but when it was moved, Andrew Low purchased some of the land and built in 1849 what we now refer to as the Andrew Low House. This house, on the West side of the square, is next to the Battersby-Hartridge House, the only Charleston style house in the City. The Hamilton Turner House is also on this square as is the Flannery O'Connor House. This home is where the renowned Georgia author lived as a child. It is open to the public. On the North side of the square is the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist and its school buildings. |
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