| The National Trust Guide to Savannah Architectural
and Cultural Treasures by Roulehac Tolenado provides an easy to use reference to
Savannah's historic architecture. Published by John Wiley and Sons, Inc. in cooperation
with the National Trust for Historic Preservation, this relativly compact volume, 234
pages, is highly recommended to anyone interested in Savannah's architectural and cultural
heritage. |
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The Hardee house at left, features high-relief
decorative cast iron lintels over lowered arch windows - a fine example of the Itallianate
style. |
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Second Empire style came late to Savannah but when it
arrived the results were splendid. This residence at the corner of Liberty and Bull
Streets and the Hamilton Turner house on nearby Lafayette Square provide wonderful
examples of Second Empire oppulence. Also in the neighborhood is the Sorrel-Weed House (at
right), a sophisticated Greek revival mansion with a parapet shallowly arched in the
Regency manner. |
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| Very little remains of Savannah's earliest architecture, though we know
houses were small frame affairs, initially with wooden chimneys. Fires devastated the city
several times and brick became the building material of choice with iron, being fireproof,
used for balconies and railings. Some earlier frame houses remain, such as the center hall
townhouse at right dating from 1801. There is speculation that the adjoining cottage,
reflecting an earlier style, was constructed earlier and moved to the site. The main
floors of the homes are raised above street level to keep dust from upaved streets out of
the houses. |
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Through much of the 19th century, brick was the
building material of choice. As streets were paved, entries were brought down to ground
level. The Italianate townhouse at left was built in 1875. It's architect, Augustus
Schwab, also designed the complex of brick buildings for the Central of Georgia Railroad.
Another good example of 19th Century brick residential architecture is shown at the top of
the page at right. The expansion of streetcar suburbs to the south along Forsyth Park, led
to a return to some frame buildings such shown at right. A significant amount of scroll
saw work typically decorated houses of this era. |
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