Another Great Savannah Architect

Preston's Architectural Drawing of Home at Monumental Beach, Massachusetts of America's original bungalow

It should surprise no one when a city with such beautiful architecture has the works of some of our country’s greatest architects. William Gibbons Preston lived September 29, 1842 – March 26, 1910. He first learned architecture from his father Johnathan Preston where he practiced from 1861 - 1885. He was a Bostonian and Harvard graduate. He continued his studies at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris. His work is scattered throughout the cities of Boston, New York, Rhode Island, Ohio, and most importantly Savannah.
His career In Boston would include the design for the Rogers Building Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s original site which has been demolished. He introduced the bungalow style of architecture to the United States in his design of a home in Monument Beach, Massachusetts in 1879. His buildings helped shape Boston’s architectural landscape.
He was an active member and fellow of the American Institute of Architect and was a vice president of the organization during the late 1890s. He also was a precursor of the historical preservation movement influential in the successful 1896 effort to prevent the demolition of Boston’s historic State House. The historic state house was built in 1798 by Charles Bulfinch. Bulfinch was also the architect of the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C. As if he was not busy enough he was also a member of the Boston Art Club and exhibited there for over twenty years. His works are still sought after today.
Without Gibbon’s work in Savannah, just as in Boston, has helped shape our architectural landscape. During his stay here he was prolific. He designed the Savannah Volunteer Guards Armory on Bull Street (1893) which is the building Savannah College of Art and Design started now called Poetter Hall. He designed the Cotton Exchange Building, originally called King Cotton’s Palace, (1886). This building has the distinction of being, if not the only, one of the few to be designed above a street that is still in use. He designed the old County Courthouse (1889).  All of these still stand but one of his more famous works in Savannah was the old Desoto Hotel (1890) whose destruction left many a historic preservationist’s heart broken. Besides these buildings he designed 20 other civic and private buildings throughout the Historic District.
Savannah has been blessed with some of our country’s greatest architects. William G. Preston certainly rates as one of our finest.
 
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Savannah Cotton Exchange

Old Chatham County Courthouse

Poetter Hall

Preston designed Savannah Victorian Home