Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-12-07
FIFTY YEARS OF HISTORY
LAST-DAYS OF THE OLD STATE
ARSENAL.

aIAofLN11AJs
The Scenes it has witnessed IN Times OF
War and observation-disclosures of
Muster Days-The History of Granite
HaII-The Arsenal in the Hands of the
Guards to Make Way for the New Ar
mory.
The work Of tearing down the Old State
arsenal, on Whitaker street, between
President and York streets, to make room
for the proposed new armory of the Sa-
vannah Volunteer Guards Battalion,
which was to have been begun last Mon
day, was delayed owing to other engage
ments of the contractor, and win probably
commence within the next few DAYS.
The arsenal was built by the State about
1919 or 1880. On April 9, 1929, the prop
erty was conveyed by ordinance, by the
Mayor and Aldermen of the city, to the
State of Georgia, with the understanding
that an arsenal was to be built upon the
lot. This was soon done, and it became a
military store-house, in which were kept
the old flint and steel muskets which
were used in that day, bayonets, bayonet-
sheaths, ammunition and a number of old
cannon, which had seen service in the
war Of 1912, and probably in the Revolu-
| tiOnary war. A keeper was employed at
$500 q year to look after the place, and to
| open it and distribute the arms when
| they were needed upon occasions of drill,
! etc. :. b. Haupt was keeper of the arse
nal up 10 tle time OF mis- death, and Judge
j. G. Hart was appointed in 1856 to sue
coed him. Judge Hart talks about his
duties as being very light. Il used to
have nothing much to do" says he, "but
open the place four times a year and give
the boys the arms when the time to make
the quarterly parade had come around"
THE MUSTER DAYS.
At that time the city was divided into
four military districts, which is still the
case, and there was company to each
| district. The county was also divided into
districts, and there were four companies
outside the city. Some of the companies
were very large, and at one time one of
them, 1t is said, had enough men in it TO
make three companies. Once a year
there was what was known as the mus
ter, and then the whole regiment turned
out and drilled. This drill is described
/ as a big day for the military, and the
whole city usually turned out and wit
messed their eVOlutionS. In 1861 Gov.
Brown turned the arsenal over to the Con-
federate Government. and from that time
on during the war there were scenes of
hustle and activity around the old arsenal
such as it had never known before. Capt,
ID. q. Purse, who had been on duty at Fort
Jackson, was put in charge as military
stOre-keepeT, and the arsenal was speedi-
ly converted into a cartridge factory and
a general stOrehOuse for military sup
plies. The heavier munitions of war,
such as mortars, bOmbshells, tor
pedOes, etc, were made elsewhere, and
were stored in Granite Hall, owned by
Mr.. John r. Wilson.
GRANITE HALL.
Granite Hall stood at West Broad and
Lubly streets. When the Federal troops
entered the city they took possession of
both arsenals. This was early in 1860.
On the night of Friday, Jan. -, the Gran
lite Hall arsenal was fired through the
caTeIessness OF some soldiers and burned
down. a large number o. shells were
stored therein, and these exploded with
disastrous effect. The alarm that filed
tle Federal forces when they were
awakened from their SAUNDERS by the
bursting shells is spoken of as intense.
AT first they thought the Confederate
forces had returned and invested the city.
The exploding shells killed half a score
OF people and many buildings were
burned down The battalion for many
years used the old Unitarian Church
building, which formerly stood on the
southwest cOrnerOf York and Bull streets,
but which was destroyed by fire.
IN THE HANDS OF THE GUARDS.
In 1872 the use of the arsenal was Sc
cured by Col. VIM. :. Basinger, then COM
handing the battalion, from the Governor
for the Guards, with the understanding
that they were TO keep 1t in repair, and in
1888 an act was passed by the Legis-
!ature providing that when tnc
Guards had sold its property ON
RGll stfeet ana OivA'' H---
SIG, 600, they could take the arsenal prop
erty. The condition was that they should
spend $4,000 in improving the property,
and when that should be done the bonds
should be entered satisfied. The act also
provides that in times of emergency the
State shall have the use Of the property.
Col. VIM. Garrard, Col. w. S. Basinger and
Capt. Robert II. FOOtman were largely in
strumental in having the law passed.
The present arsenal building was con-
structed ont of an appropriation of $10,-
600 made by the State for that purpose.
1t is said to be one OF the few public
buildings which cost less than the appro-
DriatiOn.