Tag Archives: National Register of Historic Places

June 6, 2019 · 11:29 am

Thomas H. McMillan House, 1888, Savannah

Now known as the McMillan Inn, this imposing Italianate Victorian was originally the home of Thomas Hasley McMillan (11 March 1854-21 September 1941), one of late-19th-century Savannah’s most successful businessmen. He came to Savannah from Fayetteville, North Carolina, in 1878, to open a branch of his McMillan Copper Works. The most successful supplier of turpentine stills in the South, they once had plants in Fayetteville, Jacksonville, Pensacola, and Savannah. Mr. McMillan also served as chairman of the Savannah Park & Tree Commission.

Some sources note that it was originally home to the “McMillan Brothers” and was designed as a duplex. I’ve been unable to track down information about the brother but will update when I learn more.

Savannah Historic District, National Historic Landmark

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Filed under -CHATHAM COUNTY, Savannah GA

Tagged as --CHATHAM COUNTY GA--, Architecture of Coastal Georgia, © Brian Brown/Vanishing Media, Houses of Coastal Georgia, Landmarks of Coastal Georgia, National Historic Landmarks, National Register of Historic Places, Savannah GA

May 30, 2019 · 12:15 pm

Columbus Square, 1805, Darien

Darien traces its origins to 1736, though throughout the 18th century, settlement was sporadic and the town was practically abandoned at times. Oglethorpe and later Lachlan McIntosh made plans for the layout of the city but due to its transient nature, these were never fully implemented or were lost to other uses. In 1805, the city was resurveyed by Thomas McCall and a system based on Oglethorpe’s “Savannah Plan” was adopted, incorporating twelve wards anchored by squares. Two of the original wards from that era, Vernon and Columbus, remain, and their squares now serve as green spaces in Darien’s historic residential area.

In 1895, Vernon Square became the terminus of the Tattnall County-based Darien & Western Railroad, who built a passenger depot near the location of the present-day gazebo. The line was purchased by the Georgia Coast & Piedmont Railroad in 1906, who extended service south to Brunswick in 1915, at which point the depot was moved to the waterfront. It burned in 1971.

Vernon Square-Columbus Square Historic District, National Register of Historic Places