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Savannah Marshall House Hotel 
Fronting on Broughton Street in Savannah's premier shopping district it is Savannah’s oldest hotel. Consisting of four stories constructed on a raised basement it originally had four stores and the hotel lobby on the ground floor (US 1st Floor). The first floor (US 2nd) to the East contained a Gentleman’s dining room, smoking room and a library. To the West was a Woman’s dining room and parlours. Access was obtained to the cast iron veranda which contained tables and rocking chairs. The iron veranda was erected on the front of the building in 1857. Running 120 feet in length and 12 feet wide and high it was to become one of the signature features of The Marshall House.  Sleeping accommodation was accessed via a central corridor that connected the two wings. Similar corridors are found on the upper floors. Today, along the corridors are displayed a number of articles and photographs appertaining to the hotel’s history.  Between 1864-65, during the American Civil War, union troops, under General William Tecumseh Sherman occupied Savannah and the building was used as a Union hospital for wounded soldiers until the end of the War. Following the war it returned to being used as a hotel and in 1880, the adjoining building, known as the “Florida House,” was annexed as part of The Marshall House, increasing the hotel's capacity by about one-third. In 1895 the Hotel closed and underwent significant modernisation with the installation of electric lights and hot and cold baths on every floor. The bedrooms still have the design and décor similar to that which it had from that time.  In 1933 the name of the hotel was changed to the Gilbert Hotel when it was obtained by Herbert W. Gilbert, a prominent hotel and real estate man. He was to hold it until 1941 when it then reverted to the Marshal Hotel. Although the facility has also been known as the Geiger Hotel. By 1941 it was steam heated and featured a lobby, dining room, living room, reading room, 66 guest rooms, one suite, an apartment, and six storage rooms. Over the years, it underwent a number of renovations, these were carried out in 1946, and then in 1957 when the Marshall House was closed, and the upper floors were abandoned. Prior to 1957 the hotel lobby ended near the stairwell and forward of this was utilised as storefronts.  In 1999, The Marshall House was extensively restored, and once again opened as a hotel. Great efforts were taken to ensure that its historic aspects were preserved or recreated: including the Philadelphia Pressed Brick on the façade and the Savannah Grey Brick throughout, original staircases although some of the spindles and accents have been recreated, the building still has its original wood floors, fireplaces, brick walls, the doors to each guest room, and several claw foot tubs dating back to 1880. The veranda and gas lights were reproduced in the likeness of the original features. The Courtyard Atrium was encased with a glass ceiling to give a sense of the area’s previous use as a courtyard; today it is used as a breakfast room.  The Marshall House Hotel offers old-world charm and facilities as well as offering a bar and restaurant for non-residents.   It was the home to Joel Chandler Harris; author of the Uncle Remus Stories and it is reputed to be haunted. Artifacts found during the restoration are encased in display cabinets on the upper floors, these contain a collection of original prints, newspapers, letters, and documents reflecting Savannah’s experience during the Civil War, and throughout the hotel are artifacts and displays relating to its history. Including a Confederate army uniform and sword and many items brought to light during its renovation. |
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All Photographs were taken by and are copyright of Ron Gatepain
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