Savannah the Gothic City: The Final Episode

Savannah continues to promote and develop its reputation as A Gothic City exemplar. We are consistently voted as one of the most haunted cities in the United States. Ghost tours are found everywhere. An annual Flannery O'Connor celebration is held in Lafayette Square in front of her childhood home. People dress up as O'Connor short story characters, chicken shit bingo is played, a march around the square with a brass band of sorts playing.  Forrest Gump jumps on tour buses and his bench is in the History museum.

The once neglected gothic architecture grows grander with restoration each passing day. The trees still hang with moss throughout the downtown and beyond. The Book (Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil) still brings fans to see the landmarks of the book. The Bird Girl sits in the Telfair Academy in an exhibit which tells the story of Bonaventure Cemetery. The Savannahian artists' Jack Leigh and Augusta Oeschlig whose work has been noted as having gothic themes are often exhibited in museums. The city continues to define itself as having  and being  proud of its Southern gothic heritage.

Lest you think the Gothic is a thing of the past Savannah continues to develop its Gothic Nature. The first opera about Savannah was commissioned by the Voice Festival in 2015. It is called Alice Ryley. And of course it reeks with Southern Gothic atmosphere and themes.  Michael Ching, the American composer and librettist who  was commissioned and penned the opera, said he was inspired by the heroic nature of Riley’s character. Sherrill Milnes the famed opera baritone singer of the Metropolitan Opera of New York plays the tour guide in a cameo appearance. It tells the story of Alice Ryley a historical character and now a ghost that haunts Wright Square where she was hung for murder. Alice Ryley is an indenture servant from Ireland who falls in love with a man who eventually kills their wicked overlord. She is brought to trial and even though she did not do the killing she is convicted and because of prejudice against her Catholic faith her appeal to General Oglethorpe is destroyed. It is discovered that she is pregnant and she is allowed to give birth but is hung the day after the child is born becoming the first woman to be hung in Georgia.  And today her ghost can be found in Wright Square once known as hanging square looking for her baby.

Yet another nod to all things Gothic is the new Graveface Museum recently opened on Factor's Walk. One floor has, the history of sideshow attractions explored through one of a kind photos and videos. All are dedicated to the memories of the traveling circus. Another exhibit down the hall  leads to the  the true-crime room. Inside, are exhibits dedicated to some of the country’s most infamous criminals and crimes. These include things as Jim Jones’s sunglasses and Charlie Manson’s sweatpants. One of the largest collections of John Wayne Gacy paintings and, various doodles from  other serial killers can be viewed.

The museum centers around the macabre and strange. The museum is also home to a room that contains well-over 15 pinball machines, Of course, all horror-themed featuring classic horror characters such as Elvira, Swamp Thing, Adams Family, and others. 

Closing:
But what does it mean to be a southern gothic city. It means you celebrate differences and the odd characters of the world. It means you are aware of the injustices of the world. We are aware that history is to be preserved not lived. That living in the past leaves us open to stagnation and decay. It means that we are aware of the poverty in our city and we know it must be ended or it will end our dreams of a great city. It means the South is our pride and we will rise again not to past glories but to a new justice filled city that celebrates differences and builds wealth for all.  So as we close this series know that Savannah is the city that defines southern gothic.

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