Special Visitors to City Hall
Postcard of City Hall and Bull Street, n.d.
1361PC Georgia Historical Society Postcard Collection, Box 7.
Georgia Historical Society, Savannah, Georgia.
Used with permission.
The following timeline entries were taken from:
"Savannah's City Hall, One Hundred Years of History, 1906-2005."
Prepared by Luciana M. Spracher for the City of Savannah, Georgia Research Library & Municipal Archives, December 2005.
November 4-6, 1909 President Taft Visits Savannah
On the evening of November 4, 1909, President William Howard Taft arrived in Savannah, via the Central of Georgia Railroad, for a two-day visit at the tail end of his tour of the United States during the first year of his term. He stayed at the home of General W. W. Gordon on the corner of Oglethorpe Avenue and Bull Street. An elaborate banquet was given that night by the City of Savannah in honor of the President at the De Soto Hotel. Each guest received numerous souvenirs of the event, including a solid gold scarf pin with the seal of the City of Savannah, a small dinner plate hand-painted in gold with the President’s monogram, and cigars with a picture of the President on the cigar band and individually wrapped in pouches with the name of each guest embossed on the outside.
CITY HALL DECORATED FOR PRESIDENT TAFT, NOVEMBER 1909.
VM1374 Edward Girard Photograph Collection, Box 1, Folder 15, Item 03.
Georgia Historical Society, Savannah, Georgia.
Used with permission.
The following day, labeled “Taft Day” by the Savannah Morning News, numerous events were held throughout the city, including a concert by the Savannah City Band in Wright Square, acrobatic performances by the Six Flying Banvards in Forsyth Park Extension, flyovers of airships, inspection of torpedo boats off the Barnard Street dock, and a parade with President Taft driven through the city’s streets, surely passing by City Hall which was decked out for the occasion with American flags and bunting. Taft left Savannah from Union Station on November 6, 1909 at 2 o’clock in the afternoon.
Sources
“All Savannah Host to President Taft.” Savannah Morning News (6 November 1909) 12:1.
DeBolt, Margaret Wayt. Savannah: A Historical Portrait (3rd Edition). Gloucester Point, VA: Hallmark Publishing Company, 2001. p128.
“Fine Fireworks Seen in Park.” Savannah Morning News (5 November 1909) 16:6.
Myrick, Shelby, Sr. “Savannah’s Dinner for President Taft.” Savannah Morning News Magazine (8 March 1959) 8.
“Other Presidential Visits.” Savannah Morning News (12 November 1933) 6A:2.
February 9, 1938 Henry Ford Visits City Hall
On February 9, 1938, Henry Ford visited Mayor Robert M. Hitch at City Hall around 3:20 in the afternoon. Arriving with J. F. Gregory, superintendent of his Bryan County estate, few recognized the Detroit automobile manufacturer as he pulled up in his car for his first visit to City Hall. Ford and Hitch chatted informally for about thirty minutes during which the Mayor invited Ford to visit Savannah again and meet with some of the community’s business leaders. Ford agreed to the idea stating, “After all we are neighbors.”
Sources
“Henry Ford Pays Visit to Mayor.” Savannah Morning News (10 February 1938) 14:1.
“Savannah’s 1938 Chronology Has Been of Teeming Interest.” Savannah Morning News (12 December 1938) 12:3-4.
February 6, 1970 Japanese Visitors Given Key to City
On February 6, 1970, during a City Council meeting, Mayor J. Curtis Lewis presented Captain A. Nagata, of the Japanese freighter Savannah Maru, with a Key to the City. The freighter, one of several ships in the world and history bearing the name Savannah, was in port to take on general cargo.
Sources
“City Welcomes Namesake.” Savannah Morning News (7 February 1970) 1B:6-8.
October 13, 1975 Russian Preservationists Visit City Hall
On October 13, 1975, in his City Hall office, Mayor John P. Rousakis greeted three Russian preservationists ending a three-week tour of the United States through a cultural exchange program with the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U. S. S. R. Ministry of Culture. Russian architect Mark A. Orlov, Georgii P. Krutenko, of Kiev, and Sergei I. Sokolov, of Leningrad, escorted by Peter D. Herrick of the National Park Service and an interpreter, met with Rousakis after Savannah was chosen as a three-day focal point by Dr. William J. Murtagh, keeper of the National Register of Historic Places. Sokolov presented the Mayor with a book of photographs of the town of Suzdal, located about one hundred miles outside of Moscow in the “Golden Ring” of historic towns surrounding the Russian city. The group visited the Historic Savannah Foundation and the Chatham-Savannah Metropolitan Planning Commission while in Savannah, as well.
Mayor John P. Rousakis meets with visiting Russian preservationists, October 13, 1975.
Staff photograph by Buddy Rich. “Tradition Respected—Russians.” Savannah Evening Press (14 October 1975).
Vertical Files: Savannah History, 1970-1979. Live Oak Public Library, Bull Street Branch, Savannah, Georgia.
Used with permission.
Sources
Daniels, Ann Marshall. “Tradition Respected—Russians.” Savannah Evening Press (14 October 1975). Vertical Files: Savannah History, 1970-1979. Live Oak Public Library, Bull Street Branch, Savannah, Georgia.
October 6, 1977 Bugs Bunny Presents Carrots to City Council
On October 6, 1977, City Council met for “one of the more light-hearted city council meetings of recent years” when Mayor John P. Rousakis awarded the World Championship Half-Rubber Tournament trophies and received “honorary carrots” from Bugs Bunny.
The City’s Leisure Services Bureau sponsored a round-robin half-rubber tournament won by the four-man team of Charlie Russo, Denny Herb, Marion Alexander, and Harold “Rocky” Leonard (absent from the Council meeting). Russo, Herb and Alexander accepted trophies of small half-rubber bats, usually made of sawed-off mop or broom handles, with half-rubbers attached and painted gold. The team was sponsored by the Parker-Wright Men’s Store. Rousakis read a proclamation declaring the day a holiday in tribute to the “half-rubber championship team of the world.”
Following the half-rubber presentation, Bugs Bunny and members of his road show, including Batman, spokesman of the group, the Tasmanian Devil, and Sylvester the Cat, appeared before Council. Bugs Bunny handed out real carrots, shook hands with the Council members, and said he hoped they would pass a Bugs Bunny Bill so he could retire in Savannah after his show business career.
Mayor Pro Tem Frank Rossiter, noting the quips from the half rubber proclamation and the large animals, said, “With half rubber, I think we’re half nuts.” No one was heard to disagree with him.
Sources
“Half-Rubbers and Carrots.” Savannah Morning News (7 October 1977) 1B:1-2.
October 11, 1984 British Visitors Receive Key to City
On October 11, 1984, Mayor John P. Rousakis welcomed sixteen British men and women from General James Edward Oglethorpe’s hometown of Godalming, England at City Hall. The group, in town as guests of the “Friends of Oglethorpe” organization (a Savannah group formed to continue interest in the founder of the Georgia colony), confessed that until Georgia’s 250th anniversary in 1983 revived interest in the General, “the small town outside London paid no particular attention to Oglethorpe.” Margaret Macfarlane, mayor of Godalming said, “He had been heard of—but we never did much about it until the people from Georgia began to come over.”
Mayor Rousakis presented a Key to the City to Macfarlane and Mayor Anne Heath of Waverly Borough, in which Godalming is located.
Sources
Darby, Betty. “Britishers Given Memento.” Savannah Morning News (12 October 1984) 1D:3-5.
January 1988 Mayor of Hiratsuka, Japan Visits
In January 1988, the Mayor of Hiratsuka, Japan visited City Hall and was greeted by Mayor John P. Rousakis in Council Chambers.
Mayor John P. Rousakis greets Mayor of Hiratsuka, Japan, January 1988.
VM 1678 John P. Rousakis Visual Materials Collection, Box 3, Folder 6, Item 3.
Georgia Historical Society, Savannah, Georgia.
Used with permission.
Sources
VM 1678 John P. Rousakis Visual Materials Collection, Box 3, Folder 6. Georgia Historical Society, Savannah, Georgia.
March 1989 Architect’s Descendant Visits City Hall
In March of 1989, Walt Witcover, of New York City, a descendant of City Hall’s architect, Hyman Wallace Witcover, paid a brief visit to the municipal building and spoke with Research Librarian Glenda Anderson.
Sources
Anderson, Glenda E. A. (conversation, 4 August 2005). City of Savannah, Georgia Research Library and Municipal Archives, City Hall.
March 2, 1995 Russian Visitors to City Hall
On March 2, 1995, three Russians from Volna Baikala Radio (Baikal Wave), of Irkutsk, Siberia, attended City Council’s meeting as part of an international cultural exchange with Peach State Public Radio, of Atlanta, Georgia through the Friendship Force. The three included Tonya, Deputy Director, Innekenti, Director/General Manager, and DJ Yuri.
Sources
Official Proceedings of City Council (2 March 1995) 1. City of Savannah, Georgia Clerk of Council’s Office, City Hall, Savannah, Georgia.
“Russian Exchange.” Report to Council (Public Information Office, 24 February 1995). City of Savannah, Georgia Research Library and Municipal Archives, City Hall, Savannah, Georgia.
April 27, 1999 International Students Participate in Mock Council Meeting
On April, 27, 1999, forty international students visited City Hall, met with City officials and participated in a mock City Council meeting. The 6th, 7th, and 8th graders from Puerto Rico, El Salvador, Mexico, India and Vietnam were in Savannah as part of the English for Students of Other Languages program (ESOL) of the Savannah-Chatham County Board of Education.
Sources
“Mark Your Calendars.” Report to Council (Public Information Office, 16 April 1999). City of Savannah, Georgia Research Library and Municipal Archives, City Hall, Savannah, Georgia.
News Release, “International Students Visit City Hall” (16 April 1999). City of Savannah, Georgia Research Library and Municipal Archives, City Hall, Savannah, Georgia.
June 19-25, 1999 Zimbabwe Delegation Meets with City
Between June 19 and 25, 1999, the City hosted a three-person delegation from Mutare, Zimbabwe as part of a government exchange program sponsored by the International City/County Management Association. The cities of Savannah and Mutare were paired together based on similarities in size, geographical location and industry.
Mayor Floyd Adams, Jr. with Mutare delegation at City Hall reception, June 1999.
“Mutare Delegation Highlights.” Report to Council (Public Information Office, 29 Oct 1999).
City of Savannah, Research Library and Municipal Archives, Savannah, Georgia.
Used with permission.
The visit included a reception in the City Hall rotunda with Mayor Lawrence Mudehwe of Mutare and the secretary of the city’s chamber. The visitors spent the week meeting with various City officials and departments, during which they gathered ideas regarding housing, water and sewer, human resources, tourism, and economic development. Mayor Floyd Adams, Jr. and City Manager Michael Brown had visited Mutare the previous February and were aware of the issues facing the country, of greatest importance housing and unemployment. Mayor Mudewhe remarked of his visit:
Zimbabwe being a developing country, we are still learning. We need to copy from developed countries. I’ve seen quite a lot and I think we have learned a lot.
Sources
“City to Host Mutare Delegation.” Report to Council (Public Information Office, 11 June 1999). City of Savannah, Georgia Research Library and Municipal Archives, City Hall, Savannah, Georgia.
“Mutare Delegation Highlights.” Report to Council (Public Information Office, 29 Oct 1999). City of Savannah, Georgia Research Library and Municipal Archives, City Hall, Savannah, Georgia.
Wiltrout, Kate. “Visiting Zimbabwe Delegation Checks Out Savannah’s Infrastructure, Cuisine.” Savannah Morning News (22 June 1999, available at http://www.savannahnow.com/stories/062299/LOCmutare.html).
June 24, 2002 Indonesian Visitors Welcomed at City Hall
On the afternoon of Monday, June 24, 2002, Mayor Herry Zudianto of Yogyakarta, Indonesia received a Key to the City from Mayor Floyd Adams, Jr. during a welcoming reception at City Hall. The Indonesian delegation was on its first trip to Savannah.
Sources
“Company’s Coming!” Report to Council (Public Information Office, 21 June 2002). City of Savannah, Georgia Research Library and Municipal Archives, City Hall, Savannah, Georgia.
“Welcome to Savannah…” Report to Council (Public Information Office, 5 July 2002). City of Savannah, Georgia Research Library and Municipal Archives, City Hall, Savannah, Georgia.
August 2002 German Students Given Key to City
During August 2002, ten high school students and teachers from Chemnitz, Germany visited Mayor Floyd Adams, Jr. in City Hall’s Council Chambers where they received a Key to the City. The students were participants in the German American Partnership Program and discussed similarities in culture and government between Savannah and their hometown with the Mayor.
Sources
“A Visit from Chemnitz, Germany.” Report to Council (Public Information Office, 30 August 2002). City of Savannah, Georgia Research Library and Municipal Archives, City Hall, Savannah, Georgia.
August 25-26, 2003 Ukrainian Exchange
On August 25 and 26, 2003, the City hosted a group from Ukraine as part of an exchange program with the University of Georgia’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government. Activities of the two-day stop included a visit to City Hall.
Sources
“International Visitors.” Report to Council (Public Information Office, 29 August 2003). City of Savannah, Georgia Research Library and Municipal Archives, City Hall, Savannah, Georgia.
Prepared by the City of Savannah, Georgia, Research Library and Municipal Archives.
© Copyright 2005 by the City of Savannah, Georgia.
All rights reserved.
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