Troup Square, Savannah GA

Post on 27-Jun-2015

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A history of Troup Square in Savannah GA from Savannah realtor Patricia Bishop

Transcript of Troup Square, Savannah GA

Troup Square…!

…then and now!

“When I moved into the neighborhood in the mid-30s, all houses were occupied. One might say over-occupied since 4 or 5 people in a bed room was not unusual. !The row houses rented for about $15 per month.” !!

“Rent was due on the 1st of Oct. On 30 Sept, you could see people who couldn’t pay their rent walking across the square carrying their mattresses. They were moving to another rental unit (think Great Depression).”

Walter Schaaf!

!

Two views of McDonough Row on Charlton St. from the 1930s.!

Courtesy Walter Schaaf!

The 400 Block of E. Charlton St. in the 1960s, priced at $4,500 each.!

The Section 312 program from HUD provided funds for 30-year mortgages at

3%, the catalyst for restoring Troup Ward.!

Under construction in 1970!

Early 1970s, construction complete!

By 1972, over $912,000 in 312 loans had helped rehabilitate 36

houses in Troup Ward.!

424 E. Charlton St., 1986, a notorious “shine” (moonshine) house in the 1940s.!

1989!

Now!

324 Habersham St. (Kennedy Row), late 1960s!

Now!

“When she was babysitting, my grandmother would send me to a café on the NW corner of Jones and Habersham for a bottle of Budweiser, so she could better cope with the boys she was minding.”!!

Walter Schaaf!

Kennedy Row, then!

Now!

Troup Square was restored in the late 1960s, thanks mainly to C&S Bank president, Mills B.

Lane, Jr. !

Laid out in 1851, Troup Square, by the 1960s was blighted by years of abuse and neglect.!

Courtesy Georgia Historical Society!

“Parents would call their children (from Troup Square) by whistling. Each family had a distinctive sound to the whistling. Our family whistle was copied after the KKK assembly call. A favorite pastime was to build a fire in the square and roast potatoes in the hot coals.”!

Walter Schaaf!!

Troup Square undergoing

restoration in 1969!

Courtesy Georgia Historical Society!

The Armillary Sphere was gone for a year, because…!

…a drunk driver did this one rainy night in 2004.!

In October 2005, it was carefully put back on its

pedestal.!

Neighbors & Dogs, late 1980s!

Annual Troup Square Party!

Annual Troup Square party May 2010!

321 Habersham St., Sunday brunch at the Firefly Cafe!

345 Habersham St., once a Chinese laundry!

Apartments converted to condos in 2008.!

317 E. Harris St., the Unitarian Universalist Church, originally located on Oglethorpe Square.!

320-312 Habersham St.!

403 E. Charlton St., once a dance studio!

405-411 E. Charlton St.!

417-423 E. Charlton St.!

McDonough Row now!