Taylor Square (Savannah, Georgia)

Last updated
Taylor Square
Calhoun Square (formerly)
Calhoun live oak.jpg
A live oak in the southwestern corner of the square, looking east
Namesake John C. Calhoun (1851–2022)
Susie King Taylor (2023–present)
Maintained byCity of Savannah
Location Savannah, Georgia, U.S.
Coordinates 32°04′15″N81°05′33″W / 32.0707°N 81.0925°W / 32.0707; -81.0925
North Abercorn Street
EastEast Wayne Street
SouthAbercorn Street
WestEast Wayne Street
Construction
Completion1851(173 years ago) (1851)

Taylor Square is one of the 22 squares of Savannah, Georgia, United States. Laid out in 1851 south of Lafayette Square, west of Whitefield Square, and east of Monterey Square, it was originally named Calhoun Square for the American statesman John C. Calhoun. The square was renamed Taylor Square in 2023 to honor the Civil War nurse, educator and memoirist Susie King Taylor. [1]

Contents

The oldest buildings on the square, the Adam Short Property and the Alexander Bennett House (both on East Taylor Street), date to 1853. [2] The square is sometimes informally called Massie Square due to the presence of Massie Common School House, which was built in 1855 and lies just outside. [3] The Wesley Monumental United Methodist Church, founded in 1868, is located directly across the street from the square's western side.

The square had previously been used as a "negro burial ground"; in 1855, the bodies of enslaved residents Emily and Rinah were removed to Laurel Grove Cemetery. [4] In 2004, a skull was found by utility workers outside the Massie Heritage Interpretation Center on the square's southeastern side. [5] This legacy prompted a 2021 movement to rename the square after the Sankofa bird, a Ghanaian symbol expressing the "importance of knowing one's history." [6] City councilors voted unanimously on November 10, 2022, to remove Calhoun's name from the square. [7]

In August 2023, after discussion and debate, the Savannah City Council settled on a new name, Taylor Square. [8] The council approved the installation of a new granite marker, which will note that the square once named for John C. Calhoun will now be named for Susie King Taylor. [9]  

Dedication

NamesakeImageNote
John C. Calhoun John C. Calhoun.jpeg The square was dedicated to South Carolina statesman John C. Calhoun, who served as Secretary of War, Secretary of State, and as Vice President in the administrations of John Quincy Adams and Andrew Jackson. [10]
Susie King Taylor Susie King Taylor LCCN2003653538.jpg The square was renamed for Susie King Taylor in 2023. [9]

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 residential/tything block
  • Mary Demere House, also known as The House on Taylor, 128 East Taylor Street (1860) [2] – bay windows added 1894
  • Mary Demere (Estate of) House, 126 East Taylor Street (1872) [2]
  • Adam Short Property, 118–122 East Taylor Street (1853) [2] – joint-oldest building on the square
  • 108–114 East Taylor Street (1873) [2]
  • John Kuck House, 106 East Taylor Street (1906) [2]
  • Alexander Bennett House, 102 East Taylor Street (1853) [2] – joint-oldest building on the square
Northwestern trust/civic block
  • Sara Clark House, 421 Abercorn Street (1859) [2] – additional level added in 1894
Southwestern trust/civic block
  • Wesley Monumental United Methodist Church, 429 Abercorn Street (1875) [11]
Southwestern residential/tything block
  • John B. Berry House, 127 East Gordon Street (1856) [12]
  • Adolphus Gomm House, 115 East Gordon Street (1869) [12]
  • Charles Hutchins House, 113 East Gordon Street (1868/1897) [12]
  • John Mingledorff Property, 439 Abercorn Street (1856) [12]
Northeastern residential/tything block
  • William Rogers House, 202 East Taylor Street (1859) [2]
  • George Ash Row House (1), 206–210 East Taylor Street (1855) [2]
  • Andrew Hanley House, 214 East Taylor Street (1883) [2]
  • George Ash & Francis Grimball Duplex, 216–218 East Taylor Street (1854) [2]
  • George Ash Row House (2), 220–224 East Taylor Street (1869) [2]
Northeastern trust/civic block
  • Easton Yonge House, 426 Abercorn Street (1855) [2] – by George Ash; side porch added 1909
Southeastern trust/civic block
  • 430–432 Abercorn Street (1868) [12]
  • Edward Purse Duplex, 220–222 East Gordon Street (1856) [2]
Southeastern residential/tything block
  • Massie Common School House, 201–213 East Gordon Street (1855) [3]
  • John Guerrard Row House, 215–229 East Gordon Street (1872) [12]
  • Lengre Building, 233 East Gordon Street (1923) [12]
  • Flora Max House, 235 East Gordon Street (1894) [12]
  • Thomas Davis House, 237 East Gordon Street (1893) [12]

Related Research Articles

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

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 and 503 East President Street, each in the southwestern trust/civic block, which are believed to have been built at the same time as the square itself (1799).

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

Ellis 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 Barnard Street and West St. Julian Street, and was one of the first four squares laid out. Today, it marks the western end of City Market. The square is east of Franklin Square, west of Johnson Square and north of Telfair Square. The oldest building on the square is the Thomas Gibbons Range, at 102–116 West Congress Street, which dates to 1820.

<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.

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

Telfair 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 Barnard Street and West President Street, and was laid out in 1733 as one of the first four squares. It is south of Ellis Square, west of Wright Square and north of Orleans Square. Liberty Square formerly stood to its west but was later paved over. The oldest building on the square is Telfair Academy, at 121 Barnard Street, which dates to 1818–1820.

<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 Carriage 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">Gordon Street (Savannah, Georgia)</span> Street in Savannah, Georgia

Gordon Street is a street in Savannah, Georgia, United States. Located between Taylor Street to the north and Gaston Street to the south, it runs for about 0.62 miles (1.00 km) from Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in the west to East Broad Street in the east. Originally known only as Gordon Street singular, its addresses are now split between "West Gordon Street" and "East Gordon Street", the transition occurring at Bull Street in the center of the downtown area.

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

Taylor Street is a prominent street in Savannah, Georgia. Located in its downtown section between Jones Street to the north and Gordon Street to the south, it runs for about 0.76 miles (1.22 km) from Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in the west to East Broad Street in the east.

References

  1. ↑ "Savannah renames historic square in honor of a Black woman, replacing slave advocate". NBC News. 2023-08-25. Retrieved 2024-01-22.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Historic Building Map: Savannah Historic District – Historic Preservation Department of the Chatham County-Savannah Metropolitan Planning Commission (November 17, 2011), p. 68
  3. 1 2 Massie Common School House: Savannah’s Cradle of Public Education – Georgia Historical Society
  4. ↑ "Negro Burials Grounds Located In Two Historic Squares" – Savannah Tribune , October 14, 2020
  5. ↑ "Workers dig up historic skull" - Savannah Now, July 1, 2004
  6. ↑ "Push to erase names of slaveholders from Savannah squares would be first change in a century" – Savannah Morning News , February 1, 2021
  7. ↑ Peebles, Will. "Savannah City Council votes unanimously to remove the name of Calhoun Square". Savannah Morning News. Retrieved 2022-11-10.
  8. ↑ Walker, Will (2024-01-22). "Exploring Savannah's Taylor Square (Formerly Calhoun Square)". House on Taylor. Retrieved 2024-01-22.
  9. 1 2 "City of Savannah to Dedicate Taylor Square Feb. 10". Savannah, GA. Retrieved 2024-01-22.
  10. ↑ Savannah Scene Archived 2008-11-03 at the Wayback Machine magazine, May–June 2007, pp 10–11, accessed June 16, 2007.
  11. ↑ History – Wesley Monumental United Methodist Church official website
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Historic Building Map: Savannah Historic District – Historic Preservation Department of the Chatham County-Savannah Metropolitan Planning Commission (November 17, 2011), p. 69
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.