Southwest Chatham Library (14097 Abercorn Street)
Thursday, May 16, 6:30 p.m.

Award-winning writer and preservationist Ron Tanner makes a stop in Savannah, GA to offer a comic monologue about his funny, heart-warming book From Animal House to Our House: A Love Story. Combining romance with history and humor, Tanner tells the true story of how he and his wife bought condemned property — a wrecked former frat house — and restored it to its original Victorian splendor. They knew nothing about fixing up houses when they started. In 2008, THIS OLD HOUSE magazine featured their remarkable work. Tanner’s talk includes an impressive slide show.

Twelve years ago, Ron and his then-girlfriend, Jill, did the impossible. They bought condemned property — a big Baltimore Victorian brownstone — and vowed to bring it back to its original glory. The house had been home to Baltimore’s most notorious fraternity for a decade and now, wrecked and abandoned, it was filled with garbage. As if that weren’t daunting enough: Ron and Jill had been dating for only six months and they knew nothing about fixing up old houses. Friends, family, and concerned onlookers told them not to do it and that they would surely lose their shirts and their love in the bargain.

A story for inspiration-seekers, old house lovers, DIYers, and American dreamers, From Animal House to Our House: A Love Story shows how Ron and Jill learned the hard way — about love and life and saving precious things from ruin. But learn they did: in 2003, they got married in the house. In 2008 This Old House magazine featured their work and then the article went viral online, becoming one of TOH’s most popular postings ever.

Ron and Jill now run a popular website about home renovation: Houselove.org

An award-winning writer and engaging speaker, Ron will show slides and regale listeners with hair-raising and hilarious tales of his adventures as a newbie renovator of a wrecked house. He has since become a licensed house inspector and is now prepared to offer advice and tips, especially for couples who take on DIY projects in their houses, wrecked or otherwise.

Watch the Book Trailer here!

Experience unspoiled beauty…

13th Colony Ossabaw Island Trip

Date: Saturday, May 25, 2013
Time: 10:00 am
Location: Departing from 512 Moon River Court
Tickets: $50 per person
 
This is your chance to experience the history and unspoiled beauty that has attracted writers, artists, and musicians alike to Ossabaw Island! Take a day trip and tour the island on this exclusive 13th Colony outing. Transportation to and from the island by boat will be provided along with a packed lunch. Space is limited so be sure to purchase your tickets TODAY!

Questions? Contact Sherene LaMarche at HSF: 912.233.7787 or slamarche@myHSF.org

Catherine graduated with a BFA from the University of Georgia in 2000. Her work has been shown in the 2009, 2010, and 2011 Telfair Art Fair Juried Competitions. Additionally, Catherine’s works have been featured in Savannah Magazine, Pauladeen and in the personal collections of Paula Deen, Dylan Lauren, and Ann Curry.

412 Williamson Street

In November a six-story hotel received its final step of approval to be constructed along the west end of River Street between Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. and Montgomery Street, opposite the former SEPCO power plant. The hotel will feature retail spaces along River Street and Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. and a screened courtyard along Williamson Street. Click here to see the submitted drawings.

304 East Bryan Street

Although an addition to the existing Staybridge Suites on East Bay Street, a new structure along East Bryan Street between Lincoln and Habersham Streets received its final approval in January. The new section of the hotel, which has been designed to appear as four separate residences on the exterior facing Bryan Street, will be four stories and feature forty suites. Entrances have been indicated along Bryan Street, which will be accessible by hotel guests. Click here to see the submitted drawings.

600 East Bay Street

Also in January, we saw the first step of a multi-phase approval for the development at 600 East Bay Street, which will include two hotels, a parking garage and two commercial retail buildings. Many may already be familiar with this project, as it received much attention when City Council amended the zoning ordinance’s height limitations last June to allow a height of up to three stories above Bay Street to be built in this location along the river. Based on the approvals given in January to the height and mass of the buildings, the hotels will each be eight stories—at their highest points, the parking garage will be ten stories and the retail buildings (located in an area where the height map was not amended) will be two stories. The project also proposes stairways and a plaza with access to the River Walk. Click here to see the submitted drawings.

Coming up in February, we will be looking at yet another hotel, proposed as five stories, to be built on Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. and Oglethorpe Avenue.

HSF’s Architectural Review Committee reviews the proposals on every agenda and attends every HDBR meeting to represent our position and ensure that the integrity of the Landmark District is being protected, but it is also important that you—the residents and business owners of our community—represent your interests and support HSF at these meetings. Each month the agenda for the HDBR meeting is posted on the MPC website on the Friday before the meeting (you can access them here listed under Historic Review Board). We encourage all of our members to check these agendas and participate at meetings or reach out to HSF whenever you have any concerns about a petition.

As we consider “life in the big city” please know that on issues relating to livability and tourism the Davenport House Museum and Historic Savannah Foundation are “in sync.”   This may not be obvious as the Davenport House is dependent on admissions income to survive.  Tourists and tourist dollars are what keeps the museum open – plain and simple. 

What makes the DH attractive to visitors is the same thing that makes it attractive to the people who lived on Columbia Square.  From the outside it is well-maintained property capturing the essence of an earlier era which creates the historic (and even “romantic”) ambiance that visitors want when they come here.  It is part of a real neighborhood.  It is a home, a historic home, surrounded by homes – of real people.  As tourists stroll through the squares on the east side of the Landmark Historic District, they must say, “Wouldn’t it be fun to live here?”  Compare that to The Alamo, the revered shrine to the Texas Revolution, in San Antonio.  Many people are shocked when they see it for the first time.  The historic mission is still there on 4.2 acres but surrounding the site is a hotel (the famous Menger), a mall and tourist shops including a “Ripley’s Believe it or Not.”   It is jarring and while tourists must love the excitement I doubt they stroll by saying, “I wish I lived here.” 

However, the DH is a business, a non-profit business, but a business nonetheless and our customers, our visitors and patrons have to be able to find the museum and have to be able to get here.  This involves wayfinding, parking and transportation which in turn involves positive and mutually beneficial relationship building with the city, our tourism partners most particularly trolley companies and motor coach companies who bring the lion’s share of our business and our neighbors who are impacted by the business that we conduct.  The DH is delighted to have good relations with its partners and it is delighted that Vaughnette Goode-Walker, one of HSF’s representatives to the Tourism Advisory Council (the City of Savannah’s volunteer tourism advisory group which makes recommendations to the city of tourism related traffic, qualification of tour guides and enforcement of tourism related regulations) is chairing that group.  In addition, she is also a museum professional with experience at the Telfair Museum and at the King-Tisdell Cottage which means she understands what the DH does.

And, just like HSF, the DH believes in planned tourism.  Just having a large number of visitors in the city does not result in hordes of people coming through the DH’s door.  It takes creative strategies to attract the right kinds of people — those who will stay in downtown hotels or B&Bs, eat in downtown restaurants and most importantly patronize museums such as the DH, the Telfair’s museums, Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace, sites associated with the Coastal Heritage Society, etc.  The DH is all about attracting tourists but most particularly the “cultural tourist” who travels to be in an historic place and experience its culture – not just from the outside but from the inside.  Though the DH is more than happy to provide a well-maintained structure from the outside as an example of preservation, it has got to entice patrons inside to hear its story and appreciate its hospitality all the while paying admission.  The DH is like “a history store.”  It has something to sell – its interpretation and its experience.  Maybe a better analogy than “history store” is that the DH is the HSF family farm and we are all part of the family (the HSF family) that keeps it going.

Planning for the cultural tourist only makes sense.  The literature says these people have a higher household income, have more education, more leisure time, spend more and stay longer than the average visitor.    It’s not snobbery to want to attract the kind of people who will appreciate what Savannah is – a restored city with well-maintained squares, good places to eat and drink, lots of things to do and lots of culture to soak up.  For the DH, attracting cultural tourists isn’t just a nice thing to do; it’s vital.

Upcoming Events

“Potable Gold”:  Savannah’s Madeira Tradition
Friday and Saturday evenings in February 2013
[Program dates: February1, 2, 8, 9, 15, 16, 22, 23]
5:30 p.m., 75 minutes, Admission:  $20 (must be 21 years of age), Reservations recommended.  Limited attendance.

Experience the historic atmosphere of the Davenport House while learning about and tasting a unique and flavorful wine.  Patrons are oriented to the long and rich tradition of Madeira (wine) as it relates to the history of Savannah and then they will participate in a Madeira party.  During the experience they will sample two types of Madeira and see the historic house at dusk including spaces usually off-limits to museum guests. 
 The performance requires that guests be able to walk up and down stairs and maneuver in the candlelit rooms.  

Valentine’s Day Weddings in the Davenport House Garden
Thursday, February 14, 2013
5 to 7 p.m.

Get married in the museum’s beautiful courtyard garden and make it a Valentine’s Day to remember!  Ceremonies will be offered every 10 minutes.  A local judge will officiate.  $100 donation to the museum.  Call 912/236-8097 for additional information.  Confirmed reservations are highly recommended as the event tends to sell out.

Tea at Mrs. Davenport’s
Thursday and Fridays in March
[Program dates and times:  March 1, 7, 8, 14 and 15 at 5 p.m., 20, 21,  28 and 29 4:30 p.m. ]
60 to 75 minutes, Admission:  $18, Reservations recommended.  Limited attendance.

Learn about tea traditions and experience an early 19^th century tea in the historic atmosphere of the Isaiah Davenport House Museum.  Patrons will tour areas of the historic home where tea service took place and will participate in an afternoon tea with costumed interpreters. The performance requires that guests be able to walk up and down stairs.  

3rd Annual Oyster Roast to Support the Davenport House Museum
Saturday,  March 9
12 noon
Admission:  $125 per ticket

Location:  623 Dancy Avenue, Savannah Featuring Foot-Stompin’ Music by The Accomplices
[Generously supported by . . .  – will know this on January 18]

Early Bird’s Preservation Walking Tour of the Landmark Historic District’s East Side
Saturdays in April 2012
[Program date:  April 6, 13, 20, 27]
At 7:30 a.m., 90 minutes. Distance 2.5 miles, Admission:  $20

Take an early morning walk through one of the oldest and most varied neighborhoods to learn how historic preservation has revitalized downtown Savannah.  Tours led by the Davenport House director will introduce the personalities, structures and issues that have enthralled Savannah’s preservation movement.  Coffee and treats in the Davenport House garden to follow.

The Annual Savannah Tour of Homes and Gardens is quickly approaching! Visit our Tour of Homes & Gardens page for more information and to see a listings of all of the different tours and events being offered this year.

Interested in Volunteering?

The success of the Savannah Tour of Homes and Gardens is made possible by the generosity of hundreds of volunteers each year.  Their efforts result not only in a wonderful experience for the thousands of visitors who come to Savannah, but also in bringing vital dollars to the on-going programs of the community outreach efforts of Christ Church Anglican and the preservation projects of Historic Savannah Foundation.  Every volunteer should be proud of the fact that they contribute to the well-being and future of our beautiful city.

Listed below are areas in which volunteers are needed before and during the Tour of Homes and Gardens. If you would like to sign up to volunteer or have any questions, feel free to call Jennifer Boryk, Tour Director at 912-234-8054 or touradm@savannahtourofhomes.org. Tour Headquarters and the Tour Gift Shop are located at 105 East Bay Street (next to the Chamber). They will both be open from 9:00am to 5:00pm from March 19-24.

Volunteer Opportunities
March 19-24, 2013

Flowers - Volunteers work with individual homeowners to select the type and style of floral arrangements, and arrange the flowers the day before the home is on the Tour. 

House Docent – Volunteers work in the homes and gardens on one or more of the Tour days.  Responsibilities include checking tickets at the entrance and sharing information about the site with visitors in a specific area of the home or garden. 

Special Events – Volunteers are needed to work at one or more of the special events during the Tour, primarily to check tickets at the various events. 

Street Guides – Volunteers are assigned to strategic locations on the Tour each day to assist visitors as they walk from site to site.  It is very helpful if these volunteers have good knowledge of the downtown area, as questions for general directions, restaurant suggestions, etc. are common.  Maps are provided to each volunteer. 

Tour Headquarters – Volunteers needed in Tour Headquarters to assist with two primary functions:

1. Distributing tickets that have been ordered in advance.
2. Selling merchandise in the Tour of Homes Gift Shop.

Most volunteer opportunities are scheduled for a shift of 3-4 hours.  All volunteers receive a complimentary, non-transferrable ticket to one walking tour.

1. The term for the Past Chairman was amended from one year to a period equal to that of his or her term as Chairman after that individual holds office.
2. An Assistant Treasurer can be elected to the Executive Committee at the discretion of the Board of Trustees. With the Chairman of the Board, or Vice Chairman in the absence of the Chairman, the Assistant Treasurer may sign and execute in the name of the Corporation, deeds, contracts or other instruments authorized by the Trustees, except in cases where the signing and execution thereof shall be expressly delegated by the Trustees or by these By-Laws to some other officer or agent of the Corporation.
3. The fiscal affairs of the Corporation were amended from being audited every year to every three (3) years by a firm of certified public accountants selected by the Executive Committee, with the Executive Committee of the Board having discretion to substitute a review instead of an audit in the off years.

Each year, Historic Savannah Foundation celebrates the best of preservation by presenting Preservation Awards to individuals and organizations whose contributions demonstrate outstanding excellence in historic preservation. HSF invites you to participate by nominating individuals and organizations you believe are most deserving of these honors. The award winners will be announced at HSF’s Preservation Awards Luncheon on May 9, 2013.

To view more information on submittal criteria and to download the nomination forms click here. Please read all information carefully as some nomination requirements and formats have changed.

The deadline for nominations is FRIDAY, February 15, 2013.

Nominations are open only to HSF members. If you would like to submit a nomination but are not a member of HSF, please click here to receive membership information.

For more information please visit the Preservation Awards page on our website or contact Danielle Meunier at dmeunier@myHSF.org or 912.233.7787.