Johnson Square (Savannah, Georgia)

Johnson Square
The Nathanael Greene Monument stands in the center of the square
NamesakeRobert Johnson
Maintained byCity of Savannah
LocationSavannah, Georgia, U.S.
Coordinates32°04′48″N 81°05′29″W / 32.0799°N 81.0915°W / 32.0799; -81.0915
NorthBull Street
EastEast St. Julian Street
SouthBull Street
WestWest St. Julian Street
Construction
Completion1733 (291 years ago) (1733)

Johnson Square is one of the 22 squares of Savannah, Georgia, United States. Located in the northernmost row of the city's five rows of squares, it was the first of the squares to be laid out, in 1733, and remains the largest of the 22. It is east of Ellis Square, west of Reynolds Square and north of Wright Square. Situated on Bull Street and St. Julian Street, it is named for Robert Johnson, colonial governor of South Carolina and a friend of General James Oglethorpe.[1][2] The oldest building on the square is the Ann Hamilton House, at 26 East Bryan Street, which dates to 1824.[3]

Interred under his monument in the square is Revolutionary War hero General Nathanael Greene, the namesake of nearby Greene Square. Greene died in 1786 and was buried in Savannah's Colonial Park Cemetery. His son was buried beside him after drowning in the Savannah River in 1793. Following vandalism of the cemetery by occupying Union forces during the Civil War the location of Greene's burial was lost. After the remains were re-identified, Greene and his son were moved to Johnson Square. An obelisk in the center of the square now serves as a memorial to General Greene. The cornerstone of the monument was laid by Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette, in 1825. At that time the obelisk did not yet commemorate any specific individual or event. In fact, due to financial restrictions the unmarked obelisk served for several years as a joint monument to both Greene and Casimir Pulaski. Inscriptions honoring Greene were added in 1886, but the Greenes' physical remains did not arrive until 1901, following their "rediscovery."[4][2][5]

Johnson Square contains two fountains, as well as a sundial.[2]

Another landmark of Johnson Square is the Johnson Square Business Center. This building, formerly known as the Savannah Bank Building, was the city's first "skyscraper", built in 1911. Johnson Square is known as the financial district, or banking square, and many of the city's financial services companies are located here. These companies include the Savannah Bancorp, Savannah Bank, Coastal Bank Headquarters, Bank of America branch, SunTrust branch, TitleMax Corporate Headquarters, and a Regions Bank building.

Henry Cleenewerck's drawing of the first flag of independence raised in the South (November 8, 1860)

Christ Church Episcopal occupies the southeastern trust lot of the square at 28 Bull Street. Christ Church is "the Mother Church of Georgia", established in 1733. Early clergy of the church include John Wesley and George Whitefield.

The first flag of independence raised in the South was in Johnson Square on November 8, 1860.

The Pulaski House Hotel was in operation in the northwestern corner of the square between 1835 and 1948.[6] It was torn down eight years later.[7] Regions Bank stands in its place, as of 2023.[8]

Screven House Hotel stood at the corner of Bull Street and Congress Street in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.[9][10] It was demolished and replaced, in 1913, by the Savannah Hotel, which became the Manger Building.

  1. ^ Savannah Scene magazine, May–June 2007, pp 10–11, accessed June 16, 2007.
  2. ^ a b c City of Savannah's monuments page Archived 2016-03-03 at the Wayback Machine This page links directly to numerous short entries, many accompanied by photographs, discussing a variety of monuments, memorials, etc., in the squares and elsewhere. Accessed June 16, 2007.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference mpc9 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Tour Guide Manual for licensed tour guides in the City of Savannah, accessed June 16, 2007.
  5. ^ Mulberry Grove Plantation, accessed June 16, 2007.
  6. ^ "Image 4 of Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Savannah, Chatham County, Georgia". Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. 20540 USA. Retrieved 2024-02-17.
  7. ^ "CONTENTdm". vault.georgiaarchives.org. Retrieved 2023-05-24.
  8. ^ "Boo Business: Little Gracie Watson is a small figure with a big story in Bonaventure Cemetery". Savannah Morning News. Retrieved 2023-05-24.
  9. ^ "Image 4 of Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Savannah, Chatham County, Georgia". Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. 20540 USA. Retrieved 2024-02-17.
  10. ^ "New Screven House - Digital Library of Georgia". dlg.usg.edu. Retrieved 2024-02-17.