Savannah, Ga

Feb. 9 and 10-Savannah, Ga-Tonight is our first night staying in a Cracker Barrel parking lot.  It really is nice, quiet, and free!  We got here around 2:30 and got to downtown around 3 and took a trolley tour ride.  On Thursday morning we went back and went to the Savannah History Museum and ate lunch at the infamous Mrs. Wilkes.  17 courses and the best fried chicken we have ever had. We loved walking around and experiencing the beautiful architecture, trees, moss and squares (22 of 24 still exist.  The city is organized by these park like squares).  I surprised to see so much ornate ironwork.   Some of the downspouts were decorated with iron fish.    Interesting that some of the windows were used as doors to save on taxes.  Less doors=less taxes.  This was a waste product of the sailing days.  Janae and Stefan loved the doggie water fountains.  We learned a lot.  Savannah (means low lying grass) was started as an experimental colony by Oglethorp from England in 1733.  It was a buffer colony to keep the Spanish away from St. Augustine and a debtor colony.  Many things weren’ allowed:

                 l. Lawyers-if you got into trouble, you had to get out of trouble

                 2. Rum

                 3.  Slaves-Felt that the slave owners would get lazy

                 4.  Catholics-Because of Spanish influence

Tomachichi was Indian chief that helped them get the location of the colony.  They had a very good relationship with the Indians..

Savannah was spared in the civil war when General William Sherman saved her for a Christmas present for Lincoln.  The union soldiers got bored though and adjusted the years on the tombstones.

Many famous people from Savannah:

      *Judith Gordon Low-founder of the girl scouts. Very inspirational woman.  Great book is Lady from Savannah.

     *Dave Thomas (Wendy’s)-grew up in Orphanage until 16

     *Johnny Mercer-Famous songwriter, some of his songs: Days of Wine and Roses, Moon River.  When I first met Mark he was singing Days of Wine and Roses.

     *Composer of Jingle Bells but apparently didn’t like snow.

Other interesting facts:

      *The first Black American Church was established by Bryant and Martin Luther King gave his famous I have a dream speech at the 2nd African Baptist Church.