Savannah Treasure Hunt Part 4: An Advneture in Bonaventure

Pieces of history are always fascinating especially when it is something tangible.  One of the best places to take a walk in time and absorb the past is a cemetery.  The older the cemetery, the more fascinating the walk.  One reason is that a walk in a cemetery reminds us of our own mortality and the graves are graves of real people who lived in times past.  A walk through an old house or an ancient city is quite enjoyable.  However, a walk through a cemetery is somehow more personal, and though cemeteries are filled with the remnants of the dead, it can bring history alive.

An old city like Savannah is rich in history and culture, and it is not exempt from its own historic cemeteries.  Bonaventure Cemetery is the oldest and most

A Beautiful Bonaventure Monument

beautiful of them all.  It is filled with rich architectural monuments, history of those who help build Savannah and is planted among some of the most majestic Southern Oaks you will find anywhere.  Located in Thunderbolt at 330 Bonaventure Dr., Bonaventure Cemetery is situated on a bluff overlooking the Wilmington River with breathtaking views.  As a result, it is one of the most visited cemeteries in the United States a

According to the history books, Bonaventure served as the Tattnall family burial ground since 1794 and formed part of the Tattnall Plantation.  Savannah businessman Peter Wiltberger bought 70 acres from Joseph Tattnall III as a public cemetery in 1847, and the plots were designed around the old plantation house and the oak lined roadways.  In 1907, the City of Savannah purchased the property and continues to be owned by the city today.  Peter Wiltberger was himself buried in the cemetery only 1 year later in 1848 beside his already deceased wife.

Among those buried in Bonaventure are Little Gracie Watson, Alexander Robert Lawton and his daughter Corinne, Conrad Potter Aiken and his wife Mary, Johnny and Ginger Mercer, Claudius Charles Wilson, Josiah Tattnall and Henry Rootes Jackson.  There is also a large Jewish section of the cemetery and a small wooden synagogue.  As you stroll through this section you can see gravestones with Hebrew symbols and writing and occasionally the Tetragramaton, 4 Hebrew letters that represent the name of God, often pronounced Yahweh or Jehovah in English.

While some companies charge for tours of Bonaventure, upwards of $26.00, it is open to the public from 8 pm to 5 pm daily and there is no charge for entrance so you can take your own tour for FREE.  Just respect the beauty of the architecture by not destroying, defacing or polluting any aspect of the cemetery.  Why not take a stroll, a drive and spend time with your family and those of the past?  Spend the day relaxed among a beautiful historic setting on link any other.  Why not have an adventure in Bonaventure!

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Savannah Treasure Hunt Part 3: The Savannah Wildlife Refuge

If you want to take an afternoon drive and enjoy some beautiful scenery for free, then take some time and visit the Savannah Wildlife Refuge located in South Carolina and Georgia just across the Savannah River.

The Wildlife Refuge covers approximately 3000 acres of land which formerly served as a rice plantation during the mid to late 1700′s.  The fresh water impoundments used to grow the rice can still be seen on this beautiful drive.

While the Wildlife Refuge covers 3000 acres only part of it is open to the public.  Laurel Hill Wildlife Drive, located off of  highway S.C. 170 just outside of Port Wentworth, is free and open to the public and is about 4 miles long.  Along the drive, especially in the spring, one can see alligators, various types of ducks, bald eagles, manatees, ospreys, kites, butterflies, locusts, and 100′s of other types of animals.  Since there is no time limit for the drive, you can stop and look around, explore and enjoy the views. If you have a license, fishing is permitted.

Along the drive you will find signs containing valuable information about the plantation, the animals, a description of the canal gates, some of which are still in use, and much more.  Why not take the kids or your spouse and spend a nice afternoon exploring and even have a picnic, just be sure to carry some insect repellent.  The best thing about all of it is it is free and local.  For more information and directions visit the site listed below.

More information on the Savannah Wildlife Refuge here.

Please be sure to visit our website for unique  Savannah gifts you won’t find anywhere else on the worldwide web.  Visit www.savannahtoile.com

Savannah Treasure Hunt Part 2: The Majestic Oak, A Masterpiece of Creation

Of the many aspects that make Savannah, Georgia beautiful and popular is its Majestic Oak trees draped with Spanish Moss.  This coastal region of the country from Charleston, South Carolina to St. Mary’s, Georgia is the only place in the world where such beautiful trees can be found with Savannah being the most prominent area to see them.  Among them all, however, one stands alone with its majestic stature as royal as any tree could possess…and you won’t find it on a tour guide!  Where is this beautiful tree?

These photos I believe are from 2007.  This tree has grown much larger and fuller since then.

It can be found in the subdivision called Majestic Oaks.  This tree is believed to be over 300 years old.  To give you an idea of the age of this tree, James Edward Oglethorpe landed in what is modern day Savannah in January of 1733, 266 years ago.  Therefore, our Majestic Oak was at least 34 years old when he landed here.  Consider that many of the trees from that period were destroyed during the Revolutionary and Civil Wars, it is amazing it has lasted this long.

Pictures do not do the Majestic Oak justice.  It is a tree that must be experienced and witnessed with one’s own eyes.  Its grandeur is without compare as its boughs stretch out to the point that they touch the ground and rise back up again.  Its canopy provides immense shade as it blankets those who walk beneath.  Words cannot describe this wonderful and majestic beauty of nature.

How do you get there?  Follow DeRenne Ave east until its end into LaRoche Ave and turn right.  Follow LaRochesouth until you come to the subdivision called Majestic Oaks and turn right on to Majestic Oak Dr.  You will soon see this beauty of creation in its splendor.  Feel free to take pictures but please do not climb on this tree, no matter how tempting it may seem.

There are certainly other beautiful oaks in our city but this is one that has proven to be special.  Why not take a drive and see it for yourself?

Please visit our site at http://www.savannahtoile.com

Savannah Treasure Hunt, Part 1: “X” Marks the Spot!

The beauty of Savannah, Georgia is without question breathtaking, and the things to see and do are not always on a tour guide.  Over the next few days I am gong to share with you some interesting things to see in Savannah that some of the locals do not even know exist.  I have had the pleasure of seeing and experiencing several of these places with my own eyes thanks to my husband, Carroll, who grew up in Savannah.  So here we go with our treasure hunt.

The first is a unique little spot on River Street that I would have never known to visit.  In fact, most people from the area are not aware of this neat little secret.  This spot is often called “Echo Square” and is located across from Baskets, Bears & T’s.  What makes this little spot unique is the way it is designed.  It is actually in the form of a circle and the tiles on the ground beneath your feet form and “x”.  When you stand directly on the center of the “x” and only on the “x”, you will be able to hear your own voice in a way that only you as the speaker can hear it.  No one else around you will be able to hear the change in your voice.  Only you will hear it.  When you first begin to speak it catches you off guard, but once  you begin talking you will not want to stop.

What you will hear is an echo of your own voice.  Others cannot hear it.  It is only audible from the “x”.  Some have said that it is because of the square being haunted.  Savannah is rich in tall tales of this type.  However, the reason this phenomenon takes place is the design of the square.  The bushes and shrubs are designed in a circle forming an acoustic anomaly.  Your voice bounces back at you and only you.  Since no one else can hear it, it sounds a little eerie.  Why not take the time to visit Echo Square?  It’s not hard to find.  Just remember that “X” marks the spot!

Please visit our website for unique Savannah gifts and souvenirs that you will not find anywhere else.  It is http://www.savannahtoile.com

The Savannah Toile Collection Featuring Beautiful Savannah, Georgia

Hello everyone and welcome to my site.  This is the first post of many to my blog site.  I plan on sharing many great and interesting things about Savannah, Georgia that you will enjoy.  Please feel free to leave comments and article suggestions.  We welcome them all.

What is The Savannah Toile Collection?  A friend of mine that has been in the drapery business for more than 20 years decided a couple of years ago that Savannah did not have a fabric to represent it so she decided to design one and have it made.  How?

She decided on a toile fabric.  What is a toile fabric?  A toile fabric is a fabric that is made up of 7 or 8 scenes of a specific subject matter. For example, a toile may consist of hand drawn scenes from 16th century English decor or it may be a toile with drawings of covered bridges.  (You can see an example of a French Country Toile here) Whatever the case, the drawings are laid out as a repeating pattern on the fabric.  It makes for a beautiful fabric.

Carlette Cormier, owner of Carlette’s, LLC., asked my husband to do the artwork.  He did 4 of the 7 pictures in the Savannah Toile.  Carlette uses the fabric to make elegant purses, classic tote bags, tea towels, garment bags and more.  Since Carlette does not sell to the direct public, I created a website to offer these custom made and hand crafted items online.  As you will see on the website, www.savannahtoile.com, these creations are exqusite and feature historic Savannah, Georgia.  What scenes are they?

There 7 scenes total.  We spent a day and took pictures of various things in downtown Savannah.  Then Carlette decided on which would appear on the fabric.  The 7 scenes are…

1. City Hall
2. The Davenport House
3. The River Street Carriage Tunnels
4. A Horse and Buggy
5. The Waving Girl
6. The Cotton Exchange
7. The Forsyth Fountain

My husband did the artwork for the first 4 listed.  He originally drew the Forsyth Fountain but without the fence.  The one featured has the fence and was done by another artist.  These beautiful creations are available on the website along with the fabric itself.  If you have an idea of your own for the fabric we can have a custom order made for you or you can order the fabric and make it yourself.  The options are endless.

Take some time and examine our website for yourself.  We are sure you will find that our beautiful city is well represented.