The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-05-19

ings for the reception of distinguished vis-
itors, and as a suitable place where the
honored dead might lie in state. Aaron
Burr. President Monroe, Polk and Fill
more, Gen. Lafayette, Henry Clay, Dan
iel Webster and other great men OF the
early history of the republic there met
and received the homage of the Savan-
nahians of the ante-bellum period.
Historic Events In the Long Room.
No building in the state of Georgia to-
day has more historic memories clustered
around 1t than this venerable edffice just
entered on the second century OF its use
fulness.
In the infancy of the building the bellies
and beaux Of the little city danced there,
and at several times rooms were granted
temporarily for school purposes to worthy
petiasogues OF limited means. For many
wears It was the center of the social life
of the community. Itinerant actors and
passing showmen with strange animals
to exhibit found it a convenient place for
the purpose and the City Council len
iently consented to its use for such popu-
lar amusements. Other rooms were
also given up to public purposes not part
of the city government.
Once an Armory.
In 1s45 the use of the rooms on the top
floor was granted to the Savannah Vol
unteer Guards, the Republican Blues, the
Georgia Hassars and the Phoenix Rines.
The Guards and the Republican Blues
gave I'D their use of the rooms in April,
1859. shortly after the passage of an ordi-
nance yesting in them the fee simple
title TO the western and eastern halves
spectively of lots q and % Forsyth ward.
The Irish Jasper Greens and the Ogle-
thorpe Light Infantry were given the use
Of the premises then vacated. This use
of the Exchange by the military con-
tinued to some extent until late in the
D's, but as one company after another
withdrew to its armory Council declined
to admit others to the privilege, owing
TO the disturbance of public business by
the noise
The Exchange steeple from long neg
lect and a leaking roof became so much
decaved ms to imperatively require ac-
ton to insure it's stability. In 1870 w.
2S4 90 was expended for this purpose.
Again In 1885 81, 500 was appropriated for
repairs to the building. new striking
clock was ordered placed in the tower IN
1890. In 1891 a brick annex for vaults
was built in the rear OF the exchange
at a cost of S. 800 80, and the vaults fitted
nm at cost of s1,27S.7O. In February.
1896 the old clock was taken down and
given to John Rourke & Son, under the
agreement that they would place 1t IN
tower on their building at Bay and East
Broad streets. In 1897 the exterior OF the
building, which had been plastered ana
painted brown many years before, was
painted white, color which It now wears
Monument 10 savannah.
Standing, as 1t does, where 1t can be
No impeachment to the march of improve
ments. and almost as solid as when It
was received by the original stock COM
pany from the builders, there is appar-
emily no reason why the Exchange should
not stand for another century, an en-
during memorial of the early days of Sa-
vannah. Civic pride. as the city grows In
population and wealth, may lead before
many years TO the erection of more
pretentious and modern structure else
where. but the lover of that which
,s antique and of historic inter
est will cherish the hope that the old
civ hall will be allowed to remain, sug-
costing to all Savannahians the life OF the
DAYS, now seeming so remote. when the
little town was struggling out Of the ruins
of the revolutionary struggle and estao-
fishing those solid foundations for COM
mercial progress on which the prosperity
OF the Savannah Of to-day stu oepenus.