God’s Acre: Behold A Storyteller Is Born! (Chapter One)

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“Hedged in by city streets and tradition blest, lies a sleeping township long since silenced into rest”

                                                     — Elfrida DeRenne Barrow

In many ways, I chose to move to Savannah 32 years ago because of this very special burial ground. No fooling. The decision was made one late spring evening while sitting directly below the low hanging branches of a live oak, arms stretched out on the back of a cemetery bench. I recall sliding down in my seat a bit and leaning my head comfortably so I could stare up through the giant tree branches at the stars above, and then I exhaled, making myself one with the place. I felt at home. Like I’d made it.

My parents and brother were sleeping in the nearby DeSoto Hilton hotel, and per my nighthawk habits, I let myself out and wandered over to Colonial Park Cemetery. It was fascinating to me that it was open all night. We were here visiting The Savannah College of Art & Design, and while they had granted me a handsome scholarship for the study of Fine Arts, the cemetery is what really sealed the deal.

Although I had not verbalized it while inside of the experience, looking back I remember musing at how surreal it was to be in this cemetery in the middle of town. It was legal for me to be here at 1AM and not 50 feet away was the early grave site of George Washington’s 2nd in command, Nathanael Greene; a man who literally gave it all away for our country’s birth. And just slightly up from my location was the plot belonging to Declaration of Independence signer, Button Gwinnett. At the time, his autograph was considered the rarest and most valuable in the world. Never mind that directly in front of me, I could sight and partially read the grave marker plaque of Teddy Roosevelt’s great-great-grandfather, Archibald Bulloch; a man so fiercely patriotic, he declined going to Independence Hall as a signer because he felt his duty was to be on the front of things bubbling in Georgia. All of this was completely blowing the mind of my inner history buff kid who revered Williamsburg second to none but had found a new Holy City! I really wanted to run around, wake them all up, and ask them a ton of questions! But more than anything, this place spoke to something core existential that my spirit had been craving. I suddenly understood I wanted to live an existence close to the graves of my heroes — immersing myself in the streets and buildings they knew — and that these would be the sources for inspiring my personal art.

Little did I know, this moment would soon lead to the making of a story archaeologist, and the art I would make would be the stuff of graveside legend and not without controversy!

Starting March 15th 2020, I invite the public to join me in the reprisal of my original 1990s Savannah tour, The God’s Acre Tour of Colonial Park Cemetery. This 2 Hour Tour will be offered daily and will be full of surprises. You’ll soon see that this small patch of  cemetery with scattered graves and crypts is the richest story acreage in all of The Historic District!
                           http://www.GodsAcreTour.com

CHAPTER TWO COMING TOMORROW!

View towards the police barracks & Old City Jail. Can you find the policeman reading a crypt?

 

Shannon Scott Back On The Storytelling Deck!

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Hi everyone & Happy St Patrick’s! Some have wondered about my whereabouts in recent months and I wanted to fill everyone in! I’ve been sparse on my own tours for very good reason but will be back on deck regularly St Patrick’s Day! I will also be available for private tours 7 Days & 7 Nights A Week in addition to the regular weekly schedule!

Namely, the big news is that as of last November 1st, I’m no longer affiliated with 6th Sense World, Bonaventure Cemetery Tours (I’m Bonaventure Cemetery Journeys) or the welcome center store on Bonaventure Rd that many of you have supported and enjoyed. I had an amicable parting of ways just because we all outgrow situations and I found that my vision is a particular path that requires me at the helm of everything. Since? I have been deeeeeep down in the laboratory preparing to launch daily tours of Colonial Park Cemetery & Laurel Grove Cemetery North along with other special group event tours like, GOOD & EVIL X and rebooting Dinner & A Cemetery. I will also have some very specialized Low Country private tours that include parts of South Carolina & Georgia. Essentially I am taking EVERYTHING that is inside of my knowledge warehouses and offering it to the public as a touring opportunity and this is going to be a BIG year for Shannon Scott Tours! Oh, and our new motto? “The Dead People Story People!”

Not least of all, starting next week of March 17th, I will be launching a personal concierge service called The Savannah Expert. Having run a publishing company for 7 years, working as a chef for as many and having just given solid advice in Savannah for 30 years? Well, I’m turning that into a business where for travelers, both in advance and already here, I tailor make their trip so that it is as fail-safe as it can possibly be! So if you yourself are a tour operator, hotelier, restaurant owner/manager or whatever it is in Savannah that people need? And you’re exceptional at doing that in my eyes? You will be 100% hearing from my clients and seeing them seeking out your establishments! Even if it means I don’t recommend my own tour, I will be recommending whatever best suits the needs of that visitor! PERIOD! 

Last and perhaps most importantly? A big part of my success in this transition has hinged upon the fact that fellow storytellers, Lisa Marie, Rich Lane, Jessica Hodges are an active part of the new team as are marketing and design greats, Tami Sabo, Stacy Hill and Matt Duplessie! Some of them have been with me as friends and cohorts for over a decade so really this all feels like a family moving forward together! I’m grateful and when you see these fine people out there, please share your appreciation as well!

Come Roam With US Soon! The Storyist, Shannon Scott

Photo Courtesy of LONELY PLANET

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