Squares of Savannah

The Squares of Savannah

In this short narrative, I will just write about a some of our 24 squares and in future articles I will provide information on all of them.

Oglethorpe planned on constructing 24 squares that would be used for planting crops, holding meetings and other activities but only the squares along Bull Street were originally meant by Oglethorpe to feature the grand monuments. The rest of the squares were laid out as open commons for the people to use as parks and activities I mentioned above.

The Orleans Square was named for Andrew Jackson's victory in the Battle of New Orleans in 1814. Just to the west of the square is the Savannah Civic Center. To the east, you can view the Champion House at 230 Barnard Street. The Cupola features amber glass. Yew trees are planted in the front year.

To the south, you will arrive at Pulaski Square located on Barnard Street between Harris and Charlton Streets and was laid out in 1837. This square was named for Count Casimir Pulaski, historic Savannah's adopted foreign son who was the highest ranking foreign officer to die in the American Revolution. Additional monuments to Pulaski can be found throughout the historic district. The red brick Jewish Education Alliance building on the East side of the square is now a dormitory for the Savannah College of Art and Design. The house on the Northwest corner of Barnard and Harris is new housing, completed in 1993. The house across from it is the 1839 house of Francis Bartow, a Confederate hero. It is now several apartments. The square was once landscaped as rows of azaleas in diagonals representing the St. Andrew's Cross of the Confederate flat..the Stars and Bars. Sgt. Pulaski was a hero of the Revolutionary War.

The next square south on Barnard Street is Chatham Square, named for England's William Pitt and the Earl of Chatham. The Barnard Street School, now part of the Savannah College of Art and Design has a Terra Cotta roof. The tile was made in Ludowici, Georgia. Gordon Row dominates the southeast corner of the square and you are now at the edge of the Victorian District with the Republican Blues Homes on the right, a dignified old row built of Savannah Gray bricks.

Take your camera and take some photos of these wonderful and historic squares.