2/12/2017

Weekly Update 2/12/2017

I had a week full of meetings and lectures. Starting on Monday, I went to the Library Book Club. On Tuesday I attended a review and book signing by Nancy Brandon at The Senior Center. Wednesday was another site visit for TLC series on noted Savannah architects; we went to the Harper Fawkes House. Thursday there was an interesting lecture at the Jepson Center for Black Heritage Month and the Savannah Black Heritage Festival. And finally, on Saturday, I drove to the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge for a talk about the Caretta Research Project.

The Book that was discussed on Monday was The Hare with the Amber Eyes by Edmund deWaal. It is a memoir that traces his family from it's roots in Czarist Russia, to homes in Vienna and Paris, through the Holocaust, and to his own lifetime, following the collection of netsuke (tiny Japanese wood and ivory carvings, one of which is a hare with gemstone eyes). It was interesting, and there was actually quite a good discussion about the book.

Nancy Brandon is a local author, and Show Me a Kindness is her third book. The book is set in Georgia, and parts the story take place in the Central of Georgia's Railroad Hospital, which is a real building (in fact, Senior Citizens Inc is now the owner of the building and most of the lectures I go to are held there). It was built in an era when a private hospital was the accepted method of railroads to provide all employees with hospital benefits, the 80-bed hospital was opened July 1, 1927 in Savannah. More than 77,752 patients were treated at the hospital during its 36 years of existence under Central’s ownership. I bought the book, but haven't opened it yet. I'll get at it after the book fest next Saturday.  

Nancy Brandon signing copies of her book

The Harper Fawkes House was build 1842-1845 on Orleans Square in Savannah by architect Charles Cluskey for Aaron Champion. Additions and renovations were made throughout the history of the building, especially in 1895 when a third story was added, and the stairs were moved to the back gallery. It was last owned by preservationist Alida Harper who died in 1985 after living there for 45 years. She left the house to the Society of the Cincinnati (a whole other story), who still use it. I am particularly interested in the house because when I moved to Savannah in 2009, the movie, The Conspirator, was just wrapping up, and the house was featured in the movie.

Harper Fawkes House

the dining room with the wonderful painted wood grain ceilings and walls

At the Jepson, Julieanna Richardson, founder of The HistoryMakers project in 1999, spoke about the videos she has collected for the project. This is an ambitious project which aims to record 5,000 video oral history interviews with both well-known and unsung African Americans. She has collected more than 2,000 interviews so far. The most prominent Savannah civil rights leader, W. W. Law, died in 2002, before she had a chance to interview him for the project. It was very interesting, and we were shown the clips of some of the people she has interviewed.

Julieanna Richardson and her talk about The HistoryMakers

I had never been to the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge, although I've driven past it several times on Route 17 in South Carolina (the Savannah in the name refers to the River, not the City, as the refuge is not in Georgia). The talk was great, and after it was over, I spoke to Kris, and told her that I had volunteered at the project on Wassaw Island several years ago. She remembered! I had nothing else on my calendar, so I hiked – for about 5 minutes – and then took the scenic drive through the preserve. It was interesting, and I saw many birds, a few alligators, wetlands and marshes, a canal, and the remains of rice fields. I really prefer a urban environment, but this drive was fascinating. 

the hiking trail outside the visitor center

some alligators enjoying the sun

views of the Port of Savannah across the river in Georgia

So how's that a for a wide variety of learning lectures this week?  

I got my taxes done.  I'm not happy, but it's my contribution to America, and i'm glad I live here. And, I'm glad it's done. 

Oh, what a headache!

Spring appears to have arrived in Savannah. My little azalea at the bottom of the stairs is in bloom!  Also, the pollen has started to fill the air, and I'm going to have get a pedi if I'm going to be wearing my flip flops again.