William Scarborough House, 41 West Broad Street, Savannah

Source document Quoted word for word from HABS GA,26-SAV,39-. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

An unusual Regency-Greek Revival house designed by Savannah architect William Jay. The house was built for a prominent merchant, planter, and inventor, William Scarbrough. (Afr\cr\iki> Ki-sWi<:.<A report, +r r\ s^wtteel -+ Uboru P^NAOUS PART I. HISTORICAL INFORMATION 1. Physical History: 1. Date of erection: (deduced from documents). "Our house is quite in readiness for him [President Monroe]. It is most tastefully and elegantly decorated and furnished - and seems to bring to the recollection of all who have lately visited it the House of Lord Grosvenor in the neighborhood of Chester and Liverpool." William Scarbrough, letter of May 6, (see below) . 2. Architect: William Jay, of Savannah. William Jay was among the first professionally trained architects to practice in Georgia.

His work reflected the growing interest in the motifs and forms of ancient Greece rather than the Roman Classicism of the Adams brothers. Jay's other works in Savannah include the Savannah Theater the Richardson-Owens-Thomas House (HABS No. GA-14-9, Telfair Academy (HABS No. GA-217, and the Wayne-Gordon House (attributed HABS No. GA-211). About Jay began to divide his practice between Savannah and Charleston, and was appointed architect of the State Board of Public Works of South Carolina. 3. Original and subsequent owners: Lot bought by William Scarbrough in Lost in bankruptcy in Willed by Robert Isaac in to William Taylor (Scarbrough1s daughter, see Charlotte de Berniere Scarbrough in Dictionary of WILLIAM SCARBROUGH HOUSE HABS No. GA-2127 (Page tf $ American Biography).

Sold by Willim Taylor in to Dominick O'Byrne. Abandoned by the O'Byrne family as a residence after fire of Sold in to the Rt. Rev. Augustine Verot, Bishop of Savannah and used as a boys' orphanage. Bought by Bernard F. McKenna in and sold by him in to Georgia W. J. Derenne, who that year conveyed it to the Board of Education for use as the first public school for black students in the area. The house was known for 84 years as the West Broad Street School. After the school closed in the Board of Education used the house as storage space for three years until title reverted to Derenne's heirs. One of the heirs, Craig Barrow, gave her share of the house to Historic Savannah Foundation in and the Foundation purchased the remaining shares for 4.

Original plans and construction: No original plans have been located. 5. Alterations and additions; A third floor was added by Scarbrough's son-in-law, Godfrey Barnsley, in A central stairway was probably added at this time. Two great central wooden stairways were added between and for school use. In the Historic Savannah Foundation began to restore the house. In John Milner, a restoration architect from West- Chester, Pennsylvania was hired. During restoration the third floor was removed and the skylight reconstructed. As the design of the original roof line was unknown, the architect provided a conjectural drawing (see HABS photograph GA-2127-11). When the parlor was restored, the floors were replaced with heart pine boards similar to the originals from a River Street warehouse.

The plaster walls were stripped to the studs and the atrium to its brick. Missing portions of the original balustrade around the atrium gallery and the cresting of the cornices were reproduced from original remnants. The main staircase is a reconstruction of the original. Restoration of the garden was begun in For information on the house prior to restoration see FIABS # measured drawings GA-2127, sheets B. Historical Context: The Scarbrough House was built by William Scarbrough in Scarbrough was a leading figure in the Savannah steamship Company, WILLIAM SCARBROUGH HOUSE HABS No. GA-2127 (Page tf y at a time when Savannah was rich from a cotton boom. In the Savannah Steamship Company financed the first voyage of the Savannah, the first trans-Atlantic steamship.

The house was host to President James Monroe during his inspection tour of the steamship. Scarbrough suffered economic reverses soon after and was thereafter supported by his son-in-law, Godfrey Barnsley. Barnsley's family continued to live in the house until the In it became the first public school for black students in Savannah, and since has been a house museum. Original historical data prepared by Charles E. Peterson and Walter C. Hartbridge in and updated for transmittal to the Library of Congress by Eleni Silverman in June of PART II. ARanTECTURAL INFORMATION A. General Statement: 1. Architectural character: An elegant Regency/Greek Revival style townhouse. 2. Condition of fabric: Good. B. Description of Exterior: 1.

Over-all dimensions: Two stories over a semi-raised basement, two story rear wing; with a three bay front on a T-shaped plan. 2. Foundations: Stuccoed brick. 3. Wall construction: Stucco over brick, painted bluff. 4. Porches, stoops: A heavy masonry portico with two Greek Doric columns in ant is and a double stairway with balustrade. There is a south porch on the rear wing with cast iron columns, Corinthian capitals and decorative railings. 5. Chimneys: Two interior chimneys and two chimneys flush with the rear wall of the second story. 6. Windows and doorways: Typical windows are sash with stucco surrounds. The two windows on the first floor of the main and side facades are arched within arched reveals.

A semicircular window just above the entrance portico and a WILLIAM SCARBROUGH HOUSE HABS No. GA-2127 (Page reconstructed skylight provide light to the atrium entrance hall. Description of Interior: 1. Floor plans: A two-story entrance hall (atrium) with a balustraded balcony on the second level opens into rooms on three sides. 2. Stairways: The main stairway is a reconstruction of the original in mahogany and pine. 3. Flooring: Heart pine boards. 4. Wall and ceiling finish: Walls are plaster with plaster cornices. 5. Doorways and doors: The original doors and trim are generally still in place. Some of the doors are curved six-panel doors which conform to the radius of the rounded rooms in which they are used. 6. Heating: The fireplaces with original marble mantels are still in place. D.

Site: 1. General setting: The house faces east on West Broad Stret and south on Congress Street. The area is locally known as Yamacraw, the oldest sectipn of Savannah. 2. Outbuildings: Two modern frame school buildings remain. The old Classic Revival carriage house which faced Broad Street (see HABS No. Ga-2127-1) disappeared some years ago. 3. Landscaping, enclosures: The rear yard is enclosed by a brick wall; the flagstone terrace, greensward, trees and plantings will acquire a pavillion during restoration of the garden. PART III. SOURCES OF INFORMATION Updated information obtained from Cathy Fleming, Historic Savannah Foundation, Inc., June Prepared by: Eleni Silverman Architectural Historian, HABS June ADDENDUM TO HABS No. GA-2127 WILLIAM. SCARBRGUGH HOUSE (Scarbrough House) 41 W.

Broad Street PHOTOGRAPHS HISTORIC AMERICAN BUILDINGS SURVEY National Park Service Department of the Interior Washington,