Cemeteries and Parks -- Entrance to Park

J. N. Wilson, Nos. 143 Broughton and 21 Bull Sts., Savannah, Ga.

1870-1897

Forsyth Park (Savannah, Ga.)

Savannah (Ga.) -- Monuments.

Parks -- Georgia -- Savannah.

Sphinx.

Black and white stereograph card of Sphinxes in Forsyth Park with double image affixed to yellow paper. Back of card has publisher information printed on yellow paper and title information handwritten in ink. These two beautiful Egyptian statues formerly flanked the entrance to Forsyth Park. the statures were blown up by small boys armed with large firecrackers. The sphinxes were about 6 feet long and constructed of a relatively soft metal alloy of zinc, tin and lead. The vandals packed the statues with giant firecrackers and blew them up. This first attempt was only strong enough to break up the statues into large chunks. Charles A. Cox, the owner of a tin and roofing shop was able to restore the statues. But the vandals came back with larger explosives and the already weakened statues did not survive the second assault.

The photographer of this card was Jerome N. Wilson. He was born in New York but came to Savannah in 1865, seeing opportunities to expand his profession and rebuild an economy. He was a professional photographer. He advertised as a photographer of cabinet cards, carte de visits, stereographs, ferrotypes, frames, and other photographic services. His success was mixed and he was involved in a number of lawsuits, large and small, some as trivial as an overhanging sign. Much of his property was lost due to these suits. He partnered with several photographers over the years. Wilson died in 1897.

No. 149 appears before title on back of card.

Scholars wishing to cite this item should include item title, Savannah Stereoview Collection, MS 018, Jen Library Archives and Special Collections, the Savannah College of Art and Design, and the item's url.

Image

Stereograph

3 1/2 x 6 7/8 inches

Albumen print

MS 018 Savannah Stereoview Collection, Jen Library Archives and Special Collections, the Savannah College of Art and Design.

Though this item is believed to be in the Public Domain, copyright may have been retained by the authors or creators of items in this collection, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.