Greene Square (Savannah, Georgia)

Last updated
Greene Square
Greene Square.jpg
Greene Square, laid out in 1799, with the John Dorsett House in view in the background
Namesake Nathanael Greene
Maintained byCity of Savannah
Location Savannah, Georgia, U.S.
Coordinates 32°04′35″N81°05′10″W / 32.0763°N 81.0861°W / 32.0763; -81.0861
North Houston Street
EastEast President Street
SouthHouston Street
WestEast President Street
Construction
Completion1799(225 years ago) (1799)

Greene Square is one of the 22 squares of Savannah, Georgia, United States. It is the easternmost square in the second row of the city's five rows of squares. The square is located on Houston Street and East President Street, and is south of Washington Square, east of Columbia Square and north of Crawford Square. The oldest buildings on the square are at 510 East York Street, 509 East President Street (both former properties of George Jones) and 503 East President Street (Thomas Williams House), each in the southwestern trust/civic block, which are believed to have been built at the same time as the square itself (1799). [1]

Contents

The square is named for Revolutionary War hero General Nathanael Greene, an aide to George Washington. [2] A native of Rhode Island, Greene commanded Southern forces during the Revolution, and after the war settled at Mulberry Grove, an estate fourteen miles (23 km) above Savannah. Greene, along with his son, is actually buried in Savannah's Johnson Square.

134 Houston Street, in the square's southeastern tything block, dates to the late 1800s. [1] Between 1899 and the mid-1900s it was the home of the Kate Baldwin Free Kindergarten. [3]

Greene Square was once the center of Savannah's African-American community. [4] In the northwestern trust lot is the Second African Baptist Church, the site where Union Army general William Tecumseh Sherman announced Special Field Orders 15, better known as "40 acres and a mule".

546–548 East President Street (known as the Mary Cullum Property, now occupied by the Green Palm Inn) are two seamen's cottages, built circa 1897. [1]

The John Dorsett House, in the northwestern tything, is the smallest free-standing house in the city, hence its nickname Tiny House. It was moved here from 422 Hull Street. [5]

In 1967, Savannah landscape architect Clermont Huger Lee and banker Mills B. Lane planned and initiated a project to replace the cistern that caved-in, design and install shoring, close the fire lane, and install new walks, benches, lighting and planting. [6]

Dedication

NamesakeImageNote
Nathanael Greene Nathanael Greene by John Trumbull 1792.jpeg The square is named for Revolutionary War hero Nathanael Greene (1742–1786).

Constituent buildings

Each building below is in one of the eight blocks around the square composed of four residential "tything" blocks and four civic ("trust") blocks, now known as the Oglethorpe Plan. They are listed with construction years where known.

Northwestern tything/residential block
Northwestern trust/civic block
Southwestern trust/civic block
  • 131 Houston Street (1807) [1]
  • Jeremiah Murphy House, 129 Houston Street (1904) [1]
  • George Jones House (1), 509 East President Street (1799–1808) [1] – joint-oldest building on the square
  • 505 East President Street (1853) [1]
  • Thomas Williams House, 503 East President Street (1799–1808) [1] – joint-oldest building on the square
  • Anthony Mira House, 505 East President Street (1853)
  • William Herman Duplex, 506–508 East York Street (1902) [1]
  • George Jones House (2), 510 East York Street (1799) [1] – joint-oldest building on the square
Southwestern tything/residential block
Northeastern tything/residential block
Northeastern trust/civic block
Southeastern trust/civic block
Southeastern tything/residential block

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Dorsett House</span>

John Dorsett House is a historic building in Savannah, Georgia, United States. It is located at 536 East State Street, in the northeastern tything of Greene Square, and was built in 1845 for New York City-born shipbuilder John W. Dorsett by Dix Fletcher. The city's smallest free-standing house, it was moved from 422 Hull Street, in Savannah's Crawford Ward, in the mid-20th century. The structure is part of Savannah's Historic District.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Columbia Square (Savannah, Georgia)</span> Public square in Savannah, Georgia

Columbia Square is one of the 22 squares of Savannah, Georgia, United States. It is located in the second row of the city's five rows of squares, on Habersham Street and East President Street. It is south of Warren Square and between Oglethorpe Square to the west and Greene Square to the east. The oldest building on the square is at 307 East President Street, today's 17 Hundred 90 Inn, which, as its name suggests, dates to the 18th century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Johnson Square (Savannah, Georgia)</span> Public square in Savannah, Georgia

Johnson Square is one of the 22 squares of Savannah, Georgia, United States. Located in the northernmost row of the city's five rows of squares, it was the first of the squares to be laid out, in 1733, and remains the largest of the 22. It is east of Ellis Square, west of Reynolds Square and north of Wright Square. Situated on Bull Street and St. Julian Street, it is named for Robert Johnson, colonial governor of South Carolina and a friend of General James Oglethorpe. The oldest building on the square is the Ann Hamilton House, at 26 East Bryan Street, which dates to 1824.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reynolds Square (Savannah, Georgia)</span> Public square in Savannah, Georgia

Reynolds Square is one of the 22 squares of Savannah, Georgia, United States. It is located in the northernmost row of the city's five rows of squares, on Abercorn Street and East St. Julian Street. It is east of Johnson Square, west of Warren Square and north of Oglethorpe Square. The oldest building on the square is The Olde Pink House, which dates to 1771.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Warren Square (Savannah, Georgia)</span> Public square in Savannah, Georgia

Warren Square is one of the 22 squares of Savannah, Georgia, United States. It is located in the northernmost row of the city's five rows of squares, on Habersham Street and East St. Julian Street. It is east of Reynolds Square, west of Washington Square and north of Columbia Square. The oldest building on the square is the Spencer–Woodbridge House, at 22 Habersham Street, which dates to 1790. The Lincoln Street Parking Garage occupies the entire western side of the square.

Washington Square is one of the 22 squares of Savannah, Georgia, United States. It is located in the northernmost row of the city's five rows of squares, on Houston Street and East St. Julian Street. It is east of Warren Square and north of Greene Square in the northeastern corner of the city's grid of squares, in Savannah's Old Fort neighborhood. The oldest building original to the square is 510 East St. Julian Street, which dates to 1797.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wright Square (Savannah, Georgia)</span> Public square in Savannah, Georgia

Wright Square is one of the 22 squares of Savannah, Georgia, United States. It is located in the second row of the city's five rows of squares, on Bull Street and President Street, and was laid out in 1733 as one of the first four squares. It is south of Johnson Square, west of Oglethorpe Square, north of Chippewa Square and east of Telfair Square. The oldest building on the square is the William Waring Property, at 12 West State Street, which dates to 1825.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oglethorpe Square (Savannah, Georgia)</span> Public square in Savannah, Georgia

Oglethorpe Square is one of the 22 squares of Savannah, Georgia, United States. It is located in the second row of the city's five rows of squares, on Abercorn Street and East President Street, and was laid out in 1742. It is south of Reynolds Square, west of Columbia Square, north of Colonial Park Cemetery and east of Wright Square. The oldest building on the square is the Owens–Thomas House, at 124 Abercorn Street, which dates 1819.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orleans Square</span> Public square in Savannah, Georgia

Orleans Square is one of the 22 squares of Savannah, Georgia, United States. It is located in the middle row of the city's five rows of squares, on Barnard Street and West McDonough Street, and was laid out in 1815, shortly after the event it commemorates: General Andrew Jackson's victory at the Battle of New Orleans that January. It is south of Telfair Square, west of Chippewa Square and north of Pulaski Square. The oldest building on the square is the John Ash House, at 114–116 West Hull Street, which dates to 1817.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chippewa Square (Savannah, Georgia)</span> Public square in Savannah, Georgia

Chippewa Square is one of the 22 squares of Savannah, Georgia, United States. It is located in the middle row of the city's five rows of squares, on Bull Street and McDonough Street, and was laid out in 1815. It is south of Wright Square, west of Colonial Park Cemetery, north of Madison Square and east of Orleans Square. The oldest building on the square is The Savannah Theatre, at 222 Bull Street, which dates to 1818.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crawford Square (Savannah, Georgia)</span> Public square in Savannah, Georgia

Crawford Square is one of the 22 squares of Savannah, Georgia, United States. It is located in the middle row of the city's five rows of squares, on Houston Street and East McDonough Street, and was laid out in 1841. It is south of Greene Square and east of Colonial Park Cemetery on the eastern edge of the Savannah Historic District. The oldest building on the square is at 224 Houston Street, which dates to 1850.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pulaski Square (Savannah, Georgia)</span> Public square in Savannah, Georgia

Pulaski Square is one of the 22 squares of Savannah, Georgia, United States. It is located in the fourth row of the city's five rows of squares, on Barnard Street and West Macon Street, and was laid out in 1837. It is south of Orleans Square, west of Madison Square and north of Chatham Square. It is known for its live oaks. The oldest buildings on the square are the Theodosius Bartow House and the Bernard Constantine House, which date to 1839.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Madison Square (Savannah, Georgia)</span> Public square in Savannah, Georgia

Madison Square is one of the 22 squares of Savannah, Georgia, United States. It is located in the fourth row of the city's five rows of squares, on Bull Street and Macon Street, and was laid out in 1837. It is south of Chippewa Square, west of Lafayette Square, north of Monterey Square and east of Pulaski Square. The square is named for James Madison, fourth president of the United States. The oldest building on the square is the Sorrel–Weed House, at 6 West Harris Street, which dates to 1840.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lafayette Square (Savannah, Georgia)</span> Public square in Savannah, Georgia

Lafayette Square is one of the 22 squares of Savannah, Georgia, United States. It is located in the fourth row of the city's five rows of squares, on Abercorn Street and East Macon Street, and was laid out in 1837. It is south of Colonial Park Cemetery, west of Troup Square, north of Taylor Square and east of Madison Square. The square is named for Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette, the French hero of the American Revolution who visited Savannah in 1825. The oldest building on the square is the Andrew Low House, at 329 Abercorn Street, which dates to 1849.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Troup Square (Savannah, Georgia)</span> Public square in Savannah, Georgia

Troup Square is one of the 22 squares of Savannah, Georgia, United States. It is located in the fourth row of the city's five rows of squares, on Habersham Street and East Macon Street, and was laid out in 1837. It is south of Colonial Park Cemetery, east of Lafayette Square and north of Whitefield Square. The square is named for George Troup, the former Georgia governor, Congressman and senator. It is one of only two Savannah squares named for a person living at the time, the other being Washington Square.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chatham Square (Savannah, Georgia)</span> Public square in Savannah, Georgia

Chatham Square is one of the 22 squares of Savannah, Georgia, United States. It is located in the southernmost row of the city's five rows of squares, on Barnard Street and West Wayne Street, and was laid out in 1847. It is south of Pulaski Square and west of Monterey Square in the southwestern corner of the city's grid of squares. The square is named for William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham. Although Pitt never visited Savannah, he was an early supporter of the Georgia colony, and both Chatham Square and Chatham County are named in his honor. The oldest building on the square is the Enoch Hendry Row House, at 108–112 West Taylor Street, which dates to 1851.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Monterey Square (Savannah, Georgia)</span> Public square in Savannah, Georgia

Monterey Square is one of the 22 squares of Savannah, Georgia, United States. It is located in the southernmost row of the city's five rows of squares, on Bull Street and Wayne Street, and was laid out in 1847. It is south of Madison Square, west of Taylor Square, north of Forsyth Park and east of Chatham Square. The oldest building on the square is the Herman Kuhlman Duplex, at 22–24 West Taylor Street, which dates to 1851.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Whitefield Square (Savannah, Georgia)</span> Public square in Savannah, Georgia

Whitefield Square is one of the 22 squares of Savannah, Georgia, United States. It is located in the southernmost row of the city's five rows of squares, on Habersham Street and East Wayne Street, and was the final square laid out, in 1851. It is south of Troup Square and east of Taylor Square in the southeastern corner of Savannah's grid of squares. The oldest building on the square is at 412–414 East Taylor Street, which dates to 1855.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Price Street</span> Prominent street in Savannah, Georgia

Price Street is a prominent street in Savannah, Georgia, United States. Located between Habersham Street to the west and East Broad Street to the east, it runs for about 2.04 miles (3.28 km) from East Bay Street in the north to East Victory Drive in the south. The street's directional flow is one-way (southbound), with a single lane for motor vehicles and a dedicated lane for cyclists. Its northern section passes through the Savannah Historic District, a National Historic Landmark District.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">York Street (Savannah, Georgia)</span> Prominent street in Savannah, Georgia

York Street is a prominent street in Savannah, Georgia, United States. Located, in its downtown section, between State Street to the north and Oglethorpe Avenue to the south, it runs for about 0.70 miles (1.13 km) from Montgomery Street in the west to East Broad Street in the east. It is named for the Duke of York. The street is entirely within Savannah Historic District, a National Historic Landmark District.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 Historic Building Map: Savannah Historic District – Historic Preservation Department of the Chatham County-Savannah Metropolitan Planning Commission (November 17, 2011), p. 31
  2. ↑ SavannahBest.com's ‘’Squares of Savannah’‘, accessed June 16, 2007
  3. ↑ History of the Kindergarten Movement, Association for Childhood Education (U.S.) Committee of nineteen (1935), p. 20
  4. ↑ Tour Guide Manual for licensed tour guides in the City of Savannah, accessed June 16, 2007.
  5. ↑ "Dix Fletcher" Archived 2022-10-23 at the Wayback Machine – The Savannah Biographies, Jane Schulze (July 29, 1981), p. 4
  6. ↑ Dolder, Ced (Spring 2014). "Clermont Lee, (1914-2006) Pioneering Savannah Landscape Architect" (PDF). Magnolia – Publication of the Southern Garden History Society. XXVII (2): 4. Retrieved 16 February 2020.
  7. ↑ "Historic Second African Baptist Church" – The Savannah Tribune
  8. ↑ The National Trust Guide to Savannah – Roulhac Toledano (1997)
  9. 1 2 3 About the Inn - Green Palm Inn's official website
  10. ↑ Green Palm Inn official website
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.