The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-06-04

di LSnes VI an invitation by the Mayor and
aldermen 20 lay the corner stone OF the
CITY exchange. The members present went
III Proce ssion, attended by the CORPORATION
tba rs sne stone was placed in position ii
Worshipfni Grand Master William steph-
oi i, hided ny the grand wardens and
The plate deposited with the stone had
the following inscription:
4. I i g7s9.
VI American Independence the 23rd wear
Matthew McAllister, Mayor
X william Stephens Grand Master"
;. The plan of the building provided thot
y should be of brick and stone. rs by 30
rect rect three stories IN hight, with apart
otherwise calculated for o city exchange
Ihe building was erected by public sub
s s1r the site being leased for ninety
only $4,000. The building was an impos-
ing one for It's day. and that IL has re-
NAMED for 100 years the HEADQUARTERS OF
the city government shows that its found
ers builded largely for their day The
building Is supposed TO have been COM
year. OF this there Is no exact record.
but the old boll In the belfry bears the
date Of 1902. and the old clock that OF
1909. The bell is .still in use, and rings
out the time of day as clearly as ever
but the old clock was removed three or
four years ago and given to Mr. Iohn
Rourke and now occupies a posltion IN
the steeple of his foundry at Bay and
East Broad streets The building has re-
out its lifetime, the only additions being
the portico in front. which was erected
about score Of years ago. and the addi-
ton for vaults for storing public records
IN the rear, which was made within recent
years.
II was intended from the first thar the
building should be the headquarters of
the city government. as well as a mer-
chants exchange, the city being an origi-
nal holder of twenty-five shares OF stock
The disturbances OF the location for city
headquarters was soon perceived and the
city began gradually buying in the stock.
~ 1872 the city acquired the remainder
OF the stock by purchasing from the own
ers at the rate of $50 on the $780, so that
the stockholders made quite good thing
The exchange was at that time the most
Imposing building in the city and so re-
ter OF the city's life, political, social and
commercial. Presidents, statesmen ana
generals we're received there and paid due
tribute by Sayannahs hero-worshipping
population. Gen. Washington's visit to
Savannah was In 1891, and he was enter
tanned at the old flature on Reynolds
Monroe were probably the most distin-
guished visitors who were received there
room of the exchange, which then includ-
ed the present Mayors office and the
Council room, the latter still being called
the long room, was the favorlte place for
holding balls and assemblies and the
knightly men, famous beauties of Savan-
nah's early days bowed to each other
many years now since the long room was
used for this purpose, but it is still the
custom TO entertain visitors from other
sections there and to tell them of the
greatness of Savannah's future, as well
as the glories OF her past.
Previous to the erection of the ex-
change, the city government had its head
quarters in the Old fiature on St Julian
street. The Council house Stood near by.
Previous to the revolution the government
OF the city was emerged with that of the
colony and there was no separate munici-
pat government. The city government was
created by act of the legislature Ia De-
cember, 1853. and John Houstoun was
elected the first Mayor IN the following
year. lie shortly after became Governor
of Georgia, and was succeeded by Thomas
H. Gibbons. who. Mayor of the city.
received Gen Washington on the occa-
sion of his visit in 1871. Matthew Meal
lister was Mayor OF the city when the
cornerstone Of the exchange was laid in
1888, end probably when the building was
occupied He was the grandfather OF
Ward McAllister. who acquired so much
notoriety as the leader OF New Yark's
400
John Houstoun who was the first Mayor
Of Savannah. built the house in which
Col John Screven, an ex-Mayor, stiIl liv-
Continued on pace