HSF Trustee, Jeff Kole, recently donated a very special gift to the organization – a plaster replica of our flagship property—the 1820 Isaiah Davenport House.  The model was made as part of the Works Progress Administration (WPA), one of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal era programs created to put people back to work during the Great Depression.

Mr. Kole purchased the model through Alex Raskin’s antiques in Savannah, who acquired it from a New York City auction house.   While there is no prior ownership information available, the provenance of such models is well documented.

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Coincidence, kismet, harmonic convergence…call it what you will, but HSF and the City of Savannah are on a roll helping each other.  Since the new City Council was elected and the new city manager was hired, HSF has helped the City with several preservation-related projects.  More open lines of communication between the City and HSF are leading to new collaborations that are yielding—or have the potential to yield—significant improvements with respect to blight, tourism management, and truly embracing preservation as a primary tool in the City’s approach to tackling its urban challenges.  In other words, when the City seeks HSF’s input…we readily and constructively respond.  Likewise, when HSF reaches out to the City for insights…we follow their advice.  To be sure this has happened in the past, but not with the frequency and consistency that we currently enjoy.  As a result, each side (and the whole community) is benefiting. read more…

We are grateful for the many supporters and the generous contributions to our year-end appeal.  We surpassed our goal, raising close to $24k to help with annual operations.  Your generosity and belief in us is humbling. read more…

At HSF’s 61st Annual Meeting, held last November, the membership elected officers and new trustees, each of whom was selected for his or her diverse talents and leadership roles in the community. HSF’s Board of Trustees establishes the organization’s strategic plan, directs special initiatives, and attracts the necessary resources to achieve those goals.

The following were re-elected to officer roles: Jeffrey S. Eley of Savannah College of Art and Design as Chair; Brian Felder of Felder & Associates, LLC as Vice Chair; Sarah Lamar of HunterMaclean Attorneys as Secretary; Susan Clifford of Hancock Askew & Co., LLP as Treasurer; and Gregori S. Anderson of Chatham County Building Safety and Regulatory Services as Parliamentarian.

In addition to the elected officers, HSF also announced four new trustees: Hon. Thomas C. Bordeaux, Jr., a local judge and former Savannah City Council member; Colonel George W. Bowen, USAF, Ret.; Amy Brock, owner of Amy Brock Marketing, LLC; and Emily Dickinson, vice president and director of marketing and human resources at Wet Willie’s Management Corp.

Bordeaux, Bowen, Brock and Dickinson will serve three-year terms expiring in 2019. read more…