On our recent trip to Savannah, Georgia,
we stayed at the Hamilton-Turner Inn on Abercorn Street.
Like many historic homes in Savannah,
the Hamilton-Turner Inn has had a number of interesting incarnations.
When built in 1873, the Inn was a fabulous private home
that played hostess to sparkling galas and society parties.
The first electric lights in Savannah were installed in the Inn's salon.
Our tour guide said the lights were first turned on for a party,
but the visitors were afraid they would explode
so they watched the lighting from the safety of Lafayette Square.
Hamilton-Turner Inn, as seen from Lafayette Square:
(Incidentally, the people in the photo above
are not waiting to see if the electric lights explode.)
Later, the home became a boarding house,
then a dormitory for Marine Hospital nurses.
Still later, the basement was a medical office.
The home was sold to the Parish of the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist,
but when they planned to tear it down to build a playground,
the Historic Savannah Association stepped in to save it.
The Hamilton-Turner Inn on Abercorn Street:
This photo shows the first floor salon window
and the private entrance to the lower level Isaiah Davenport room:
Read more about the house's colorful history,
including its connection to the John Berendt book
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil at
http://www.hamilton-turnerinn.com/savannah-hotel-bed-breakfast-history.php
Tomorrow, we'll take a look inside the Inn.
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Our tour guide said the lights were first turned on for a party,
but the visitors were afraid they would explode
so they watched the lighting from the safety of Lafayette Square.
Hamilton-Turner Inn, as seen from Lafayette Square:
are not waiting to see if the electric lights explode.)
Later, the home became a boarding house,
then a dormitory for Marine Hospital nurses.
Still later, the basement was a medical office.
The home was sold to the Parish of the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist,
but when they planned to tear it down to build a playground,
the Historic Savannah Association stepped in to save it.
The Hamilton-Turner Inn on Abercorn Street:
View of Lafayette Square from the steps of the Inn:
Here's a glimpse of the Inn's courtyard:
and the private entrance to the lower level Isaiah Davenport room:
Read more about the house's colorful history,
including its connection to the John Berendt book
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil at
http://www.hamilton-turnerinn.com/savannah-hotel-bed-breakfast-history.php
Tomorrow, we'll take a look inside the Inn.
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