Savannah - Day Three, Part One

Today we stayed in Savannah and did quite a lot of sight-seeing and did three home tours.  Our first tour was the birth place of Juliet Gordon Low.  The Gordon family made an indelible impact on United States history over the years. From William Washington I, founder of the Central of Georgia Railroad, to his world-famous granddaughter, Juliette Gordon Low, founder of the Girl Scouts of the USA in 1912, they were influential leaders in industry, government, the military and humanitarian organizations.  This house was my favorite second house to tour.  The furniture reminded me a lot of the antiques that Grandmother and Granddaddy had. It was also had a welcoming homey feel.

Front view of the home

Back view from their enclosed garden

Carriage House which is now used for Girl Scout activities 

The square just north of the Low House is Wright Square.  There is a boulder that marks the grave of Tomochichi.  During a 1700's, he was the head chief of a Yamacraw town where present day Savannah sits.  Savannah sits where it does today because he gave his land to James Oglethorpe to build the town.  Tomochichi was friends with the people of Savannah and in return became a leader in the town. He worked with Charles and John Wesley to create an Indian school that opened in 1736.

Turn around and keep walking south and you will walk into Chippewa Square.  This square has a statue dedicated to General James Oglethorpe and is where the opening shot of Forrest Gump was filmed.  I did learn that the bench Tom Hanks sat on doesn't exist in the square.  It was put on the street just for that one particular scene.

Oglethorpe was a British general, member of Parliament, and the founder of the colony of Georgia.  His goal in founding Georgia was the resettle Britain's poor (mainly those in debtor's prison) and give them a new start.  I remember learning that there were several things that Oglethorpe did not allow in his colony - two of them were lawyers and alcohol.  When he went back to England those rules were thrown out immediately. We did notice that there were lawyers on just about every street corner in this town.

Green-Meldrim House: It's one of the finest examples of Gothic Revival architecture in Savannah.  It was constructed in the 1850's and cost $93,000 to build.  That was a HUGE amount of money for that time. This home was used by General Sherman as his headquarters when the Federal army occupied Savannah during the Civil War.  During the tour we learned: Sherman didn't want to stay here, but Mr. Green keep pressuring him so he finally said yes, Sherman didn't burn down Savannah because the Confederate Army had already fled and some influential people talked him out of it, and due to the owners not being smart with their money St. John's Church was able to purchase in the 40's for $34,000. Talk about a good deal on a house that is is centuries old and at least 10,000 square feet.

Side view facing Madison Square

Front of house

Savannah Day Two

Our first stop this morning (minus the pit stop to Walmart where I thankfully found a tee-shirt because  I didn't bring any short sleeve shirts.) was to Fort Pulaski.  It is located on Cockspur Island between Savannah and Tybee Island.

Fort Pulaski: Construction began in 1829 and it cost $1 million to build. There were 25 million bricks used and it took 18 years of hard labor to complete as the slaves only worked during the winter.  The only time the fort was used during battle was during the Civil War.  The Union army used rifled cannon (from ships of the coast of Tybee Island) and the Confederate garrison inside Fort Pulaski surrendered. The siege was a landmark experiment in the history of military science and invention. 

This portion shows how the foundation was constructed.  It is comprised of upside down arches. This technology has allowed their to be ZERO cracks in the building due to the foundation moving.

A picture of a cannon from the second level of the fort.  The original plan had the fort being three stories. 

Inside Fort Pulaski

When the battle was being fought, the corner section where the brick is brighter was actually blown completely out and you could see into the Fort. The wholes around this area are where cannons hit the brick.  There is actually a cannon ball still stuck that you can see up close.

Our next adventure was to the University of Georgia Marine Center and Aquarium.  It was a very small place, but they had a great walking trail.  Below are some pictures that I took because I'm a big fan of the Spanish Moss.

These are pictures that I took from the boardwalk.  As soon as we sat down we became a feeding ground for mosquitoes.  Back in the "woods," there weren't really any bugs. Weird.  There is also a 300 year old tree on the trail that was really cool to see. It was HUGE!

After the nature center, we went to Bonaventure Cemetery.  The cemetery has received its name because it is located on land that used to be part of Bonaventure Plantation in the 1700s.  It is a 150 year old cemetery and some of Savannah's most famous and wealthy are buried here. It is known for its ornate monuments and was made popular due to the filming of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.

Savannah Day One

Today we arrived in Georgia and immediately got lost. Turned left when we should have turned right. Thankfully Google maps helped us find our way to Savannah.  We arrived to town around 1pm and decided to go straight to Tybee Island.  Our first stop was to get lunch and we went to a place I had found online - CoCo's Sunset Grill.  I had the shrimp cake sandwich and it was so delicious.  After lunch we headed to the Tybee Light Station and Museum to tour it. When we got there we learned it is closed for special tours only on Tuesday.  Whoops.  I am so good at writing everything down in my iteneary, but I didn't this time.  I actually didn't think we would go there today so that's why I didn't include it in my notes.  We got to see it and that was good enough for me.  

Tybee Light Station Info:  Ordered by General James Oglethorpe, Governor of the 13th colony, in 1732, the Tybee Island Light Station has been guiding mariners safe entrance into the Savannah River for over 270 years. The Light Station is one of America's most intact having all of its historic support buildings on its five-acre site. Rebuilt several times the current lightstation displays its 1916 day mark with 178 stairs and a First Order Fresnel lens (nine feet tall).

Right across from the Light Station is the beach.  Matt made so much fun of me for being in winter clothing on a beach in March.  I didn't expect it to be that warm because we all know the forecast usually isn't right and it changes daily.  I was fine until we got in the hot car and then I had to blast the air conditioner.

After the beach it was time to drive back to Savannah and check in to our hotel. The hotel was near the river and on the very east edge of town. It was in a old building that had been completely remodeled. It was very nice and modern - not something we usually stay in. Here is some info i just found on the hotel: The building was developed around the 1860s and has been home to a livery stable, cotton warehouse, foundry and machine shop, wholesale grocer and Coca-Cola bottling plant prior to becoming a hotel in 1982.

After settling in to our room, we went and walked down River Street to see what places there were to eat that looked good. On our way back to the hotel stopped at Morrell Park to see two sculptures.

1990 Olympic Yachting Cauldron - It was lit with the original Olympic frame from Olympia, Greece at the Savannah Opening Ceremony in July 1996. It burned throughout the yachting games that were held in Savannah.

The Waving Girl Statue:  A tribute to Florence Martus. From 1887-1931 she waved to every ship that came and left the Savannah River.

Savannah History

I decided to share some history I found on the city that I thought was interesting. I've just copied and pasted from the internet. Some may be too small to read - can't get the text to get bigger.

Savannah's recorded history begins in 1733. That's the year General James Othorpe and the 120 passengers of the good ship "Anne" landed on a bluff high along the Savannah River in February. Oglethorpe named the 13th and final American colony "Georgia" after England's King George II. Savannah became its first city.

The plan was to offer a new start for England's working poor and to strengthen the colonies by increasing trade. The colony of Georgia was also chartered as a buffer zone for South Carolina, protecting it from the advance of the Spanish in Florida.  Under the original charter, individuals were free to worship as they pleased and rum, lawyers and slavery were forbidden - for a time.

Colonial Period: Upon settling, Oglethorpe became friends with the local Yamacraw Indian chief, Tomochichi. Oglethorpe and Tomochichi pledged mutual goodwill and the Yamacraw chief granted the new arrivals permission to settle Savannah on the bluff. As a result, the town flourished without warfare and accompanying hardship that burdened many of America's early colonies.  Savannah is known as America's first planned city. Oglethorpe laid the city out in a series of grids that allowed for wide open streets intertwined with shady public squares and parks that served as town meeting places and centers of business. Savannah had 24 original squares; 22 squares are still in existence today.

Revolutionary War and Antebellum Period: During the Revolution, the British took Savannah in 1778 and held it into 1782. A land-sea force of French and Americans tried to retake the city in 1779, first by siege and then by direct assault, but failed.  After independence was secured, Savannah flourished. Soon, farmers discovered that the soil was rich and the climate favorable for cultivation of cotton and rice. Plantations and slavery became highly profitable systems for whites in the neighboring "Low country" of South Carolina. So Georgia, the free colony, legalized slavery. The trans-Atlantic slave trade brought many African-Americans through the port of Savannah. Many who stayed in the area formed the unique Gullah culture of the coastal communities in Georgia and South Carolina.

With the wealth brought by cotton, residents built lavish homes and churches throughout the city. After the invention of the cotton gin on a plantation outside of Savannah, the city rivaled Charleston as a commercial port. Many of the world's cotton prices were set on the steps of the Savannah Cotton Exchange. The building is still in existence.  But Savannah was not spared from misfortune. Two devastating fires in 1796 and 1820 each left half of Savannah in ashes but residents re-built. The year 1820 saw an outbreak of yellow fever that killed a tenth of its population. Savannah also survived fires, epidemics and hurricanes but always bounced back.

Civil War:  Pre-Civil War Savannah was praised as the most picturesque and serene city in America. It was known for its grand oaks festooned with Spanish moss and its genteel citizenry. The Georgia Historical Society was founded in that era. Magnificent Forsyth Park acquired its ornate fountain, a sight worth seeing.

During the Civil War, the city suffered from sea blockades so strict that the economy crumbled. "Impregnable" Fort Pulaski at the mouth of the Savannah River was captured by Union soldiers in 1862. The city itself did not fall until Union General William Tecumseh Sherman entered in mid-December after burning the city of Atlanta and everything else in his path on his "March to the Sea." Upon entering Savannah, Sherman was said to be so impressed by its beauty that he could not destroy it. On December 22, 1864, he sent a famous telegram to President Abraham Lincoln, offering the city as a Christmas present.

Reconstruction and the Turn of the Century:  After the end of the War, the Reconstruction period began in Savannah. Food was scarce in and the economy was in ruins. Despite these hardships and the added burdens of prejudice, the freed slaves who remained in Savannah built a thriving community, with its own churches, schools and economic strength. Savannah became one of the most historically significant African-American cities in the nation.  At the turn of the 20th century, cotton was king again. Savannah thrived, as did her new industries, including the export of resin and lumber. Then the boll weevils came, destroying most of the cotton and the state's economy—about the same time that the Great Depression began.

Savannah's Renaissance:  It wasn't until the post-war years that Savannah bounced back again, not just economically but also culturally and aesthetically. A group of women banded together in the 1950s to preserve historic structures threatened by the wrecking ball. Their brave endeavors began the Historic Savannah Foundation, which is credited with saving the beautiful architecture that was the foundation of Savannah's charm.

Mallory is Six Today

When I woke up six years ago today,  I did NOT expect to end the day with a newborn. What a blessing you are Mallory.  Here is a picture of Mallory last night before bedtime.  We decided to document what she looked like on her last night as a five year old.

Here is what she looks like today. Can you tell a difference? :)

Mallory has really grown (physically and mentally ) this year. She has learned so many things in Kindergarten - she is doing well with her letters, sight words, and math.  Mallory enjoys going to school, but getting her up and ready can be a chore sometimes.  I don't know how she does it, but she can be hard to wake up on school days, but on the weekend she is up at 6:00 am sharp.  Mallory rides the bus to and from school and is really excited for Maggie to get to ride the bus with her in a year and a half. They talk about how they will ride next to each other and how much fun it will be.  Maggie has already asked for Mallory to teach her to ropes. 

While Mallory will always be strong-willed, she still has a heart of gold.  She loves her friends and family so much.  The girls still play well together (Maggie looks up to Mallory so much) and Maggie hasn't become the annoying little sister....95% of the time.  They play Paw Patrol, Snap Dress Dolls, Strawberry Shortcake and Frozen all the time.  Mallory loves to color and has become very good at it. She is also into writing small books and wants me to illustrate them.  I do sometimes and my art looks horrible, but she thinks it is great.  Mallory also loves to play with her neighborhood friends Kaylee, Ethan, Everly, and now Teeghan.  Teeghan's family moved next door in December and what a blessing they are...that is a whole other story.

6 year old stats:

Height - 45 1/4 inches (49th percentile) and Weight - 49 pounds (71st percentile)

I decided to ask Mallory to tell me her favorite things this year. Below is what she said.  If her answer is different from last year, the last year answer is parenthesis.

color - light blue (pink)

thing to wear - a dress

show - Dora and Friends (Sofia the First)

movie - Frozen

food -ice cream

activity - playing with dolls, dance, having a tea party (board games, dress up)

toy - Elsa and Anna snap dress dolls and the Ariel that plays their mom (Sofia the First figurine)

book - Frozen Sing Along (Strawberry Shortcake Adventures)

animal - kitty cats and tigers (giraffe)

insect - butterfly

least favorite thing to do - feeding the dog (watch Dora the Explorer)

Watchdog Dad Day

At Meet the Teacher, back in August, Matt signed up to be a Watch D.O.G.S. (Dads of Great Students) Dad on Mallory's birthday.  Mallory was so excited that he would be at school on her birthday.  Here they are before heading out to school.

Matt had to be at the school by 7:15 so he could help with the carpool line.  I can't remember what all he did, but I know it was helping out in several grades in the classroom, worked several lunches, and worked carpool after school.

He did get to spend some time with Mallory. She introduced him on the morning announcements (they do video announcements that are televised in all the classrooms) and he told everyone it was her birthday and to tell her happy birthday if they saw her in the halls.

Here are so pictures of her in the classroom and gym.

They got home around 3:00 and Matt passed out on the sofa and took over an hour nap.

Mallory's Six Year Birthday Party

Today we celebrated Mallory's birthday with Mammy, Guy Guy, Grandma, and Papa Nick.  We were supposed to celebrate yesterday, but we cancelled due to the weather stating the roads should still be iced over.

Here is a picture of Mallory with her gifts and Maggie wanted to make sure she wasn't left out and in the picture.

Mallory received a brand new Schwinn bicycle from Mammy and Guy Guy.  Matt and I purchased the training wheels and Grandma and Papa Nick purchased the helmet.  She also received a new night gown and fancy light up tennis shoes.

Mallory is already to go - now we just need those training wheels to come in the mail!

Here is Mallory's "Frozen," themed cake.  Its the color of frozen.  I didn't do a good job at all this year on her cake.  Everyone said it was lovely (Mallory too), but I don't like the job I did. It tasted good and Mallory was happy so that is all that matters in the long run.

So happy that she blew out the candles!