Flannery O'Connor Childhood Home facts for kids
The Flannery O'Connor Childhood Home is a special house in Savannah, Georgia. It's now a museum. A famous American writer named Flannery O'Connor lived here when she was a child. The house was built in 1856. You can find it at 207 E. Charlton Street in Lafayette Square.
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Flannery O'Connor's Early Life in Savannah
Flannery O'Connor was born in 1925. She lived in this house until 1938. She once described herself as a "pigeon-toed child." She also said she had a "you-leave-me-alone-or-I'll-bite-you complex." Her mother, Regina, sometimes put her in a "Kiddie's Coop." This was a screened crib to protect her from mosquitoes.
A Chicken Star on the News!
When Flannery was six years old, she became a local celebrity. The Pathé News reported on her. She had trained a chicken! This chicken could walk backward. Flannery remembered this moment well. She said, "I was just there to assist the chicken." But she called it "the high point in my life."
Church Near Her Home
While living in this home, Flannery often went to church. She attended mass at the nearby Cathedral of St. John the Baptist. The church was very close. She could see its tall spires from her house. She could also hear the church bells ringing.
Visiting the Flannery O'Connor Museum
In 1989, a special group bought the house. This group was the Flannery O'Connor Childhood Home Foundation. They wanted to turn it into a museum. They bought the house for $132,500. Then, they looked for furniture and items from that time period. They wanted the house to look just like it did when Flannery lived there.
What You Can Do at the Museum Today
Today, the house is a museum. It also hosts many events and programs. One popular event is the annual Ursrey Memorial Lecture. This lecture started in 2009. It includes readings and talks. Sometimes there are workshops too. It is free for everyone to attend. The lecture honors two brothers. They loved Southern stories, just like Flannery O'Connor.
The Beautiful Lee Garden
The home also has a lovely garden. A landscape architect named Clermont Huger Lee designed it. She made sure it looked historically accurate. Today, this garden is named the Lee Garden. Both Clermont Huger Lee and Flannery O'Connor are honored. They are part of the Savannah Women of Vision.
See also
- Andalusia, later home of O'Connor
