Savannah-Chatham County Historic Site and Monument Commission Approves Plan for Monument in Columbia Square Honoring Seven Female Preservationists

PHOTO: On July 1, the Savannah-Chatham County Historic Site and Monument Commission approved Phase 1 of the installation of a monument in Columbia Square that will honor the seven women who saved the Davenport House from demolition in 1955, founded Historic Savannah Foundation and kickstarted the preservation movement in Savannah, Georgia. Upon final approval by the Savannah City Council, the monument will be created and installed in the summer of 2025.

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SAVANNAH, Ga. (July 1, 2024) – The Savannah-Chatham County Historic Site and Monument Commission approved Phase 1 of a plan earlier today to erect a monument in Columbia Square dedicated to the seven female preservationists who saved the Isaiah Davenport House from demolition in 1955 and kickstarted the modern-day preservation movement in Savannah, Ga. The plan was approved by a unanimous vote.

The monument will honor Katharine Judkins Clark, Elinor Adler Dillard, Anna Colquitt Hunter, Lucy Barrow McIntire, Dorothy Ripley Roebling, Nola McEvoy Roos and Jane Adair Wright, who joined forces to raise the required funds to purchase the Davenport House to protect this iconic 1820 Federal-style building from destruction and with others founded Historic Savannah Foundation.

The effort to design, build and install the monument was led by representatives of the descendants of the seven ladies. The new monument will be fabricated by Savannah’s own DePue Monument Company and will be installed at the edge of the brick paving centered behind two existing benches in the northern part of Columbia Square in the summer of 2025 to celebrate the 70^th anniversary of the saving of the Davenport House and the founding of Historic Savannah Foundation.

“In the 1950s, there was a downturn in the economy, and Jacksonville was tearing down historic buildings to build skyscrapers. Citizens were concerned that Savannah might follow suit,” said Lucy Brannen, the granddaughter of Lucy McIntire, who is helping to lead the initiative to install a permanent monument. “A local funeral home, located in what is now the Kehoe House, wanted to tear down the Davenport House and to use the land as a parking lot. That would have been a travesty.”

Clark, Dillard, Hunter, McIntire, Roebling, Roos and Wright rallied support and raised $22,500 to purchase the Davenport House. Seeing a need for a permanent organization with the mission to save historic buildings in the city, Historic Savannah Foundation was founded in 1955.

“We would not have the city we enjoy today if it hadn’t been for the vision of these seven inspiring preservation leaders,” said Sue Adler, CEO and President of Historic Savannah Foundation. “There is currently no public recognition of their contribution to Savannah in any of the city’s squares. It’s exciting to see this new monument take shape and to celebrate the remarkable impact of these seven women on Savannah.”

Surrounded by beautiful landscaping and a view of the Davenport House, the new granite monument in Columbia Square will feature two bronze plaques and portraits of each of the seven women in bas relief. Following the listing of the preservationists’ names, the plaque will provide a brief description of their accomplishments:

“These seven ladies are recognized and honored in grateful recognition and lasting appreciation of their heroic effort in 1955 to save the Davenport House from demolition and to inspire the preservation of historic structures in the city of Savannah. Their success in raising the necessary funds to purchase the house provided the catalyst to found Historic Savannah Foundation with a group of like-minded Savannah residents. This proved to be the turning point to limit destruction of the remaining historic structures in the city and to establish basic guidelines for future preservation efforts.”

Representatives of the descendants of the seven founders — with support from the City of Savannah’s Park and Tree Commission, current Historic Savannah Foundation staff and representatives from DePue Monument Company — worked on the planning and development of the monument and petition that was ultimately approved by the Savannah-Chatham County Historic Site and Monument Commission.

Upon final approval by the City Council, plans will continue for the installation and unveiling of the monument in Columbia Square. Details about a public unveiling will be announced at a later date.