Savannah Morning News

The Heritage House was completed in July 1876 by Savannah builder Alexander Marcus Barbee, whose ancestors still live on Isle of Hope today.  He was 46 years old when he took on the construction project.

Here’s a reprint of the original Savannah Morning News article announcing the building’s completion:

Savannah Morning News Article
July 21, 1876

Improvements on Price Street
Notwithstanding the extreme dullness of the spring and summer Mr. Fred Wessels has, with commendable enterprise, succeeded in completing a handsome range of five two-story brick tenement houses on the lot corner of Price and Taylor streets, which are admirably adapted to that class of our citizens who desire comfortable and convenient and at the same time cheap homes.

Mr. Wessels, who is a German, has with German utilization not only succeeded in placing five dwellings at a moderate rental upon the market, but has most wonderfully improved that portion of the city in which they are situated.  The dwellings each contain seven rooms, well finished, with water in each yard.  They were commenced on the 25th of April last, and are now ready for occupation.  Their construction was under the superintendence of Mr. Alex. M. Barbee, an experienced master mechanic, and the faithful character of the workmanship reflects credit upon his skill as a builder.

Learn more about Fred Wessels and his descendants.

Back to Heritage House, historic Savannah vacation rental.