Taylor Square (Savannah, Georgia)
Public square in Savannah, Georgia From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Taylor Square, formerly known as Calhoun Square, is one of the 22 squares of Savannah, Georgia, United States. Laid out in 1851 south of Lafayette Square, west of Whitefield Square, and east of Monterey Square, it is named in honor of the first American Civil War black nurse, educator and memoirist, Susie King Taylor.[1]
| Calhoun Square (formerly) | |
 A live oak in the southwestern corner of the square, looking east | |
| Namesake | John C. Calhoun (1851–2022) Susie King Taylor (2023–present) |
|---|---|
| Maintained by | City of Savannah |
| Location | Savannah, Georgia, U.S. |
| Coordinates | 32.0707°N 81.0925°W |
| North | Abercorn Street |
| East | East Wayne Street |
| South | Abercorn Street |
| West | East Wayne Street |
| Construction | |
| Completion | 1851 |
The oldest buildings on the square, the Adam Short Property and the Alexander Bennett House (both on East Taylor Street), date to 1853.[2] The square is sometimes informally called Massie Square due to the presence of Massie Common School House, which was built in 1855 and lies just outside.[3] The Wesley Monumental United Methodist Church, founded in 1868, is located directly across the street from the square's western side.
The square had previously been used as a "negro burial ground"; in 1855, the bodies of enslaved residents Emily and Rinah were removed to Laurel Grove Cemetery.[4] In 2004, a skull was found by utility workers outside the Massie Heritage Interpretation Center on the square's southeastern side.[5]
This legacy prompted a 2021 movement to rename the square after the Sankofa bird, a Ghanaian symbol expressing the "importance of knowing one's history."[6] City councilors voted unanimously on November 10, 2022, to remove Calhoun's name from the square.[7]
In August 2023, after discussion and debate, the Savannah City Council settled on a new name, Taylor Square.[8] The council approved the installation of a new granite marker, which will note that the square that was once named for John C. Calhoun (Calhoun square) is now named for Susie King Taylor (Taylor square).[9]
| Namesake | Image | Note |
|---|---|---|
| John C. Calhoun |  |
The square was dedicated to South Carolina statesman John C. Calhoun, in 1851, who served as Secretary of War, Secretary of State, and as Vice President in the administrations of John Quincy Adams and Andrew Jackson.[10] |
| Susie King Taylor |  |
The square was renamed for Susie King Taylor, in 2023, who became the first black nurse during the American Civil War, that looked after wounded Union troops of the 1st South Carolina Volunteer Infantry Regiment.[9][11] |
Each building below is in one of the eight blocks around the square composed of four residential "tything" blocks and four civic ("trust") blocks, now known as the Oglethorpe Plan. They are listed with construction years where known.
- Northwestern residential/tything block
- Mary Demere House, also known as The House on Taylor, 128 East Taylor Street (1860)[2] – bay windows added 1894
- Mary Demere (Estate of) House, 126 East Taylor Street (1872)[2]
- Adam Short Property, 118–122 East Taylor Street (1853)[2] – joint-oldest building on the square
- 108–114 East Taylor Street (1873)[2]
- John Kuck House, 106 East Taylor Street (1906)[2]
- Alexander Bennett House, 102 East Taylor Street (1853)[2] – joint-oldest building on the square
- Northwestern trust/civic block
- Sara Clark House, 421 Abercorn Street (1859)[2] – additional level added in 1894
- Southwestern trust/civic block
- Wesley Monumental United Methodist Church, 429 Abercorn Street (1875)[12]
- Southwestern residential/tything block
- Northeastern residential/tything block
- William Rogers House, 202 East Taylor Street (1859)[2]
- George Ash Row House (1), 206–210 East Taylor Street (1855)[2]
- Andrew Hanley House, 214 East Taylor Street (1883)[2]
- George Ash & Francis Grimball Duplex, 216–218 East Taylor Street (1854)[2]
- George Ash Row House (2), 220–224 East Taylor Street (1869)[2]
- Northeastern trust/civic block
- Easton Yonge House, 426 Abercorn Street (1855)[2] – by George Ash; side porch added 1909
- Southeastern trust/civic block
- Southeastern residential/tything block
Calhoun Square (Formerly named after John C. Calhoun)
The square's unique clumps of grass, looking southwest towards the United Methodist Church
Looking east towards 432 Abercorn Street
Easton Yonge House, 426 Abercorn Street
430–432 Abercorn Street
William Rogers House, 202 East Taylor Street
George Ash Row House (1), 206–210 East Taylor Street
Andrew Hanley House, 214 East Taylor Street
George Ash & Francis Grimball Duplex, 216–218 East Taylor Street
George Ash Row House (2), 220–224 East Taylor Street
Charles Hutchins House, 113 East Gordon Street
Adolphus Gomm House, 115 East Gordon Street
John B. Berry House, 127 East Gordon Street
Sara Clark House, 421 Abercorn Street
Edward Purse Duplex, 220–222 East Gordon Street
John Guerrard Row House, 215–229 East Gordon Street
Massie Common School House, 201–213 East Gordon Street
Lengre Building, 233 East Gordon Street
Flora Max House, 235 East Gordon Street
Thomas Davis House, 237 East Gordon Street
Alexander Bennett House, 102 East Taylor Street
Another view of 102 East Taylor Street
John Kuck House, 106 East Taylor Street
Adam Short Property, 118–120 East Taylor Street
Mary Demere (Estate of) House, 126 East Taylor Street
Mary Demere House, 128 East Taylor Street
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