May 29, 1905 Oglethorpe Monument Planned for the Strand
On May 29, 1905, the Savannah Morning News announced plans of the Georgia Society of the Colonial Dames of America to erect a memorial bench in honor of General James E. Oglethorpe on the spot he pitched his first tent, just west of the city hall site on the Strand. The Colonial Dames had been planning a memorial for some time and had finally settled on the designs for a semi-circular bench made of white stone and marble set upon a platform measuring nine feet by twelve feet. It was projected that the erection of the monument would take only a few months and cost around five-hundred dollars.
PROPOSED DESIGN FOR OGLETHORPE MEMORIAL BENCH AS DESIGNED BY ARCHITECT J. DeBRUYN KOPS
"Bench that Colonial Dames are to Erect," Savannah Morning News (17 September 1905), 17:3-4.
Used with permission.
Chairman of Council James M. Dixon, a member of the special City Hall Committee, was asked how he felt about the monument and the newspaper announced:
He regards the action of the society as timely and thinks the seat will add to the appearance of the ground in the immediate vicinity of the new building.
MEMORIAL BENCH PLAQUE DESCRIBING SIGNIFICANCE OF THE SPOT
Photograph taken by the author, December 2004.
Mrs. Edward Karow, who was in charge of making all the necessary arrangements for the monument, wrote the Mayor and Aldermen two days later requesting permission to erect the memorial on the desired spot, which was on City property. The Colonial Dames asked that the City dedicate a small piece of land for the bench. The petition was not read in City Council until June 7, 1905 when it was referred to the Committee on Streets and Lanes. On July 5, 1905, Chairman D. R. Thomas reported that the committee was in favor of the location of the memorial and recommended approval with the stipulation that the City “have full jurisdiction over and ownership” of the memorial after its erection. The committee’s report was adopted by Council on July 5, 1905 and the Colonial Dames were given the final approval they needed.
OGLETHORPE MEMORIAL BENCH
LOCATED IN THE STRAND JUST WEST OF CITY HALL ON BAY STREET
Photograph taken by the author, December 2004.
Sources
“City Will Designate Spot for Memorial.” Savannah Morning News (3 June 1905) 12:2.
“Petition: Georgia Society of the Colonial Dames of America to City Council,” (31 May 1905, in Council 7 June 1905, 5 July 1905). City Council Meeting Papers, Box PRO 95, 0115-001-A292, Folder 879. Research Library and Municipal Archives, City Hall, Savannah, Georgia.
“Will Mark Spot Where Oglethorpe Landed.” Savannah Morning News (29 May 1905) 8:2.
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.
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