The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-04-26
DESTRUCTION OF EXCHANGE
OFFICIAL ICONOCLASM
Colonial Danes Say Their Protests Will Not 60
UnchronIcIed.

Masons. On the tablet on the corner
is inscribed: "A. L. 5799-A. d. 1873
American Independence the 2Sd year
Matthew McAllister, Mayor" the hrst
date being the Masonic year, which
dates from the laying of the corner
stone of Solomon's Temple.
The structure was completed in lSol'
though the bell in the steeple bears
date 1903 In 1904 it was Injured by a
storm In 1872 the city bought the
last of the shares from the stock
holders, the building being erected by
a stock company from whom the city
authorities gradually secured the
stock
For many years the lower floor was
used as the postoffice and custom
house, and for a time Judge Law held
court in the building. As early as 1911
it was used for social purposes. The
following invitation, the original OF
which is now in possession of an old
Savannah family, is a valuable relic
of the days when the long room was
transformed into a ball room, where
real colonial danes and gallant gen.
tlemen of the long ago in silk stock
ings and powdered wig chased the
glowing hours with flying feet.
COtiIIiOn Parties.
The honor of Miss Eliza Johnston's
company is requested to the Cotillion
parties at the Exchange on Friday
evening at o'clock and for the sea-
son. Committee: George McAllister,
Joseph Maxwell, B. S. Pope, James
Wayne, George Whitefield, r. P. De-
mere.
Savannah. Dec. II, 1911.
1t was then that the ball began at
dusk, and when the bell in the steeple
tolled the midnight hour, the sound of
cial functions at a much later date Is
told in the golf ball invitation. a copy
of which hangs in the rooms of the Sa-
vannah Golf Club.
Seven presidents have visited Savan-
nah, and though but one has been ten
dercd a public reception in the long
room, nearly all of them have been Of
ficially received in the Exchange. The
two first Presidents to visit here were
Washington and Monroe. Washington
was received in a small structure on
the same spot where the Exchange now
stands, the Exchange standing as a
monument to the place where Wesley
gathered the children for the first Sun
day-school in the world. Washington
was received in the open, and Monroe
in front of the Exchange. Afterwards
Polk, Fillmore, Arthur, Cleveland and
Mckinley were received at the Elk
change.
Aaron Burr, the Vice President, was
received in the long room, as we'll az
Clay and Webster. About the most
elaborate reception ever held in the old
building, was the reception to Lafay-
cite. On the occasion of his visit the
cornerstones to the Greene and Pulaski
monuments were both laid, and his
presence in the city was made the oc-
casion of one of the greatest military
n Ian trn In ha Of hn
city.
History Making Epoch.
In 1874 in pursuance to a resolution
of the Mayor and Council, d meeting
was held at the Exchange. to which all
came armed with hoes, axes and
spades in order, according to the word
ing of the resolution, ito give personal
aid to the erection of Notifications" In
the same year meeting was held in
the long room, at which resolutions of
thanks were adopted and sent to Jack
son for his victory at New Orleans.
Similar votes of gratitude were passed
| at the same place on account of the
signal victories of the navy, Council
naming several streets after the COM
maiders in these engagements, among
which are Perry, Hull, McDonough and
Orleans Square.
A banquet was held in the long room
of the Revolutionary War, in celebra-
ton of the cessation of hostilities and
the victory of the American forces on
land and sea.
The visit of Alexander Stephens and
his reception before the Exchange are
within the memory of many to-day. 1t
had been arranged to have him re-
ceived within the building, but owing
to his enfeebled condition it was found
! unwise, and he remained in his car
riage before the door. In 1886 Jefferson
Davis was received in the long room.
Scarcely more than a year ago the
hero of Santiago was accorded a re-
ception in the long room, where. al
most a century before, President Mon
roe had been welcomed by the for
bears of the present generation.
! These are the facts which will be
] Incorporated in the memorial which the
| ladies of the Georgia Society of the
! Colonial Danes will tender the Mayor
and Council on Wednesday night, that
their protest against the removal of the
| historic old structure may not go I'M
chronicled.