A new monument honoring the seven founders of Historic Savannah Foundation and their efforts to launch Savannah’s modern-day preservation movement in 1955 will be unveiled at a special Dedication Ceremony in Columbia Square on Saturday, September 20 at 10 a.m. Members of the public are invited to attend.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WHAT:
Dedication Ceremony to Unveil a Monument Honoring the Seven Founders of Historic Savannah Foundation in Columbia Square. A special dedication ceremony will be held to unveil the new “Seven Ladies Monument” in Columbia Square, recognizing the tremendous impact of seven female preservationists who saved the Davenport House, were instrumental in the founding of Historic Savannah Foundation and kickstarted Savannah’s preservation movement in 1955. This dedication ceremony is free and open to the public.
Sponsored by Historic Savannah Foundation, the Dedication Ceremony will feature remarks from Savannah Mayor Van Johnson, a brief summary of the importance of the contributions of the Seven Ladies to the preservation movement in Savannah and the highly anticipated reveal of the granite monument fabricated by Savannah’s own DePue Monument Company. Descendants of the organization’s seven original founders who led the effort to design, build and install the permanent monument will also be in attendance.
Featuring two bronze plaques and portraits of each of the seven women in bas relief, the monument honors Katharine Judkins Clark, Elinor Adler Dillard, Anna Colquitt Hunter, Lucy Barrow McIntire, Dorothy Ripley Roebling, Nola McEvoy Roos and Jane Adair Wright. These pioneering women joined forces to raise $22,500 to purchase the Davenport House and protect the iconic 1820 Federal-style building from being razed to create a funeral home parking lot. Seeing the need for a permanent organization dedicated to saving historic buildings in the city, the seven preservationists helped to found HSF 70 years ago.
Representatives of the descendants of the seven original founders — with support from the City of Savannah’s Park and Tree Commission, HSF staff and the DePue Monument Company –worked on the planning and development of the monument, which was approved by the Savannah-Chatham County Historic Site and Monument Commission in July 2024 and unanimously approved by the Savannah City Council in October 2024.
WHEN:
Saturday, September 20
10 a.m.
WHERE:
Columbia Square
Habersham Street, between York Street and State Street
Savannah, Georgia
ABOUT HISTORIC SAVANNAH FOUNDATION
Historic Savannah Foundation (HSF), a leading nonprofit cultural institution, saves the buildings, places and stories that define Savannah’s past, present and future. Founded in 1955 when seven brave women banded together to save the Isaiah Davenport House, Historic Savannah Foundation spearheaded the preservation movement in Savannah. The organization continues to preserve and operate The Davenport House Museum, sharing its important story with the community, and operates a Revolving Fund to save endangered historic properties, now totaling over 420 buildings throughout several of Savannah’s historic districts. HSF is currently celebrating its 70th anniversary and continues to lead preservation efforts throughout the Savannah community. More info: myhsf.org.
MEDIA CONTACT
Allison Hersh
Capricorn Communications
912.441.1285 | [email protected]
