

This edition is sponsored by Gumption Savannah Membership
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The Colonial Park Cemetary has a rich and macabre history.

Built in 1750, the cemetery contains many of Savannah’s earliest settlers, including 700 victims of the great yellow fever epidemic of 1820, all of whom were interred in a mass grave. It is said that the actual number of Savannahians who fell to the plague numbered 666, but the total was rounded up to curtail any mention of the beast. The cemetery also served as the city’s dueling grounds from 1740 until 1877.

Savannah was spared from the total destruction of Sherman’s March to the Sea during the Civil War when the city was surrendered without incident as the Rebel Army retreated across the Savannah River into South Carolina. Later, Sherman presented the city to Abraham Lincoln as a Christmas gift in 1864. But the occupying Union soldiers are reputed to have left their mark in Savannah in a unique and unusual way — by subtly altering the gravestones in the Colonial cemetery. According to local legend, the east wall of the cemetery lie dozens of gravestones which, according to local legend, the soldiers dug up and displaced. They changed the dates of many on the headstones with their bayonets; one man living to the ripe old age of 421, his neighbor living 544 years, and another man’s son was born 1000 years before his father. The reality is that many graves were exhumed and moved during Savannah’s many yellow fever and malaria epidemics when deaths exceeded the available space in the “Old Burying Ground.”
Unfortunately, the cemetery has been the target of vandals for centuries, and local tour guides love to blame “General Sherman’s Bummers.”
One of the most historic and haunted places in one of America’s most beguiling cities.

Know Before You Go
Just east of Chippewa Square. The headstones are hung on a brick wall on the Southeastern corner of the cemetery, close to E. Perry Ln. The Dead Of Night guided tour starts at 11 p.m. and is really not for kiddos. Tons of the local ghost tour operators say this is the place where most people report feeling a ghost!
News bites
CharliFest, a community and music festival returns this Saturday, January 15th from 12-4pm at Coligny. The event honors the life ofand love of Charli Bobinchuck, a true Island child! Special… Read more. |
Burnt Church Distillery in Bluffton recently announced a series of charitable partners for 2022. Owner Watterson Brands said the distillery “has committed to serving the community through monthly giveback opportunities” since… Read more. |
EVENTS
Today
Bruce Davidson: Face to Face is an exhibition at Telfair Museums . Read more. |
Contemporary Spotlight: New Acquisitions from the Brandywine Workshop is an exhibition at Telfair Museums . Read more. |
Chul-Hyun Ahn: Beyond is an exhibition at Telfair Museums . Read more. |
Sips at the Station is Savannah’s best networking event benefiting our community and encouraging guests to discover all things local! Read more. |
Saturday
Slutvannah: The Official $luttyBoys Mansion Party happening at $luthouse, 3219 College Street, Savannah, United States on Sat Jan 15 2022 at 10:00 pm to Sun Jan 16 2022 at 02:00… Read more. |
Sunday
PJ Library Tu B’Shevat happening at Savannah Jewish Educational Alliance, 5111 Abercorn St, Savannah, United States on Sun Jan 16 2022 at 03:30 pm Read more. |
Cathedral Basilica Choir, Wesley Monumental United Methodist Choir, and Christ Church Anglican Choir sing together.Experience the grandeur of more than 120 voices with the Cathedral Basilica Choir, Brass, and organ.The… Read more. |
GNAWING (VA), CHIN UP SPORT, DUSTIN PRICE @ SENTIENT BEAN happening at The Sentient Bean, 13 E Park Ave, Savannah, United States on Sun Jan 16 2022 at 07:00 pm Read more. |
“The Power Of The Pen” Story of Georgia Citizen Arrest Appeal happening at Jepson Center for the Arts, 207 West York Street, Savannah, United States on Sun Jan 16 2022… Read more. |
Monday
Everything Eyelash Extension Training- happening at 100 Bull Street, Savannah, United States on Mon Jan 17 2022 at 10:00 am to 02:00… Read more. |
Tooth Gem/Teeth Whitening Training happening at100 Bull Street, Savannah, United States on Mon Jan 17 2022 at 03:00 pm to… Read more. |
Everything Hair Extensions, 5 Techniques! 100 Bull Street, Savannah, on Mon Jan 17 2022 at 10:00 am to… Read more. |
Tuesday
Eventbrite gives you all the online tools you need to bring people together for an event and sell tickets. Read more. |
Sips at the Station is Savannah’s best networking event benefiting our community and encouraging guests to discover all things local! Read more. |
Wednesday
Party with the HOTTEST Queens in town!. Bachelorette Birthdays! Read more. |
Jeremy Denk, piano, performs Bach’s Well-Tempered Clavier Book 1.The esteemed pianist Jeremy Denk—MacArthur Fellow, writer, and noted musical commentator—performs Book I of Bach’s Well-Tempered Clavier, the preludes and fugues that… Read more. |
Paint & Sip!Join us with some friends, and I’ll teach you how to paint this beautiful painting! There’s room for some creative license if you want to use other colors,… Read more. |
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