Chatham Square

About This Square

Established in 1847, the square was named for William Pitt, the First Earl of Chatham, the name also given to the county in which Savannah is located. Although Pitt never visited Savannah, he was a supporter of the idea of creating Georgia and is given credit for helping it become a colony.

Although most of the square is simple park greenery, trees, and benches, there are two features worth noting – a bronze sundial and a historic marker, both dedicated to Louis B. Toomer.  Born in 1897 in Savannah, Tomer was a Black banker who helped found the Georgia Savings and Realty Company, which primarily catered to Black residents during segregation when most white-owned banks wouldn’t.  He also served as Secretary of the Treasury under Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Chatham Square is surrounded by lovely homes, many of which are original, dating back to the late 1840s and early 1850s.

The primary exception is the building at the northwest corner of the square, which was built in 1906 as the Barnard Street School.  For many years Chatham square was used as a playground for kids attending the school and some locals still refer to it as Barnard Square, even though it never officially had that name.

The Barnard School building is now SCAD’s Pepe Hall, devoted to the study of fibers (it is filled with looms, dye kitchens, sewing machines, and so on).