Broughton Street Savannah Architectural Tour
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- čas přidán 5. 05. 2020
- In this tour, Dr. Robin B. Williams takes viewers on a detailed analysis of Savannah's main downtown commercial corridor -- Broughton Street -- paying special attention to how architectural design and materials helped attract customers.
Correction from viewer feedback:
24:11 -- I mistakenly say that Kress & Co. was the predecessor of K-mart. It was actually the retailer Kresge's (S.S. Kresge Company) that rebranded themselves as K-mart starting in 1962.
As a girl, I shopped at this JC Penny. Your purchase was paid for by the clerk sending the paperwork and cash or check upstairs to the office via a pneumatic tube system, and the receipt and change were then returned the same way. I accompanied a literal”country cousin” here once. She’d never seen an escalator and would not ride it upstairs.
Once again, thank you for saving me from the tourist videos and the ghost tours. You have saved my soul.
Professor Robin thank you…!
This is the 3rd video of his, that I have watched. Well, I'm not even halfway through this one and it's great. They are all great. He is great. Knowledgeable, well-spoken, and explains things in an interesting manner. I'm learning so much and enjoying it all.
Excellent presentation and tour. Really enjoyed this.
Thank you for your great videos, Dr. Williams. I really appreciate that you stick with the historical facts about the architecture and built environment and don't bring in any of the "haunted" aspects of Savannah, like so many videos on the city seem to do. My husband and I will be traveling to your beautiful city soon and we've learned so much from watching your videos. Your presentations are excellent!
Thank you for your kind words. I'm delighted you enjoy them.
I am really enjoying your videos. Thank you so much. I've learned a great deal. I like how you explain things chronologically. It makes it very concise and easy to follow.
Robin, this was great. I am reminded of many main streets in small Ontario towns.
I Remember when way way back in 1967 or so they opened The Oglethorpe Mall . It Killed Broughton Street 😢😭😤😫, and it was Empty and Dirty🥵🥵🥵🥵 as Well !!!! The few stores that were there had NO BUSINESS 😩😩😩😩at ALL ! It was very SAD 😩😩😩😩to see this to see this MAIN STREET like this ! Some how I knew It would turn around some day . Look at It NOW The BEST MAIN STREET IN THE COUNTRY 😱😀😃😄😁 !!!!
An amazing achievement. It is not a small Main St to bring back from the zombie movies.
The Globe Shoe Store front has not changed at all, same tile; I got my first Easter shoes, white patent leather Mary Janes and white kids' purse in 1968. But the store has been in Savannah since 1892.
Minute 13:30 where Dr. Williams pointing is the corner of Jefferson St. and Broughton St. The previous corner is Barnard St. & Broughton St.
Thank you for the correction.
I moved to Savannah in 1998 & Levy Jewelry was in, I believe, a different building. Broughton had businesses (such as Levy) that had been operating for years. Then, the brand name stores came in, rents went up & Levy went out of business as did others. I am glad to see they reclaimed their livelihood.
Actually, Levy Jewelers is still in business, but at a new, larger and more prominent location at Bull and Broughton (they were formerly at Drayton and Broughton). The brand name stores have been a part of Broughton's history since the early 20th century, but a new wave of them arrived in the early 2000s, no doubt impacting rents.
I'm looking forward to the further tour of Broughton. The recently renovated house on the corner of Broughton & Habersham intrigues me. (Queensboro Bank.) The videos taken as they were renovating were very interesting. Thank you for taking the time to make these wonderful videos!
The Walking Store reminds me of a Thom McCann Shoe Store in downtown Stamford, CT. I was fascinated with the design. Even moreso with the shoe size measure, a pinch of my big toe by a salesman who kneeled as Dr Williams did near the building built in 1898. I was a 4yo who absorbed. It was my first day of Kindergarten, a photo taken in my new shoes. My new pair of shoes were silent as I walked out of the shop, turning to see all of the shoes. Why would anyone need so many? I had patent leather & red plaid sneakers. Who could ask for anything more?
Totally enjoyable & informative video, especially for someone who has never visited the place. So much history & knowledge of that history presented by the good Doctor, who by the way, is quite the Dapper Dan sporting his perfect outfit! I’m hoping that now, even though we’re still not over this pandemic, that businesses have returned. All my life, even as a kid, it always made me feel so sad when a business closed its doors & the place remained empty for long periods of time. Maybe that’s cause at one time, a long time ago, one of those businesses was the best candy shop around, we felt like big shots going in there with a nickel to buy a bunch of candy....and then they were gone!
Wonderful architectural tour. I'm a Savannah native. I remember when most of these buildings were covered with bland facades. I wish the parking garage at Bull and Broughton could be demolished and an attractive structure could be replace it.
Thanks so much. I've been here long enough to remember most of them too. I agree that the parking garage at that intersection is a terrible disregard for such a significant intersection.
I lived in Savannah a long time and don't recall a garage at Bull and Broughton so I'm looking at it on street view last updated January 2019. I don't see it. Is it brand new? Or do you mean the Suntrust Bank reserved parking?
@@JerryStevens The Suntrust complex with its office building at Bull and Congress has its parking garage at NW corner of Bull and Broughton (accessed from Bull). It's the plain brick structure with stores along the bottom.
@@urbantraces9640 Thanks. Since it's an appendage on the bank building, I didn't see it the same way as a regular parking garage but I'm up-to-speed now. Thanks. I really like the video. I never gave much thought to those recessed entrances until you featured them. Good job.
Thanks for the tour Robin.
I've never seen a Kress building I didn't LOVE! I did not know that about Kmart. I've seen Kmart buildings I didn't like.
Look - That SunTrust Bank is nice but that is a tragedy to have replaced such an amazing piece of art work as the original Bank of Savannah!!
Are you Stewart Hicks' dad?
Everything from your looks, your manners, your explanations, the way you talk and even your video style is similar to him 😂
And of course both of your videos are equally as great!
Great tour! The Urban Outfitters used to be a Sears, and has great Vitrolite. Wish the glass in the sidewalk next to Panera could be restored
Thanks so much. I should have mentioned that Sears was then -- and Belk after that. I believe vitrolite is an improvised reproduction using regular glass and a black backing (paint?), some of which is delaminating. Johnno Morrisano faced the same problem in restoring the old Greyhound Bus Station for The Grey. As far as I know Vitrolite is no longer manufactured and difficult to repurpose. I'm with you on hoping for the restoration of the sidewalk outside Panera. Let your elected officials know, since a Broughton Street rehabilitation is about to begin and I worry they will remove them completely.
@@urbantraces9640 thanks for the clarification on the Urban Outfitters building. Glad they at at least reproduced a facsimile of it when restoring the facade years ago. I remember that The Grey's facade had been damaged, and also glad they did such a great reproduction there.
I will definitely get in touch with my alderman about saving the glass on that section of Broughton. I forgot about the streetscaping getting ready to begin. You should be consulted for the project, IMO!
@@chathamcrescent One member of the team has contacted me and I've provided a list of all of the historic streetscape features, including the prismatic glass there. Hopefully they are respectful in their zeal to dress up the street.
Urban Traces, I contacted my alderman to make an appeal to save the glass there. He has not had a chance to respond thus far. It’s Nick though, so you know he’s already on our side! I mentioned to him that maybe Panera corporate office would like to help with financing that section if the city or state thinks it’s cost prohibitive. Maybe someone will look into that?
@@chathamcrescent He's my alderman too and fellow "chalk warrior" in the Tactical Architectural History efforts (see other videos on this channel). I like your idea to reach out to Panera, though it may be the building owner's responsibility and not theirs as a tenant. As you say, they might be persuaded to help out.
hi, I never see you anymore. are you coming back? come up to new york and to a tour I will love to attend. Lawrence July 27, 2022 I hope you are doing well. let me know I miss you
Have you heard of the family owned department store called Von Maur they have very classical architectural design on the're store front's and interior's I just wanted you to know that a rich classic design is still being built in todays retail world.
I am not familiar with Von Maur. Where are they based and have a store?
@@urbantraces9640 Davenport, IA founded in 1872 by german immigrants and ther're familes until over time it just became solely owned by the von maur family today they have 36 branches mostly in the midwest and in georgia including stores at the Mall of Georgia Perimeter Mall and North Point Mall and before the pandemic von maur was planning massive store opening's in the next three years including more stores in the south i'm sorry they have no store's yet in savannah georgia and if you wish to travel to one of store's i have to say it's worth it the quality and the services they offer are the best in it's class including a live pianist in store nearly all the time hand written letters from staff just to check up on the customer free in store gift wrap and free shipping on online orders and here's a video copy and paste this (The Story of Von Maur: A Rare Look into the Davenport-based Department Store Chain)
@@danielpierce6327 Thank you for this helpful information. I'll certainly be sure to visit their store in the Atlanta area the next time we're up that way. They are wise to continue offering services that distinguish the shopping experience from online shopping (though I see they also have a website).
@@urbantraces9640 Yes they do have great customer service both in store and online I hope you injoy this department store gem. there are more family owned department stores in the country that i did not mention because they are not in your region but if your interested in more stores I can create a list for you. but for now I wish you best of luck from a fan in the midwest
@@danielpierce6327 Thank you for the offer. Savannah used to have a local department store called Adler's, which sadly went out of business decades ago. However, there are still Savannah-based retailers on Broughton, including the Savannah Bee Company, which now has stores in other cities.
Great video. But, the Kresge family started K-Mart in Detroit Michigan. The Kress family was from Pennsylvania and known for their architecture of their buildings. Mr. Kress envisioned his stores as works of public art, that would contribute to the cityscape
Thank you for bringing this to my attention! I stand corrected and wish there was an easy way to make an edit to these videos. If I make a video of "corrections from feedback," of which yours is the third, I'll be sure to include it.
@@urbantraces9640 I'm from Detroit. We forgive you. :-)
Couldn't they create replicas of the cast iron windowsills and over hangs on that lower floor. I love shopping at Goodwill, but how could they hurt the beautiful building.
Do you know why that gorgeous National Bank skyscraper was demolished?
Evidently the main cause was a lack of appreciation and limited recognition of its value as a landmark. It was torn down in the late 1970s and I'm sure the opportunity for redevelopment that included a shiny new office building and a parking garage were very appealing. I'm not aware of any preservation battle. It is one of the more grievous architectural loses in Savannah.
@@urbantraces9640 Interesting. Thanks for the info.
McDonald’s is not on Barnard st. The Gap is, one block over.
HELLO DOCTOR WILLIAMS, IF YOU HAVE ANY CLOTHING YOU NO LONGER WANT CAN I HAVE THEM. I WILL TAKE THEM IF YOU PLAN TO DONATE ANTHING YOU NO LONGER WEAR. ANYTHING SHOES SOCKS SUITS SHIRT PANTS SHORTS HATS. I HAVE A STORE HERE I CAN RESELL THEM. IF YOU PLAN TO DONATE THEM TO SALVATION ARMY CAN I HAVE THEM GLAD TO SEND YOU THE MONEY FOR THE POSTAGE.