History, Haunts, and Hospitality
General James Oglethorpe-the Founder of Savannah
As the morning sun gently bathes the cobblestone streets of Savannah, a city steeped in nearly 300 years of history, it’s easy to feel transported to a time where every corner whisper stories of resilience, reinvention, and Southern charm.
History Borne out of Diplomacy and Dignity
When in 1730, General James Oglethorpe set his foot on the banks of the sprawling and mighty Savannah River, he might not have known that he is laying the foundations of a great city later to emerge as the city of the state of Georgia. He had known the importance of befriending the native Indians. Aware of the blunders of Spanish brutality, he chose to approach native tribes with diplomacy and respect. He pursued with design and determination friendly relations with the indigenous people. The Yamacraw tribe, the dominant tribe in this region played a crucial role in helping Oglethorpe and the early settlers establish Savannah. Tomochichi, the Chief of the Yamacraw tribe was so impressed by Oglethorpe’s fairness and willingness to negotiate, that he unhesitatingly forged a strong friendship with the British settlers. He offered guidance on local resources, aided in navigating the terrain, and facilitated peaceful coexistence between the settlers and the native population. His support was instrumental in the initial survival and growth of the colony. The future of a fledgling colony seemed both bright and certain.
Savannah’s history is thus unlike elsewhere, is woven with threads of trust, understanding, and influence with occasional role of intrigue. Establishing the city for General James Oglethorpe could therefore become a bold experiment in urban planning, with public squares serving as social hubs and green oases amidst the bustling streets. Founded on sound concepts, the city evolved as an impressive showpiece of symmetry and sophistication. Its squares, each with its own unique charm and history, became the windows into Savannah’s past. Each square tells a story, offering glimpses of colonial struggles, civil war scars, and the whispers of the industrial revolution. And its many parks and gardens that dot the city became the verdant windows where city’s soul found utterance.
Hutchinson Island on River Savannah
The Savannah River
Flowing gracefully from the Appalachian Mountains, the Savannah River serves as the lifeline of trade, transportation, and ecological diversity. Its shores bear witness to a rich tapestry of war memorials, cotton exchanges, and the opulent mansions that once crowned Savannah as a maritime hub second only to the Hudson River.
The town itself is modest in area but it may be having more war memorials per unit of area, of both the wars, the war of Independence as well as of the Civil War, and of course of the period that saw to the city’s establishment. The habitation soon flourished in a rich centre of cotton production bringing quick and plentiful fortune and riches to this place of fertile riverine back waters. The prosperity also brought with it construction of beautiful houses and mansions reflecting the newly acquired affluence and a sense of importance, not to talk of boasting a significant commercial perch, hugely coveted 200 years ago and even today. It is possibly the most important river post next only to the Hudson in New York. No wonder, it set up one of the first cotton exchanges in those times whose impressive brick building has today become an iconic memorial of a glorious era.
Cotton Plantation-Pre-Civil War Years
Cotton and Commerce
Cotton plantations were the pivot of economic growth of Savannah. It quickly flourished into a thriving centre of the cotton trade, plantations being the backbone of its economy. Savannah’s ascendance to economic prosperity was significantly fuelled by its cotton trade, with plantations dotting its fertile landscapes. This era’s remnants, such as the Owens-Thomas House, stand as testaments to the wealth and opulence generated from cotton, a commodity that once crowned Savannah as a pivotal maritime hub. The city’s economic ascendance continues with its bustling port, where ships from around the world dock, carrying goods and stories from distant shores.
(To Be Continued)
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