City Exchange was a building that stood on Bay Street in Savannah, Georgia, United States, between 1799 and 1904. It replaced a previous structure destroyed by fire in 1796. The former seat of Savannah's municipal government, the Exchange was demolished and replaced by Savannah City Hall i 1904.Hidden History of Civil War Savannah, Michael L. Jordan (2017)
The Exchange building, which fronted around along Bay Street and ran back around toward the Savannah River,Charles Seton Henry Hardee's Recollections of Old Savannah, p. 373 was the design of French architect and builder Adrian Boucher, who arrived from New York City in 1797,Sojourn in Savannah: An Official Guidebook and Map of Savannah and the Surrounding Countryside, Betty Rauers, Franklin Traub (1976), p. 14 the year following the great fire of Savannah, to assist with the reconstruction of the city's important buildings.The Architecture of Georgia, Frederick Doveton Nichols (1976), p. 27
The Exchange served both public and private interests until 1812, when the city purchased it for use as its city hall,Savannah, 1733 to 2000: Photographs from the Collection of the Georgia Historical Society, Susan E. Dick, Mandi D. Johnson, Georgia Historical Society (2001), p. 118 moving from the Filature building, which was destroyed by fire in 1840. On the first floor, running the entire width of the building, was the "long room", at the eastern end of which was the mayor's office. The rest of the room was used as council chambers. The clerk of the council's office was located in the northeastern corner of this floor, adjoining the mayor's chamber. The city treasurer's office was in the northwestern corner. On the second floor was the city marshal's office, among other offices.
The Exchange building was renovated in 1854, including the addition of a portico. The architect was Savannah's Sholl & Fay.Lost Savannah: Photographs from the Collection of the Georgia Historical Society, Luciana M. Spracher (2003)
In December 1864, Union Army general John W. Geary gave a speech in front of the building in which he congratulated his troops, who had captured "this most beautiful city of the South" during the Civil War.Savannah, Immortal City: Volume One of the Civil War Savannah Series, Barry Sheehy, Cindy Wallace, Vaughnette Goode-Walker (2011), p. 369
In September 1896, the building was one of several that was damaged in a severe storm that passed through Savannah.United States Congressional Serial Set, Volume 3562 (1896), p. 25
Bell The building's bell, one of the oldest in Georgia, was constructed in 1802 and imported from Amsterdam. It hung in the bell tower of the Exchange from 1804 until the building's demolition. After being in the possession of Rourke Iron Works until 1940.Savannah in History: A Guide to More Than 75 Sites in Historical Context, Rodney Carlisle and Loretta Carlisle (2019), p. 35 It is now located in a replica of the tower, which was erected in 1957, in another location on East Bay Street. When it was in situ, the bell signalled the closing time for businesses. It was also rung by a watchman when fire broke out. It rang out in celebration of American victories during the War of 1812.Old City Exchange Bell – Georgia Historical Society
References