Geometrically speaking – Wachs Across America

Savannah Georgia is made up of squares. You know, an open public space. Savannah squares are NOT like a big area with lots of stores…. NO! Savannah squares are big gardens and a big memorial statue planted smack in the middle. It’s truly awesome. It’s where you see nature in the city.

There used to be 24 squares but they tore down 5 squares and later built 3 more and now there’s 22. 24-5+3=22. Did the squares always look like this? NO!! Savannah was built to be a military buffer. (it was only used as a military buffer in the 18th century) It was planned out ingeniously. Every way from a square is another square. For example: James Oglethorpe walks north from Oglethorpe square, he would end up at another square. Same if he goes east, south, or west. In the 19th century it was used for storing sewage. People would keep sewage in their basements…That didn’t work. The house was too stinky and the basements got filled up. Somebody would drive a wagon full of sewage and dump it in the squares. Thanks to John Harrington and Thomas Crapper we have flushing toilets now!

In the middle of each square is a monument for someone famous. It just so happens that the person buried under the monument probably isn’t actually who the monument was built for. On exception is Johnson square which has Maj. Gen. Nathaniel Greene’s monument and he is most likely buried beneath that one. In Wright square there are 2 monuments Tomochichi and William Washington Gordon’s monuments. The most expensive monument next to the cheapest.

Our route was along Bull St. We started at Johnson Sq. with Maj. Gen. Nathaniel Greene monument. Next, we walked south to Wright Sq. with Tomochichi and William Washington Gordon monuments. We walked west to Chippewa Sq. with James Oglethorpe’s monument. Then, we walked south to Madison sq. with William Jasper’s monument. After that, we walked south along Bull St. and saw Jones St. the only street paved the whole length with bricks. When we got to Monterey sq. we saw Gen. Casimir Pulaski’s monument. Finally, we ended the walking tour at Forsyth park.