Wetter House, Historic residence in Savannah, United States
The Wetter House was a three-story structure with stucco walls and cast iron balconies along West Oglethorpe Avenue. About 50 medallions decorated these balconies, each showing different cultural and historical figures.
During the Civil War, Confederate General Robert E. Lee made this his headquarters in Savannah. Confederate President Jefferson Davis visited him there on several occasions.
The cast iron balconies displayed medallions with portraits of writers, artists, and historical figures that reflected 19th-century values of the educated classes. These decorations showed how the owners wanted to connect their home to the larger world of culture and ideas.
The building no longer stands, as it was demolished in 1950. Its loss directly motivated the creation of the Historic Savannah Foundation, which continues to protect historic buildings throughout the city.
The elaborate cast iron balconies with their 50 medallions were originally ordered for the Georgia state capitol building. When that project was rejected, these expensive ornaments found their home on this residence instead.
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