08/18/2023
Hello Friends,
Please support my proposal to name the former Calhoun Square in honor of Dr. John Aloysius Casey, known as one of "Georgia's Medical Martyrs." Dr. Casey was the son-in-law of Major John Berrien.
Dr. Casey was a Savannah physician who lost his life in the course of his selfless effort to treat the victims of the first major Yellow Fever epidemic in 1819. He was also one of the doctors who began raising money for a hospital for African Americans, which came to fruition in 1832, several after his death, as the Georgia Infirmary, the oldest African American hospital in the United States.
Therefore, if you consider Dr. Casey a worthy candidate, please sign this petition and/or please send a brief email of support to [email protected].
In addition to honoring the brave sacrifice of Dr. Casey, the name Casey Square also honors other members of the Casey family including two of his granddaughters - Frances Pamela Casey Meldrim and Sarah Berrien Casey Morgan. Mrs. Meldrim was an early preservationist in Savannah, working to save its important monuments in the late 19th century. Mrs. Morgan was a suffragette, the first woman registered to vote in Chatham County, Georgia, and the first woman alderman in Savannah.
Here is the text for a sample letter:
Template:
Dear City of Savannah,
I hereby support the renaming of the former Calhoun Square as Casey Square in honor of Dr. John Aloysius Casey.
Regards,
[Name]
[Address]
