meet your neighbors “ Ardsley Staff Writer - Sally Whitehead It will be an especially for Ardsley Park—a neighborhood Photos by Ardsley Park Productions - Zachary Burke so and keen exciting on preserving month it for future generations to enjoy. “ rich in history DAVENPORT HOUSE MUSEUM April 25th, 2020, marks the 200th birthday of Davenport House, and about their JI experiences--and was equally glad to of course the saving of this historic property led to the formation discover they were eager to tell me! JUNIOR INTERPRETERS GEAR UP FOR of Historic Savannah Foundation (HSF) in 1955. May is Historic Preservation Month and HSF and Davenport House Museum (DHM) “I first heard about the program from a former JI, have several exciting events planned to celebrate all of the hard Rebecca Robinson,” explained Cailyn, a junior, work accomplished throughout the year to preserve the beauty and whose major is Visual Arts with a preference of history of Savannah! From April - May this year, HSF and DHM will 3D art and fashion. Cailyn recently participated host Davenport House’s 200th birthday celebration, the launch of a in SAA’s famous “Junk to Funk” show and, in her cookbook and book signing, walking tours, tea at the Davenports, a “spare time,” she makes her own jewelry, is active th Birthday Celebrations musical lecture and concert, a Preservation Awards Dinner, Wine in several academic clubs and plays soccer for SAA. Tasting and Historic Tour, and a special Louise Lauretti Preservation “I love history; I live in a historic house downtown Month Lecture that is free and open to the public. It will be an and when I heard about becoming a JI from Rebec- especially exciting month for Ardsley Park—a neighborhood so rich ca, I couldn’t wait to do the program!” 200 in history and keen on preserving it for future generations to enjoy. Word of mouth is a great way for students to hear A few weeks ago, I had the tremendous pleasure of interviewing about becoming a JI, but most of the time, the five Savannah Arts Academy students, all of whom are actively excitement is apparently generated by SAA’s AP involved with the Davenport House Museum’s Junior Interpreter American History teacher Mr. Johnson. (JI) Program: Naiomi Cookson, Ava Burr, Cailyn Kurdys, Adam Davis, and Emma Madsen. I was prepared for these seventeen “After Mr. Johnson explained the JI opportunity to us, and eighteen-year-olds to be exceptionally bright, fascinating and I went to the Interest Meeting, put my name down on engaging; however, what I wasn’t prepared for was the remark- able level of passion and dedication each one demonstrated for both the Junior Interpreter Program itself and for historic pres- ervation as a whole! LIZA DIMARCO

The Davenport House, which is owned by Historic Savannah Foun- L U XUR Y HOM E MA R K E TIN G SPE CIALIST dation (HSF), tells the story of early 19th century Savannah through the Isaiah Davenport household, the 1820 Federal-style house Dav- enport built and historic interiors interpretation. The Junior Inter- Personable • Passionate preter (JI) program began in March 2003, to provide an educational and a service-oriented program for students ages fourteen through Professional eighteen who desire to make long-term commitment to the Daven- Your Luxury Property Marketing Expert port House, with the ultimate goal of developing advocates and stew- ards of the community’s museums. A JI “interprets” the museum to the public, meaning he or she is trained to lead visitors through the V L' P museum and has attained--or is attaining--the same skills as that O H  of an adult interpreter/tour guide. During the summer of 2003, the .  first group of JIs completed training and began giving tours of the

museum house. The training process takes eight weeks to complete; Follow Me On YouTube @ after which, each JI conducts an evaluation tour with the program’s Liza Dimarco real estate coordinator and can then begin giving tours to the public. Each fall, the Davenport House and Savannah Arts Academy partner together to offer the JI program to a group of lottery-selected, SAA American History students under the enthusiastic tutelage of AP American History teacher Michael Johnson.

When I heard excited voices and peals of laughter coming from our 912-233-6000 after-school meeting room, I sensed these kids shared a special, 13 E. York Street from l to r: Ava Burr, Emma Madsen, Adam Davis, Cailyn Kurdys, and Naiomi Cookson. common bond. I looked forward to hearing what they’d have to say 10 Ardsley Living • April 2020 April 2020 • Ardsley Living 11 “ Finally, the weekend after Thanksgiving, “JI Day” arrives and new think downtown is ‘Savannah,’ but I don’t think I In Ardsley Park, it’s to keep that . trainees are paired off to lead their first group of tourists through the could live there. Here, in Ardsley, I might see a man House. “It’s your first time ever giving a tour to the public,” Adam pushing a stroller with his child, or people like Ava It’s such a big part of Savannah importantand that’s why people come here;history alive recalls. “You sign up for one day and after working together in pairs, jogging and there are schools here–it’s the ‘neigh- at the end of the day, you’re allowed to give tours on your own.” borhood Savannah’!” “that makes the city . it’s the history so different Sometimes being a docent becomes a family affair! Cailyn’s Naiomi spoke about the importance of preserv- mother watched her daughter go through the JI process. “I was ing Ardsley Park because she believes the homes the list to say I was interested, and went from there!” participate. I could ride my bike to training, which was great. If you always telling my mom; you should do this--it’s so much up your demonstrate a different time period. “It’s almost a says Naiomi, a senior with a major in Arts Com- keep at it, you might get hired as staff--which I was in August!” alley.” Cailyn’s mother liked her daughter’s suggestion, completed century later; the homes are younger than some of munication. Naiomi works on the film and business her own docent training the following summer and enjoys giving the downtown homes, so you can see how the styles programs at SAA and somehow manages to be active Last, but certainly not least of the five, was Adam, a senior at SAA Davenport House Museum tours whenever she’s needed. changed and how people were changing too.” in eight clubs and an officer in four--secretary of the with a major in Chorus. Besides his two-year involvement as a JI, Senior Council, co-president of Future Business Lead- Adam is also president of the Spanish Honor Club, vice-president Naiomi, Ava, Cailyn, Adam and Emma all feel strongly about his- Toward the end of our fascinating conversation, ers of America (FBLA) and communication director of the International Club and was captain of this year’s Reading toric preservation in Ardsley Park, as well as in all appropriated Adam shared how his tenure with the Davenport for both the International and Key clubs. She’s applied Bowl competition. He’s been accepted at Fordham University, UGA, areas of Savannah. Ava, for instance, is a runner who loves to run House Museum had created a passion for preserva- to nine universities for the fall and has already been GA Tech and Sexton Hall University—and is waiting to hear back in historic districts, like Ardsley Park, to avoid boredom. “Any tion that evolved into new plans for his future. “I’m accepted by two: SCAD and Champlain in Burlington, from three more. In addition to those outstanding accomplishments, buildings I see that are older, I take note, and especially in this trying to pursue it [preservation] as a career. My ma- VT. Her dream school is Harvard! Adam’s performed in many of the Savannah Children’s Theatre’s neighborhood, we really need to take care of what’s old here and jor at every school I’ve applied to is public policy or dramatic stage productions and, more recently, became involved in not tear anything down.” political science. Recently I sat down to think about When speaking with Davenport House Museum their Aerial Arts program–a.k.a. the CIRCUS! what I wanted to do; I want to travel and I want to Director Jamie Credle about the Junior Interpreter Cailyn’s parents are downtown property managers who’ve re- preserve things. My dream would be to travel the Program, I quickly understood where at least some of “I think it’s super cool when people ask ‘what’s your job’ and I stored several older homes, instilling in her an acute appreciation world doing legal work for historic preservation. For the veteran JI’s enthusiasm came from--and why her say I’m a docent at a historic house and they say ‘that’s so cool!” for historic preservation. “Each one of the homes they restored instance, I’d have worked with the Notre Dame fire trainees think she’s awesome! She hopes that all of Adam enthused. “I just wish more museums would give this kind is so unique. In Ardsley Park, it’s important to keep that history and restoration process. If I hadn’t worked at the JIs acquire a new love of museums and culture and is of opportunity to kids. Why not get paid to preserve the future— alive. It’s such a big part of Savannah and that’s why people come Davenport House, I’d be on a completely different also pleased their volunteer hours can count toward and our past?” The rest of the group chimed in to add how proud here; it’s the history that makes the city so different.” path than what I want to do now.” the community service hours necessary to complete it made them to know people realized they’d put real thought into graduation requirements. If, she says, timing and becoming JIs and were sincerely invested in their docent jobs. Emma expressed that she likes Ardsley Park because of its Thanks to the Junior Interpreter program, each skill come together, a few of the most committed JIs They also hoped to inspire others to follow suit. beauty, but also because of the particular way it feels. “People of these outstanding young adults have gleaned an qualify to become paid staff-docents. But, whether volunteers or staff, Jamie insists JIs are a mainstay to According to these five JIs—all of whom eventually became paid the museum’s success. “For instance--it’s because of staff-docents—the JI training program is both a lot of fun and inten- our JIs participation on Super Museum Sunday that sive. Trainees are presented with a binder that includes a complete we’re able to offer visitors a credible experience of outline of the house. Information is added each week, which is the entire Davenport House Museum, as opposed to intended to be memorized. “That binder became pretty much our giving them just a taste!” lifeline throughout the whole program,” explained Cailyn. “It had everything in it to help us learn how to create a good tour.” Besides working as a paid docent at the Davenport House, Ava, a junior and Visual Arts major, whose “One of the first things that happened during my training was preferred medium is painting and sculpture, also former JIs came and gave us a quick tour of the house.” Adam finds time to run track and cross country and to com- remembered. “Watching them was where I gained a lot of my pete in Mock Trial. She says, “If you keep volunteer- knowledge about how to do tours. During the trainings, we also ing and show you’re really interested, you’ll become got to do activities, like a game called ‘button on a string’—it’s so a good tour guide; then you might be picked for a much fun! And, Jamie always brought us food!” permanent job, which is what happened with me.” As part of the program, the trainees also toured other historic houses Emma is a junior with an Arts Communications major in Savannah--such as the Kehoe House, Andrew Low, Owens-Thom- and does a lot of work with SAA’s film and business as and Flannery O’Connor Houses—which they said played an programs. She also competes in Mock Trial, FBLA, important part in nurturing an even deeper appreciation for historic Science and Quiz Bowls and plays on SAA’s tennis preservation. They also felt it was important that they had found team. “And,” she laughs, “I really like to read!” Emma out as much as they could about the Davenport household. “During was unable to attend the fall program during her soph- training, we didn’t just learn about the house itself,” explained Adam. omore year, but was able to make the JI’s summer “Every week, we’d talk about a specific room and then we’d talk about training in June and July. “My sister was a former the people who lived there. The Davenports were examples of what a JI volunteer, so I knew about it, and really wanted to middle-class family would have looked like back then.” 12 Ardsley Living • April 2020 April 2020 • Ardsley Living 13 It’s still to say I’m a tour guide at the Davenport House. “ PET’S LOVE US, I have a job that’s a realsuper thing. It’scool like a whole there; PEOPLE TRUST US I’m“ friends with , both young andcommunity old. of people Open To everyone Care For expanded view of the world around them and the actual art–be that antique oil paintings, sculptures or buildings. Your Fur impetus to care for it. While her parents’ home “We don’t build houses anymore like they built the Davenport Babies! restoration business certainly fostered her love of House. You can’t find construction like that at all. I think it’s history, Cailyn shared that working at the Daven- really important to save everything like that, not just the history port House caused her to see historic Savannah in but the edifice itself.” Adam spoke about the need to continue a whole new light. Emma thoughtfully reminded the upkeep of Savannah Arts Academy and make the necessary us about the importance of preserving not just the repairs to a school which stands tall as a beautiful reminder of houses, but the stories of the people who lived in Ardsley Park’s awe-inspiring history. them—as well as those of the people they owned as Daniel enslaved workers. “If it wasn’t for the Davenport When asked if they thought historic preservation was important Bates House, we wouldn’t even know their names,” she to their generation, Adam admitted he feared it becoming lost Ardsley Resident Owned & said. For Ava, her personal connection is preserving with his contemporaries--a notion he finds deeply disturbing. “If Operated we didn’t have preservation, who knows what we’d have now?” he questions. “And, you can’t appreciate what you have now, if you can’t go back and learn about history.”

The JIs are especially excited about the Davenport House’s 200th [email protected] National Historic Preservation 5500 White Bluff Road Suite B. Anniversary! Adam said: “I’ve been SO ready for it. I told all the Events Will Be Scheduled Later This (from Abercorn Street make a right onto 73rd Street) visitors last year to come back next year—we’re turning 200!” (912) 349-2398 Year After The Threat Of Covid-19 Has Passed. Updates Will Be When asked what else they might add to encourage students to Provided In Our May Edition And At consider becoming a Junior Interpreter, Ava said, “Even though the novelty’s worn off of it being my first job, it’s still super cool to say www.myHSF.org and I’m a tour guide at the Davenport House. I have a job that’s a real www.davenporthousemuseum.org thing. It’s like a whole community of people there; I’m friends with everyone, both young and old.” Adam reiterated how much working • Events to celebrate historic preser- at the museum had appealed to college administrators during inter- vation include: Davenport House’s views. Emma said she really liked it when people asked questions. 200th Birthday Celebration “That’s when I get to tell them some really cool things that they • Early Bird Preservation Walking wouldn’t have otherwise known; I think that’s great!” According to Tours of the Landmark Cailyn, reasons vary as to why students initially decide to become Historic District JIs. “Maybe they hope to get hired for a job--or maybe it’s just the Old Southern Cookery - Cookbook snacks!” she jokes. “I don’t know if there are too many there at first Launch and Book Signing because they love history. But, by the end of it, they fall in love with • Historic Tea Service at the the House and really begin to enjoy themselves—after that, they be- Davenports come passionate about history!” Naiomi admitted that when she first • Preservation Awards Dinner joined the program, she hadn’t understood what a great opportunity • Wine Tasting and Historic she’d been given. “But later, I realized how it had opened so many Home Tour doors to ideas and things I might have never considered before. It’s a • The Louise Lauretti great way to expand your horizons.” Preservation Lecture Clearly, the Davenport House Museum’s Junior Interpreter Program is a magnificent success! How wonderful to be heading into Historic Preservation Month and a Bicentennial Anniversary knowing these extraordinary JIs will be following in the footsteps of those who work to preserve the past for the sake of the future. A huge congrat- LFPR is committed to www.lesleyfrancispr.com ulations and thank you to the Davenport House Museum staff and [email protected] | (912)-417-LFPR (5377) Historic Savannah Foundation for ALL you do for Savannah! our community

14 Ardsley Living • April 2020 April 2020 • Ardsley Living 15