William Taylor Stores is a historic building in

Savannah, Georgia Savannah ( ) is the oldest city in the U.S. state of Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia and is the county seat of Chatham County, Georgia, Chatham County. Established in 1733 on the Savannah River, the city of Savannah became the Kingdom of Great Br ...

, United States. Located in Savannah's Historic District, the addresses of some of the properties are West Bay Street, above

Factors Walk Factors Walk, also commonly spelled Factor's Walk or Factors' Walk, is a historic street in Savannah, Georgia, United States. It runs for about along the upper levels of the southern frontages of the buildings of Factors Row, which is located ...

, while others solely utilize the former

King Cotton "King Cotton" is a slogan that summarized the strategy used before the American Civil War (of 1861–1865) by secessionists in the southern states (the future Confederate States of America) to claim the feasibility of secession and to prove ther ...

warehouses on River Street. As of February 2022, these are the Chart House Seafood in the eastern section (completed in 1806), while Modern Travel Network and American Gift Shop occupy the western section (completed in 1818). It is the oldest surviving structure on today's River Street, the oldest

ballast Ballast is material that is used to provide stability to a vehicle or structure. Ballast, other than cargo, may be placed in a vehicle, often a ship or the gondola of a balloon or airship, to provide stability. A compartment within a boat, ship, ...

-stone cotton warehouse in the country,''The Majesty of Savannah'', Peter Beney (1992), p. 50 and stated by the

Historic American Buildings Survey Heritage Documentation Programs (HDP) is a division of the U.S. National Park Service (NPS) responsible for administering the Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS), Historic American Engineering Record (HAER), and Historic American Landscapes ...

(HABS) as being significant as an "early example of a multi-storied river embankment storage warehouse". The eastern section, today's 202 and 204, was formerly Southern Marine Supply Company Incorporated, while the western section, now 206, was known as the Taylor House at the time of its construction. The buildings were partially destroyed by fire in 1885 and rebuilt the same year.

William Taylor

William Taylor (1769–1840), a merchant and slave owner, was a Scottish emigrant who initially moved to

South Carolina )''Animis opibusque parati'' ( for, , Latin, Prepared in mind and resources, links=no) , anthem = " Carolina";" South Carolina On My Mind" , Former = Province of South Carolina , seat = Columbia , LargestCity = Charleston , LargestMetro = ...

. He married Mary Elizabeth Clayton Miller in Stateburg, South Carolina, in 1799. Taylor was a partner with both his brother-in-law and Andrew Low for a period. He was president of the

Saint Andrew's Society Saint Andrew's Society refers to one of many independent organizations celebrating Scottish heritage which can be found all over the world. Some Saint Andrew's Societies limit membership to people born in Scotland or their descendants. Some sti ...

, an organization that assisted Scottish immigrants to the United States. Upon Taylor's death in 1840, one of the executors of his will was

William Washington William Washington (February 28, 1752 – March 6, 1810) was a cavalry officer of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War, who held a final rank of brigadier general in the newly created United States after the war. Primaril ...

, the father of Girl Scouts founder

Juliette Gordon Low Juliette Gordon Low (October 31, 1860 – January 17, 1927) was the American founder of Girl Scouts of the USA. Inspired by the work of Lord Baden-Powell, founder of Boy Scouts, she joined the Girl Guide movement in England, forming her own gro ...

. The Taylors had several children, although only two survived: Alexander Miller Taylor (1800–1829) and Elizabeth Ann Taylor Goodwin (1802–1882). Elizabeth survived her husband by six years (died in 1846).''Georgia Quilts: Piecing Together a History'' (2006), p. 51

Interior views

INTERIOR, FIRST FLOOR, DETAIL OF CEILING RAFTER CONSTRUCTION - William Taylor Store, 204 West Bay Street, Savannah, Chatham County, GA HABS GA,26-SAV,82-5.tif, The inside of one of the first-floor stores File:INTERIOR, FIRST FLOOR, GENERAL VIEW, LOOKING NORTH - William Taylor Store, 204 West Bay Street, Savannah, Chatham County, GA HABS GA,26-SAV,82-4.tif,

River Street façade

DSC 9841 (8094644342).jpg, From the

Savannah River The Savannah River is a major river in the southeastern United States, forming most of the border between the states of South Carolina and Georgia. Two tributaries of the Savannah, the Tugaloo River and the Chattooga River, form the norther ...

. The Jones and Telfair Range is on the left 200 Savannah river front.jpg, The River Street façade (center), with the

Lowden Building Lowden Building is a historic building in Savannah, Georgia, United States. Located in Savannah's Historic District, the addresses of some of the properties are West Bay Street, above Factors Walk, while others solely utilize the former King Co ...

closest to the camera NORTH REAR - William Taylor Store, 204 West Bay Street, Savannah, Chatham County, GA HABS GA,26-SAV,82-2.tif, A 1930s view DETAIL, NORTH REAR, WESTERN PORTION - William Taylor Store, 204 West Bay Street, Savannah, Chatham County, GA HABS GA,26-SAV,82-3.tif, Detail of the former Taylor House

Barnard Street elevation

SOUTH FRONT AND EAST SIDE - William Taylor Store, 204 West Bay Street, Savannah, Chatham County, GA HABS GA,26-SAV,82-1.tif, The building's eastern elevation in the 1930s

References

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External links