Savannah Standard

The City of Savannah and the Georgia Historical Society (GHS) are set to unveil a historical marker commemorating The Montmollin Building and Bryan School on Wednesday, April 10, at 2 p.m. The marker will be located in the public right-of-way on the northwest corner of City Market, on Barnard Street across from Ellis Square.

According to the City Council's approval on February 8, 2024, the historical marker installation is a result of a partnership between GHS, the administrator of the Georgia Historical Marker program, and the City of Savannah’s Municipal Archives.

Speaking about the significance of the Montmollin Building's transformation, Luciana Spracher, the City of Savannah Municipal Archives Director, emphasized, "The transition of the Montmollin Building’s use from slave mart to free school in 1865 captures a pivotal moment in history as newly freed African Americans worked to secure their rights and freedoms by forging a path forward through education."

The Montmollin Building, initially a slave brokerage upon its completion in 1856, played a crucial role in history. Confiscated by the U.S. Government during the Civil War and given to the African American community, it was repurposed into the Bryan Free School in 1865, becoming one of Georgia’s first legal Black schools.

The dedication ceremony on April 10 will see the presence of Mayor Van R. Johnson, II, GHS President Dr. W. Todd Groce, City Manager Joseph A. Melder, District 2 Alderman Detric Leggett, Reverend Thurmond Neill Tillman, Reverend Christopher J. Pittman, and City staff. The event is open to the media and the general public.

The unveiling of the Montmollin Building/Bryan School Historical Marker is a significant step in recognizing and sharing the important history of this landmark with residents and visitors of Savannah.