Whether you want to sit on a bench in the park or bring a blanket for a picnic, Greene Square is a great spot to do so. This neighborhood square was established in 1799 to honor General Nathanael Greene, an American Revolutionary War hero who was second in command to George Washington. After the war he lived about 15 miles outside of Savannah in his “Mulberry Grove” estate. There is also a monument in honor of General Greene in Johnson Square.
In the 19th century Green Square was the central hub for the African-American community, with several prominent buildings surrounding the square. This includes the Cunningham House, which was built on the northwest corner in 1810 by Henry Cunningham, a former slave and founding pastor of the Second African Baptist Church.
The Second African Baptist Church, which was then called the Second Colored Church, was just off the square and in 1802, when the congregation reached 850 members, it split and 200 of the members. It wasn’t until 1823 that the churches were renamed the First African Baptist Church and the Second African Baptist Church.
The Kate Baldwin Free Kindergarten, which opened in 1899 and was founded by Kate A. Baldwin’s children as a memorial for her, is also located just off the square. This center was a place to educate young children and prepare them for the schools they’d soon be entering. Between 1899 and 1943, the Kate Baldwin Free Kindergarten educated about 4,000 children, before later becoming the Savannah Nursery School and the Montessori Pre-School.