August 11, 1904 Cornerstone Laying Ceremony: Part V of V Cornerstone Description and Contents
On August 11, 1904, the cornerstone for the new city hall building was laid by city officials. The cornerstone was carved and polished out of the same Georgia granite used on the Bay Street story. The stone was originally simply carved with “1904,” so the date would stand out prominently from distance. However, at the last minute the Masonic year “5904” and compass were carved onto the lower right corner of the eastern face of the stone.* A box was placed inside the cornerstone with a variety of artifacts and documents commemorating the event and the history of Savannah. An engraved plate was placed on top of the cornerstone providing additional information on the building. On August 12th, the Savannah Evening Press published a facsimile of the engraved plate.
ENGRAVED PLATE BURIED WITH CITY HALL CORNERSTONE
"Fac Simile of Plate that was Placed in Cornerstone," Savannah Evening Press (12 August 1904), 1:3
Used with permission.
Over thirty articles were placed inside the cornerstone as it became a time capsule of the Savannah of 1904, including:
City of Savannah’s 1903 Annual Report
City Code of Savannah
A History of the City Government of Savannah
Rules of the City Council of Savannah
Copy of the Declaration of Independence
Photograph of the old City Exchange
Photograph of the last meeting of the City Council in the old City Exchange
Photograph of the British steamship Saint Andrew, on which was shipped from Savannah,
the world’s record cotton cargo
Photograph of the automobile parade of August 10, 1904
Copies of the Savannah Evening Press of August 6 and August 10, 1904
Copy of the Savannah Morning News of August 11, 1904
Address of the League of Georgia Municipalities signed by members at the convention on August 11, 1904
United States stamps in denominations of one to fifteen cents
Series of United States stamps commemorating the St. Louis Exposition
All coins of the United States from one cent to one dollar
Old coins from City Exchange cornerstone
Official program of the cornerstone laying ceremony
LAST MEETING OF THE MAYOR AND ALDERMEN IN THE "LONG ROOM" OF THE OLD CITY EXCHANGE
The Old and the New, Sketch of the Old City Exchange (1799-1904), and the New City Hall, Savannah, Georgia.
(Savannah: Savannah City Council, 1905)
City of Savannah Research Library and Municipal Archives, City Hall, Savannah, Georgia
On August 13, 1904, Mayor Myers received an old French coin, dated 1749, from a lady in New Jersey who desired it placed in the cornerstone. Since it arrived too late, the Mayor returned it to its owner.
DAILY RECORD COMPANY ADVERTISEMENTIN THE CORNERSTONE PROGRAM
"Official Souvenir Programme, Laying of Cornerstone, New City Hall, Savannah, Georgia, August 11th, 1904."
(Savannah: Daily Record Print, 1904)
Vertical Files: Savannah-City Hall/City Exchange
Georgia Room, Bull Street Branch, Live Oak Public Library, Savannah, Georgia
Used with permission.
*On August 5, 1904, Mayor Myers learned that it was customary to place the Masonic year on the cornerstone in addition to the regular year. The Committee of the Whole met on August 6, 1904 and decided to add 5904 to the stone in honor of the Year of Light, according to the Masonic calendar.
Used with permission.
Sources
“Coin Came Too Late for Corner Stone.” Savannah Morning News (14 August 1904), 20:3.
“Corner Stone is Finished.” Savannah Morning News (5 August 1904), 12:3.
“Council to Arrange Plans,” Savannah Morning News (6 August 1904), 12:3.
“Facsimile of Plate that was Placed in Cornerstone.” Savannah Evening Press (12 August 1904), 1:3.
Gamble, Thomas, Jr. The Old and The New, Sketch of the Old City Exchange (1799-1904) and the New City Hall, Savannah, Georgia. Report of Hon. Herman Myers, Mayor . . . of the City of Savannah, Ga., Year Ending December 31st 1905 . . . Savannah, Ga.: Braid & Hutton, 1905. Appendix, 6, 19-20
“List of Articles Put in Corner Stone.” Savannah Morning News (12 August 1904), 6:7.
Prepared by Luciana M. Spracher, Bricks and Bones Historical Research
for the City of Savannah, Georgia, Research Library and Municipal Archives.
© Copyright 2004 by the City of Savannah, Georgia.
All rights reserved.
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