History

In 1822, the Savannah Widows’ Society was organized by a group of Savannah ladies, and in December 1837, was incorporated by special Act of Legislature, the articles of incorporation being signed by Governor George B. Gilmer, and the presiding officers of both Houses.

The purpose of the Society was to provide housing and care for widows and unmarried women, also widows with children who were residents of Savannah and Chatham County.

The Constitution and By-Laws stipulated that the Society should be governed by a Board of four major officers and twenty-eight directresses who should constitute the Board of Managers of the Society with ten members to constitute a quorum.

The members who were incorporated consisted of the following: Mary C. Cleland, Eliza Floyd, Eliza C. Nicoll, Margaret T. Snider, Eliza Mackay, Eliza Postell, Mary Densler, Elizabeth Stiles, Susan Maxwell, Corrin Hutchison, C. A. Anderson, Mary Pooler, Ann Baker, C. Herb, L. Shellman, G. A. Houston and B. S. Roberts. Meetings were held monthly and any members absent or late were fined twenty-five cents.

In 1834, the city of Savannah gave to the Savannah Widows’ Society two lots on South Broad Street, (now known as Oglethorpe Avenue). On these two lots were small wooden houses which were erected to serve as an asylum for aged pensioners. These quarters were used until 1859 when the Savannah Widows’ Society, thru the bequest of Mrs. Dorothea B. Abrahams, came into possession of the building now on the corner of East Broad and Broughton Streets, named in honor of the donor. This was used as a home for aged women, without regard to religion, sect or nationality. Children were not allowed.
Mrs. Abrahams was a very ardent and sympathetic worker in the Widows’ Society. She was the wife of Abraham DeLyon Abrahams, a merchant who had come over from Charleston, S.C. as a young man. “Mrs. Dorothea”, as she was called, was a native of Anastasia, West Indies. He was a Jew and she was a Protestant, but they were both in complete accord with giving aid to those in need. Mr. Abrahams accumulated a great deal of property in the County, including tracts of land at Greenwich, Harrock Hall and Cedar Hammock. He died in 1844 and is buried in the Sheftall Cemetery on Cohen Street in Savannah. “Mrs. Dorothea” lived nine years following her husband’s death, continuing the good works they had done as a team. In her death those who claimed her sympathies in life were not forgotten. Mrs. Abrahams directed that her real estate, valued at about $20,000, be sold and the net proceeds invested in a building of brick to be erected on her two lots on Broughton and East Broad Streets where formerly the Savannah Poor House and Hospital had been. Attached to her Will was a pencilled plan of a building she hoped might be utilized. She had written in the margin of her will “Plan of a building to be erected on Lots 33 and 34 (Broughton Street) Washington Ward, after my death.” Mrs. Abrahams died in 1853. In an editorial in the Savannah paper at the time of her death, the editor spoke of her “daily practice of benevolence and charity for relieving the wants and alleviating the sufferings of the indigent Widows of our community,” and on her tomb in Laurel Grove Cemetery is written that she gave her earthly possessions to the poor females of Savannah that a home might be afforded to the desolate and oppressed. Beneath are written the words, so justly due: “The memory of the kind and just shall blossom when they sleep in dust.”

The architect was J. S. Norris, and in January 1859, when the building or buildings were completed and a well dug, the land and buildings were given to the Savannah Widows’ Society for the free use and occupancy of poor and indigent widows and single women. Mrs. Abrahams had added to her will that each female was to occupy one room by herself.

There were forty-one bedrooms, each with a fireplace. Chatham County contributed a substantial amount of maintenance. Some of the food was received from the county operated Brown Farm, where prisoners worked the fields.

Numerous improvements were made in the Abrahams Home from time to time. A steam furnace was installed in the basement with radiators in each room, replacing the fireplaces which had been used for heating. These fireplaces were eventually closed but the mantels were left for use by the ladies for whatever purpose they wanted. Later an elevator and some extra bathrooms were installed.

In 1875, Miss Mary Telfair gave to Savannah Widows’ Society four brick tenement houses on the corner of President and West Broad Streets, to be used benevolently for widows with children, as opposed to Mrs. Abrahams’ aid to indigent widows without dependent children and single destitute women. These houses served their purpose until 1948 when they were rented out in small units and the income used to help with the support of the Abrahams Home. Miss Telfair made this demise on the condition that the Savannah Widows’ Society should not sell or alienate said lots or improvements thereon nor hold the same subject to the debts or liabilities of said Society.
In 1950 the Savannah Garden Center took over the task of beautifying the walled-in garden in the rear of the Abrahams Home.

Mr. George Bignault, landscape architect, contributed blueprints for the old-fashioned garden, and thru the efforts of the various garden clubs, the garden became a Memorial Garden complete with a statue of St. Francis of Assisi, a water fountain with its basin of old Savannah brick, wrought iron furniture, and an abundance of all kinds of old-fashioned shrubs and flowers. There was a patio where the ladies could enjoy their late afternoon snacks in the Spring and Summer months. From time to time funds were received from various members in memory of their relatives or friends who had passed away. These funds were accumulated and when a sufficient amount was received, the money was spent for an addition to the Home or the garden and a page in the Memorial Book was prepared indicating the item and the donor or donors. In 1956, the garden was featured on the Tour of Homes sponsored by the Women’s Auxiliary of Christ Episcopal Church.

In September of 1952, because of the dilapidated condition of the buildings known as the Mary Telfair Home, the President of Savannah Widows’ Society obtained a release from the Board of Directors for the Savannah Home for Girls, to whom the property was to revert in the event of an attempt to sell, and a resolution was adopted by the Board of the Telfair Hospital agreeing to and waiving and releasing any claim that might result from the action of the Widows’ Society to having the improvements on Lot 30, Liberty Ward, Savannah Georgia razed. A contract authorizing the razing of the buildings, the clearing of the lot and one authorizing the rental contract for the use of the lot was completed in 1953, the contract being renewed each year and the Savannah Widows’ Society receiving the rental and accordingly paying the taxes on said lot. This lot was condemned by the County because of the need for its incorporation in the construction of the new Jail and Courthouse. Savannah Widows’ Society was paid by the County for this lot and the funds added to the Trust.

Abrahams Home saw many changes over the years. Always a group of fine dedicated citizens have served on its governing Board and ministers, lawyers, bankers and others have been ever ready to give of themselves
in service.

When Social Security came into effect, the ladies living in the Home contributed a portion of their checks to the Home to help defray expenses. The contributions were made on a graduated scale, according to the amounts of their checks.

In 1969, Mrs. F. A. Hollowbush, a dedicated member of the Board, donated funds with which to purchase the lot and building adjoining the Abrahams Home on the West side. Purchase was completed and the building was razed. In 1970, a brick fence fronting on Broughton Street was erected across Lot 1133, Washington Ward. This gave the Home a parking lot.

The number of ladies living in the Home gradually declined by reason of their deaths, or for the reason their families needed extra funds which their Social Security checks could supply, for their existence.

There was discussion that the Board should look into the question of whether the services offered by Abrahams Home were needed. There were very few residents and the cost of operating the Home was extensive. The consensus was perhaps we should sell and build a new Home or offer another type of service. Repairs were badly needed in all parts of the building.

Suggestion was made to contact a market record analyst to make a study of the need for our services in Savannah. An assessor’s report was that it would take half a million dollars to either restore or rebuild. A new building would accommodate more people. It was decided to employ a lawyer to learn what the terms of the will would allow us to do. Mr. B. H. Levy, Sr. was asked to do this and volunteered to perform the legal work without compensation.
An appraisal of the building disclosed a market value of $400,000 to $425,000. Decision was made to sell. This would give the Board added funds with which to continue to aid needy women. It was decided that we should abide as closely as possible to Mrs. Abrahams’ wishes.

In December of 1984, plans were made for the closing of Abrahams Home, the sale of contents and the placing of the few remaining residents in Nursing Homes, with their families, or in independent quarters, as warranted by the ladies’ physical and mental abilities.

Plans were made for the rental of office space from which applications for financial assistance by needy women could be accepted. Requests for this assistance were already being received. Space was found in the North Wing of the Senior Citizens’ Complex on Bull Street, and transition was begun.
The Home was sold in April of 1985 and the proceeds invested so that the Board could use the necessary funds for the purpose for which Savannah Widows’ Society was first organized, yet more extended. Today, after thorough examination of all pertinent facts presented by an applicant, the rotating Application Committee decides to whom aid will be granted - and the amount. The Society accepts applications without regard to race, creed, color, religion, or national origin.
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Those former guests, still residing in the Savannah area, are visited by their Board Member sponsors, presented with gifts on special occasions, have their needs fulfilled, as possible, and are entertained with a get-together luncheon during the holiday season as well as the summer season - joyous reunions for the ladies and the Board members.

From 1834 to 1985, the Savannah Widows' Society owned and supported various charity residences. The first residences were located on two lots on South Broad Street (Oglethorpe Avenue) that were given to the Society by the City of Savannah. Several small wooden houses were erected on this property as housing for elderly women. Those residences were used until 1859, when construction was completed on the Abrahams House (sometimes misspelled as the Abrams Home). This dwelling for approximately 40 aged women was located at the corner of Broughton and East Broad streets at the former location of the Savannah Poor House and Hospital. In 1875 additional property was given to the Society by Mary Telfair. The Mary Telfair Home, a set of twelve residences in four conjoined buildings, was located at the corner of West Broad and Broughton streets. This home served as a residence for widows with small children. Over time the Society's charity properties required more extensive upkeep due to the age of the buildings. For this reason, the Mary Telfair Home was razed in 1953. The Abrahams Home was disbanded in 1984 and the building sold the following year. 

The Savannah Widows' Society, in addition to offering housing, has also served the widows of Chatham County by making visitations to the individuals living in the charity residences. This service ended when the homes were discontinued. The Society continues to exist, however, and provides financial assistance to widowed or unmarried women over the age of 55 who can prove financial need. The board continues to meet monthly to handle the business of the Society.