A Hidden Gem - GoGardenWalks Lee Ward in Historic Savannah, Georgia

[Music] [Music] Savannah Georgia was founded in 1733 by General James oorp the city was laid out in Wards each surrounding a Central Square the squares were for mustering citizen soldiers from the surrounding Wards in the event of Spanish Invasion from the south as the city grew new Wards were added but as threats diminished the need for Central squares declined such was the case with leard it has no Central Square Lee Ward was established in the latter part of America's Victorian era the oldest homes of architectural and historical interest date from about 1887 seldom visited by tourists this portion of Lee Ward is a Hidden [Music] Gem tourists and locals like will stand in long lines on Bron Street for legendary leopolds ice cream but this is where it all started leopolds was established in 1919 by three Greek Brothers who learned the confectioner art from an uncle then perfected it two street car lines intersected at this corner of Habersham and Gwynette streets so it was the perfect place to open the ice cream parlor famed songwriter Johnny merer lived nearby and even worked in this store for a while and he kept coming back when he returned home from Hollywood technically the old Leopold's Ice Cream Parlor building is not in Lee Ward it's in Stevens Ward but since we're here it deserves a mention Old-Timers still pass by this corner with a sense of nostalgia we proceed Southward to Bolton Street where we'll get into the heart of Lee Ward the neighborhood is sometimes called Dixon park though the park lies several blocks south of Lee wart both Street was named for Robert Bolton a prosperous Merchant in Savannah the Victorian District in Savannah was neglected from many years but has enjoyed a Resurgence of interest and renovation as this neat multif Family Residence shows not every home in this turn of the 20th century district is from that era this Sleek Residence at 416 East Bolton Street was built in 2016 [Music] this multif Family Residence at 412 and 414 East Bolton street is very welcoming with its ample upper and lower Verandas This Charming home at 408 East Bolton Street was built in 1920 in the colonial revival style and renovated in 1985 this building at 402 East Bolton known as the purse house was constructed about 1905 this and its neighbor at 820 Habersham Street known as the lipy house Circa 1911 are now operated as an apartment complex the Hayward Apartments their Renovations make them attractive additions to the neighborhood [Music] this Victorian style home at 403 East Bolton Street was built for a do Groth in 1887 little can be found about the doctor except that his name appears in an announcement in the Savannah Morning News on March 17th 189 90 saying that he had returned and resumed his [Music] practice this Cottage at 407 East Bolton Street was built for Rutherford Oakman in [Music] 1906 this comfortable home at 413 East Bolton Street was built for Susan Freeman in [Music] 1987 this home at 419 East Bolton street is a new construction but it fits right in doesn't it [Music] 421 East Bolton Street was built for John H Judkins in 1893 Judkins was born in 1854 in Petersburg Virginia records show that Two Soldiers named Judkins served the Confederacy in Virginia's Sur light Infantry perhaps they were John's relatives at any rate he moved to Savannah where he had this home built he died in [Music] 1928 414 to 420 East wallberg Street was built in 1900 for Dr Thomas P wearing a masonry row house is unusual in the Victorian historic district the marble trim makes it standout tile features and the curval linear Gable over the bay windows give it a Spanish flavor it was originally a set of four two-story townhouse units but later divided into eight Apartments it was originally built without bathrooms and closets which was typical of older buildings those conveniences were added later but can you imagine getting up in the night to use a chamber pot some called it a thunder mck hm thank goodness for new inventions [Music] here's a good view of [Music] it this home at 410 East wallberg Street was built for Thomas far Jr in 1900 far was born in Georgia in 1872 his father was originally from Barnwell South Carolina Savannah's population had grown to over 54,000 when this home was built Thomas died in 1949 at the age of 77 years this home at 408 East wallberg Street was built for Clarence E Bren in 18 1990 Bron seems to have been a lieutenant commander in the Brunswick naval Reserve the home was renovated in [Music] 1980 Caroline cuck for whom this home at 406 East waldberg Street was built was apparently the wife of saloon owner George cck who had a watering Hole on West Broad and Perry Street the Savannah Morning News of January 8th 1890 reported that George was said to be selling liquor on Sunday he was indignant because the man who reported him was a black man the magistrate who ordered his arrest was black and the two constables sent to arrest him were also black ironically the first Constable's name was Caesar Walberg anyway this was an unusual precedent for the time besides the first offense cck was charged with obstructing legal process and so was Caroline she was applying for another retail liquor license in 1893 Caroline died in 1902 at the young age of 47 and is buried in Bonaventure Cemetery the street was named for George waldberg a wealthy cotton planter and investor in banking and railroads who knows but Caesar waldberg might have been descended from one of his SL [Music] Wes dedri Grim was born in Germany in 1845 and died in 1909 dedri was a grer and saloon owner in Savannah he like the cucks across the street was charged with selling Li ER on Sunday but in April 29th 1888 and fined $50 for the violation his wife Margaret Downey was born in Massachusetts in 1845 and died in 1921 both are buried in Bonaventure Cemetery the handsome Memorial in Bonaventure fashioned by the famous German sculptor John Walls was erected by Margaret and inscribed in such a way as to leave no doubt about their [Music] relationship this home at 405 East Wahlberg was built in the same style as the residents next door whether it was built for Grim is unknown but almost certainly it was constructed by the same Builder Pinkney alustin wearing was born in 1860 in Washington DC Mr wearing was co-executor with his mother of Dr James J wearings his father's estate thean morning news of March 25th 1899 described it as quote a large and valuable tract of land already divided into Lots in the southern portion of the city end quote the properties were released by his mother to Mr wearing and his siblings for building as a source of future Revenue these undoubtedly included many of the nearby Lots in Lee Ward and wearing Ward to the South Pete Altin wearing died in 1924 and is buried in Bonaventure Cemetery [Music] this building 411 and 413 East Walberg built in 19 1901 is on one of the Lots Alon wearing inherited from his father Pinkney was the brother of Dr Thomas Pinkney wearing whose brick Apartments were built caddy corner across the street this Residence at 4:15 East wallberg Street is another handsome new construction that's right at home in the neighborhood here are some more attractive plants we've noticed along the way [Music] this apartment building at 418 and 420 East Park Avenue was built in 1913 this home at 412 East Park Avenue was built for Henry J Turner in 1894 check out the Victorian style Cupa it's hidden behind a tree let's see if we can get a better [Music] look for10 East Park Avenue was built for Robert a in 1889 now look again at the Cupa on the roof of number [Music] [Music] 412 this home at 406 East Park Avenue is yet another new construction built about 2016 it also fits nicely in the neighborhood doesn't it [Music] this residence 402 and 404 East Park Avenue is another that was built for the estate of Dr James J [Music] wearing see the blue ceiling of the porch it's called Hank blue it's a southern tradition apparently derived from a belief held by the gichi people of the Deep South that ghosts can't cross water so porch ceilings were painted blue to simulate water and repel them let's take a look round back check out this impressive screen of Confederate jasmine it must smell great when In [Music] Bloom we end our tour of Lee Ward beneath this large camper tree if you've enjoyed this video please subscribe to our Channel and give us a big thumbs up you can learn more about some of the featured people and places in the show notes below and be sure to check out our store at www.g goard now.com [Music] [Applause] [Music] d d

Channel: GoGardenNow

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Id: zu6kIR4cdQY

Length: 17min 4sec (1024 seconds)

Published: Sun Jun 09 2024