Box 2406 Savannah, GA 31402 United States Frank Spencer’s contributions to the betterment of the Savannah river and ports earn him a place in history, but his efforts on behalf of children and African-American communities extends his impact far beyond the city limits and his own lifetime. Savannah’s Waterfront has been integral to the social and economic development of the city (Figure 1). The … ATLANTA -- The Port of Savannah set a record for containerized cargo volume in October, the Georgia Ports Authority reported Monday. The Port of Savannah exported more loaded containers than any other port in the country from January-May 2020, achieving a 12.2 percent market share. A small copy of this poem with the author listed as Frank Spencer was found in a folder with various poems recited at his funeral service. Then in 1970s the area was redeveloped by local landowners and urban planners determined to revive the history and prosperity of Savannah’s Waterfront. A person was explaining what we were seeing including the different cranes for freight and ships. The Port of Savannah, founded in 1733, acted as one of the largest eastern ports of North America, and exported the first bale of cotton from the colonies to England in 1764. That's the year General James Oglethorpe and the 120 passengers of the good ship "Anne" landed on a bluff high along the Savannah River in February. Interview by Beverley Duncan-Edleman, Caroline Hopkinson, and the Author. Historic River Street is situated along the Savannah River where the colony of Georgia was founded in 1733 and the location of the original Port of Savannah. Though countless ships and tourists have docked and walked along River Street, there is one man who was a leader on the Waterfront, and was a living metaphor for the city’s progress. Great piece to remember a trip to Savannah, Georgia. Transcript available: http://digitalcollections.library.gsu.edu/cdm/ref/collection/ggdp/id/4299, (pages 136-157). Savannah settlers found the stones to be an affordable and abundant building material and used them throughout the Historic District. Spencer Started Career at Sea Fifty Years Ago This Week” The Savannah Tribune, March 31, 1949. Georgia Historical Society Archives MS 1928 and “Frank W. and Lillian Spencer Collection, 1921-1987,” Armstrong Atlantic State University Lane Library Special Collections. Operated by the Georgia Ports Authority (GPA), the Port of Savannah competes primarily with the Port of Charleston in Charleston, South Carolina to the northeast, and the Port of Jacksonville in Jacksonville, Florida to the south. The city of Savannah, Georgia, the largest city and the county seat of Chatham County, Georgia, was established in 1733 and was the first colonial and state capital of Georgia. See more ideas about historic savannah, savannah chat, old photos. The Waterfront Historic Marker and Tourists on River Street, 2015. R Bolton Smith Port Of Savannah Historic River St Framed Souvenir Print 8x10. “Spencer to Resign Atlantic Towing Post” Savannah Morning News, Evening Press, December 10, 1967, Section C. Georgia Historical Society Archives MS 1928. Officially, Savannah’s recorded history is said to have begun in 1733, which is when General James Oglethorpe and his 120 passengers landed along the Savannah River. [vii] Harriet Killorin, “His Time Has Come.” Georgia Gazette and Journal Record, August 6, 1979, “A Second Opinion” Section, “Frank W. and Lillian Spencer Collection, 1921-1987,” Armstrong Atlantic State University Lane Library Special Collections. The stones originated in a number of exotic locales including Madeira Island, Spain, Canada, France and the British Isles. He was the son of Savannah’s port master pilot, a title that indicates the highest authority for navigating vessels in the harbor. The Colored History of Skidaway Island - Savannah, GA - As you might have guessed Skidaway Island is currently 97.57% white. Despite a ban on African slavery in early Georgia, enslaved people and slavery were an integral part of the colony's development. Historic River Street is situated along the Savannah River where the colony of Georgia was founded in 1733 and the location of the original Port of Savannah. In 1778, the British took Savannah and held it until 1782. Freight shipments became an important segment of the local economy towards the close of World War II. There is the Frank W. Spencer Elementary School (Figure 7), dedicated in 1955, which was originally opened as a school for African-American children, and the Frank W. Spencer Boat Ramp Park for fishing and recreation (Figure 8), located on highway 80 between downtown Savannah and Tybee Island. The Port of Savannah History . Courtesy of Georgia Historical Society. Among his exploits, he once transported soldiers to Cuba on a tugboat during the Spanish-American war. The Port of Savannah, the nation’s largest port in volume, contains over 50 piers, wharves, and docks. “Frank W. and Lillian Spencer Collection, 1921-1987,” Armstrong Atlantic State University Lane Library Special Collections. November 15-16 1990. The four and five story buildings along the waterfront were cotton warehouses. We Work Harder for You The Port of Savannah’s global carrier network, superior location and faster-to-market service record provide vital links to international markets. 95016403. [ix] He is also one of only a few white social equality supporters mentioned in a video and exhibit at The Ralph Gilbert Mark Civil Rights Museum in Savannah. Founded beside the banks of the Savannah River in 1733, the City of Savannah has served as an important U.S. naval port for centuries. The Port of Savannah moved 8.6% of total U.S. containerized loaded cargo volume and more than 19% of the East Coast container trade. Eleven years after James Oglethorpe settled the area in 1733, the first ocean-going ships docked at the wharves of Savannah. This was particularly beneficial for the Savannah Sugar Refinery Company, because ships could then sail all the way up the river into Port Wentworth. Preferred Citation [item identification],Port of Savannah records, MS 704, Georgia Historical Society, Savannah, Georgia. In Spencer’s archives, there is a venomous hate letter directed at him and Dr. Lillian Smith- an unfortunate reminder of the turbulence and hate during that era. “New Negro School is Dedicated” Savannah Evening Press, November 21, 1955, “Frank W. and Lillian Spencer Collection, 1921-1987,” Armstrong Atlantic State University Lane Library Special Collections. Located between Bay Street and River Street is a series of iron and concrete walkways, known as Factors Walk, connecting the buildings to the bluff. Frank W. Spencer Elementary School, 2015. [vi] “Spencer to Resign Atlantic Towing Post.” Savannah Morning News, Evening Press, December 10, 1967, Section C. Georgia Historical Society Archives MS 1928. A German boat was sinking and had called for rescue. The Savannah Waterfront historical marker was dedicated on February 12, 2001. He was also appointed general manager and treasurer of The Atlantic Towing Company in 1920. See below for a live map of ship positions in Savannah, schedules for vessels arriving (port calls), the list of ships currently in port, a company register and a local weather forecast. Courtesy of Ava Pandiani. Old Town Trolley Holiday Lights & Sights Tour, Preserve and maintain This urban-renewal project helped stabilize downtown and was a large part of the revitalization of Savannah’s Historic District. There is a history we hear most often, of a city founded in 1733 along the Savannah River, laid out in squares by founder General James Oglethorpe. [iv]. Georgia Historical Society Archives MS 1928 and “Frank W. and Lillian Spencer Collection, 1921-1987,” Armstrong Atlantic State University Lane Library Special Collections. Jan 15, 2014 - Explore Dave Scheuer's board "Historic Savannah Old Photos" on Pinterest. and mutual assistance among property owners and businesses along the waterfront. Create your own Natural Bath Products at Nourish on River Street! Georgia Historical Society Archives MS 1928. This is well documented in correspondence with Civil Rights and NAACP leaders such as Dr. Lillian Smith, Vice President Hubert Humphrey, Judge J. Waites Waring, and W.W. Law. [i] Robert, Strozier. PORT OF SAVANNAH The single largest and fastest-growing container terminal in America. 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