Over the past few months, it has become a bit of a tradition for John, Barksdale, and me to head downtown on Saturday nights for long walks around the city. We love exploring new blocks and taking in the beautiful sights of the city, usually with a road beer in hand. Inevitably, either John or Barksdale will end up pulling us over to Ellis Square, located in the heart of the Historic District. We always sit right on the steps closest to the Avia hotel, where there is shade for us, grass for the dog, and an excellent view of the fountain in the middle of the square.
This spot is special to us for several reasons. First of all, the people watching is excellent. You get to watch happy tourists discovering City Market for the first time. You get to see couples strolling through the park, basking in the beauty of Savannah. You get to watch little kids run, screaming through the fountain. And if you are really lucky, occasionally you get to see a group of drunk men in their fifties do the same.
But the reason I think that we love Ellis Square the most is because of what it represents to us. During our first trip to Savannah four years ago, Ellis Square was under construction and was basically a giant hole in the ground bordered on all sides by a high-sided plywood fence. Through the years during our visits to Savannah, it remained nothing more to us than an eye-sore and an unwelcome detour. There never seemed to be any progress made to the spot and I had no vision of what it would someday be.
But just as we made the decision to move to Savannah and follow our dreams of opening a small business here, something changed. John came down in March to find us a place to live and came back to report that Ellis Square was complete. At first I didn't even know what he was talking about since it registered so low in my mind. But as soon as we made the move and I got to see the live oaks and the iron wrought tables and doggie water fountain (!) for myself, this place became very special. To me, it represents what is possible. It reminded me that something can be bordered up and put in the back of your mind for years, but if you give it time, it can become one of the most important places in your life.
Other, less serious reasons to love Ellis Square?
#1. It has the afore-mentioned doggie water fountain. Amazing.
#2. According to sustainablesavannah.org, it is the most environmentally friendly of Savannah’s squares with “water-efficient plants, energy-efficient lighting and HVAC system in the glass-walled visitors center, and a green roof on the public bathrooms.”
#3. It will always remind me of our wedding weekend, since so many of our guests stayed at the wonderful Avia Hotel on Ellis Square.
#4. It makes my dog and my husband very happy. See below.
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