The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-10-20
HOTELS OF SAVANNAH.
BoNIFACES WHO HAVE MADE
FORTUNES IN THEM


Marshall and Harnett-The Old Time
hotels the Wonder Of the Country
People-Tourist Travel Back in the
Fortiss-Sa 70 be the Great
Winter Resort of the South
The building Of the De Soto is a monu-
ment to the progress of Savannah. 1t is
the insignia of success attained by those
whose fortunes ara results Of their thrift,
and enterprise. At the sight of the mag
nifcent structure Savannah ans feel a sense
of pride, AID the boast is made that the De
Soto casts shadow over all the other hotels
in Georgia.
The new hotel brings 70 mind the
time when only here and there were hotels of
any imporcaa nee, aud the time when the
first tavern was fun Of interest. not only to
the citizens but to the country people who
came to town to see il. A MORNING News
reporter sought a well-informed citizen of
Savannah esterday, aud review Of the his
tory of its hotels followed. The old citizen
said that Savannah IN former days was
bonanza for hotel men. There were the
Wiltbergers, father and son. the late Capt.
McMahon, Pierce Gordon, the Folsys
Nickerson, Luce, and many other bonifaces
who made money in hotels.
THE FAMOUS wILTBERGERs.
The elder Wilsberger," the gentleman
said, ''who, believe was a New Je sew
ma, built the Pulaski, or, rather, he built
part of it, and joined several contiguous
residences. The western part of the hotel,
where the diningroom and ladies parlors
now are, was once the residence of Judge
McAllister. 1t was built about 1920 Mr.
Wiltberger accumulated large fortune for
those DAYS, and his house was one of the
most noted hostelries in the country. He
owned his walters. cooks and other help,
and they we're as proud of the reputation
of the house as their master was. His f ,rm
at Bonaventure supplied the table with
everything that could be grown in this
latitude, and from his dairy came the best
of milk.
THE bar room of the house would not
have been considered much in these DAYS,
but it was a revelation in those times. It's
liquors were the best that could be had, and
were charged for Accord gly. The original
Wlltberger was succeeded bv his son, tue late
Maj. w. h. Wiltberger, who won his title
as major of the Fifth Georgia cavalry, c.
y. A. He kept the hotel until his death,
about 1870. He was as popular as his
father, but having started at the too of the
ladder, he had not the incentive to success
that his father had"
THE sCREvEN HOUSE.
"How about the history of the Screven
housel'
1T originally embraced only the building
atthe corneT Of Bull and Congress streets.
1t was an old dwelling remodoled,. 1t was
at one time a popular boarding. house,
known as Mrs Platt's The new part of
the hotel was bull, about in 1860, but was
not finished until lS6j-GG
The property and that Immediately south
OF It, embracing the De Renue building AID
the stores just east, was bought by the
Savannah n tel Company in 1855. 1t was
the intention of the company to do what
has just been accompl shed; that is, to give
Savannah big hotel. a gentle an now
deceased, who owned property on Congress
street, enioined the company fro Il building
al arch ac oss Congress street lane lit was
proposed TO have the building extend from
Congress TO Broughton street by arching
the lane, and the hotel project went to
pieces.
How does it get the name of Screvens"
ut was named after the late
Dr. James p Screven, the father
OF Col John and Capt. Tho mas r.
Screven, man Of great wealth, energy and
public spirit. He was president of tho hotel
company. In fact he subscribed for most
of the st ok. He afterward bought the
corner property and transformed it into a
small hotel. The Broughton street lots
were sold, and thus ended the enterprise,
which, had it been successful, would have
made Savannah e city to-day of 100000 to
10000 inhabitants"
THE MARsHALL'S HISTORY.
what is the Marshall house historys
The Marshall house is probably the ONLY
hotel that was ever built in this city for
the express purpose of a hotel IL was
erected by the late Mrs. Mary Marshall
about 1850. 1t never has taken the lead rs
hotel, although it has had some first-rate
men in charge Of it. If an additi IN were
made to 1t by spanning Broughtou
street lane, and having a south
ern frontage on Oglethorpe square.
and turning its Broughton street
lower floors into stores leaving side en-
trance on that street, it could be made a
splendid property. Such an addition would
afford space for an elegant dining-room,
handsome parlors, and other improvements
which make people tarry long at hotels and
pay willingly big prices"
What is the history of the Harnettr'
The Harnett house, on Market square,
was formerly the Planters hotel. it has
never prete Ided to be anything but
a wel-kept, moderate price hotel.
but there have been several snug
fortunes made in it, and it has always been
pop04dI VIII pSOpl6 CI mOlordCe means
The building is not very elegant, but it has
the best front entrance and office, and as
neat dining-room as any hotel in the city,
THE OLD TIME HOTELS.
"The old City hotel just around the
corner from the MORNING News building.
on Bay street" the old citizen added, "had
a wide-sr read reputation previous to about
1850. After thaJ it gradually went down
until about thirty years ago it was closed
and the building was turned into
stores and offices Old Mr. Wilt
berger kept it before he established
the Pulaski. II was in those DAYS cousid-
cred the biggest thing in the city. if not in
the state. The city exchange and the old
City hotel, hack in the SOS and '40'S. were
buildings to DO remembered. When the
people came to town on the old-time steam
boats and in stage coaches, those were the
sights to be seen Planters promised their
children if they were good that some day
they would bring them to Savannah and
show them the great hotel and the tall
building with clock in it,
Were there any hotels older than the
City hotelq'
Eyes, there were two hotels older than
the old City hotel, and while / am telling
you, | might just as well mention them
One was the Mansion house. which sto d
where Branch's grocery store now stands,
and the other was the old Georgia hotel.
which stood on the lot on Franklin square
now occupied by Fetzer g. Sanberg's car.