There's an archaeological dig going on at the time I write this, that is investigating an urban legend that the crypts on the left side of the walk (left side of this photo, but unable to be seen) were used for slave trading. However, as yet, all that has been turned up is evidence of some shops and storage. For more info, contact the Civil Rights Museum in Savannah Georgia, they are partly funding the dig.

It's the 'then and now' shots alone that make Shorpy worth the price of admission...er, submission...oh, never mind. Anyway, I like them.

Best ever then-and-now shot. Congratulations to timeandagain photo and also to the passage of time.

Except for the cars and those two exhaust fans, here is 1859 in color.

Below is the same view from July of 2010.

[Amazing! Not to mention a little spooky. - Dave]

Of course, these buildings were never unoccupied. They were commissioned by Stoddard from the New York architect John Norris, who has forever stamped Savannah with the range of public buildings he constructed there between 1845 and 1860. He left Savannah as soon as the Lower Range and the Upper Range were finished, to return North before war broke out.

During the Civil War - umm "War Between the States, as it's called there - these buildings were occupied by Sherman's officers. Today they are full of offices, businesses, and even a fine restaurant. They are listed on the National Register.

Since discovering Shorpy, I've become a huge F.B.Johnston fan. Her eye for composition is excellent, her exposures are perfect, and the rendition of highlights is IMHO second to none. So delicate, so silvery.

[The detail is thanks to FBJ's use of an 8x10 view camera. As for the highlights, a lot of that is thanks to the Shadows & Highlights filter in Photoshop, which is used to adjust all of the images I post here on Shorpy. Below, a before-and-after comparison of the original archival image (grayish circles) and the Shorpy version. Click to enlarge. - Dave]

In each and every one of Johnstons photos, you see the a master at work. The composition, light, shadow, and subjects are wonderful. And something else I have noticed and wonder if anyone else senses it. There is a slightly dark or macabre and foreboding undercurrent in the work. I can't quite put my finger on exactly what it is, but I feel it.

John Stoddard's building was saved and is now an upscale restaurant. It also was used in the Civil War as a planning office.