Green–Meldrim House facts for kids
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Green–Meldrim House
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Green–Meldrim House in the mid-20th century
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 Location in Georgia (U.S. state)
Location in the United States
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| Location | Madison Square, Savannah, Georgia |
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| Built | 1853 |
| Architect | John S. Norris |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| Part of | Savannah Historic District (Savannah, Georgia) (ID66000277) |
| NRHP reference No. | 74000664 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | January 21, 1974 |
| Designated NHL | May 11, 1976 |
The Green–Meldrim House is a very old and special house in Savannah, Georgia. It sits on the edge of Madison Square. Built in 1853, this house is famous for its beautiful Gothic Revival style. It is considered one of the best examples of this type of architecture in the American South. In 1976, it was named a National Historic Landmark. Today, the house belongs to St. John's Episcopal Church, which is right next door. You can take tours of the house, and the church also uses it for meetings and events.
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What Makes the Green–Meldrim House Special?
The Green–Meldrim House is located on the west side of Madison Square in downtown Savannah. Its main front faces south, looking out onto the square with a lovely porch and garden. This house is a great example of Gothic Revival architecture. This style uses designs that look like old castles or cathedrals.
Unique Architectural Features
The house is made of brick covered in stucco, which is a type of plaster. It has a fancy cast-iron porch and special windows called oriel windows that stick out from the wall. A tall, strong cast-iron fence surrounds the front. The main entrance has an iron porch, called a portico, which is thought to be one-of-a-kind in the United States. It has eight-sided posts that hold up two arches. The roof has a decorative wall around it, like the top of a castle, called a crenellated parapet.
Inside, the house has a central hallway. Many of the original wooden details, plaster designs, and ironwork are still there. There's even a cool freestanding staircase made of iron.
A Look at the House's History
The Green–Meldrim House was designed by an architect named John Norris. It was built in 1853 and cost a lot of money for that time, about $93,000. The first owner was Charles Green, who was a very rich cotton merchant. He was also the grandfather of a famous writer named Julien Green.
The Civil War and General Sherman
During the American Civil War, Union troops captured Savannah in 1864. General William Tecumseh Sherman took over the Green–Meldrim House. He used it as his main office until the war ended. It was in this house, in December 1864, that General Sherman sent a famous message to President Lincoln. He wrote that he wanted to give the President "as a Christmas Gift the City of Savannah, with one hundred and fifty heavy guns and plenty of ammunition, and also about twenty-five thousand bales of cotton." The cotton actually belonged to Charles Green, the owner of the house!
A Meeting for Change
On January 12, 1865, a very important meeting happened at the house. General Sherman and the Secretary of War, Edwin Stanton, met with 20 Black Baptist and Methodist ministers. Some of these ministers included Garrison Frazier, Ulysses L. Houston, and William Gaines. This meeting was later called the "Savannah Colloquy." Their discussions directly led to General Sherman's Special Field Orders No. 15. This order included the famous idea of "Forty acres and a mule" to help formerly enslaved people.
Later Owners and Today
In 1892, a local politician and judge named Peter Meldrim bought the house. He lived there for many years. In 1943, his family sold the house to St. John's Church, which is right next door. In the 1950s, a landscape architect named Clermont Huger Lee designed the garden to look like it would have in the past.
Today, you can take tours of the house during the day. The church also uses it for events like wedding receptions. None of the original furniture from Charles Green's time is still in the house.
Images for kids
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Green–Meldrim house in 2011
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The library of the Green–Meldrim House
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Side view
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Historical marker
See also
