Savannah Cotton Exchange
| Company type | Commodity exchange |
|---|---|
| Industry | Cotton trade |
| Founded | 1876 |
| Defunct | 1951 |
| Headquarters | Savannah, Georgia , United States |
| Products | Cotton market pricing and brokerage |
Freemasons' Hall, initially known as the Savannah Cotton Exchange, was erected in 1876 in Savannah, Georgia, United States. It functioned as a central location for King Cotton brokers—agents representing cotton planters—to establish market prices for cotton exports destined for key ports such as New York City and London. Toward the end of the 19th century, the role of factorage diminished as planters increasingly sold cotton within inland markets, utilizing Savannah primarily as a shipping hub through its extensive rail connections. The cotton exchange discontinued its operations in 1951.
History
General William Washington Gordon II, who participated in the Battle of Jonesboro (1864), held the position of chairman at the exchange.
A New York Times article dated June 10, 1878, provided an overview of the trading activity during May:
100 East Bay Street
In 1887, the exchange moved to 100 East Bay Street, where its structure remains today. The original warehouses located below on River Street were replaced by a passageway connecting to Factors Walk. The city authorized construction above the Drayton Street ramp on condition that access underneath was preserved, which contributed to the building’s unique architectural form.[1] According to the Savannah Morning News, the edifice was "elevated approximately thirty-five feet from ground level by iron columns to allow unobstructed passage along River street."[2]
The design was created by architect William G. Preston, whose proposal was chosen from among twelve submissions,[3] and the building is included within Savannah's Historic District, a site listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Cotton Exchange contributes to this designation.[4]
Since 1976, it has been home to Solomon's Lodge No. 1, a Free and Accepted Masons lodge founded by General James Oglethorpe, who established the Province of Georgia in 1734.[5]
In 2006, the building sustained considerable damage due to a vehicular accident.[6]
Despite some misconceptions, the Savannah Chamber of Commerce no longer occupies this property; they were tenants during the early 1900s and have since relocated to 101 East Bay Street.[7]
External links
- ↑ "Savannah's Historic Waterfront An Architectural and Urban Tour" – Dr Robin Williams, Chair of Architectural History at Savannah College of Art and Design, YouTube, 2020
- ↑ Savannah Morning News, September 17, 1887
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedghs - ↑ Savannah Cotton Exchange Photos – Library of Congress
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedsmn - ↑ "Savannah Cotton Exchange about to open for public tours" – Savannah Morning News, April 3, 2010
- ↑ Savannah Chamber of Commerce official website
- 1876 establishments in Georgia (U.S. state)
- Agricultural organizations based in the United States
- American companies disestablished in 1951
- Commercial buildings completed in 1887
- Commercial buildings in Savannah, Georgia
- Commodity exchanges in the United States
- Companies based in Savannah, Georgia
- Cotton industry in the United States
- Cotton organizations
- Defunct companies based in Georgia (U.S. state)
- Masonic buildings in Georgia (U.S. state)
- Savannah Historic District