About this Event
Historic Savannah Foundation (HSF), which is currently celebrating its 70th anniversary, will host a special discussion about “Savannah Legacy: A Story of African American Cultural Preservation and Innovation” on Thursday, January 23 at the HSF headquarters, located at 321 E. York St. This event will be the first in the 2025 Historic Savannah Foundation Lecture Series, “People, Places and Stories That Define Savannah.” Attendees are invited to a wine reception at 5:30 p.m. The lecture will start at 6 p.m.
The January HSF Lecture will feature Meredith Stone, a local architectural and urban designer, preservationist and real estate professional. This Savannah native will share her fascinating journey of genealogical research, including the incredible story of how she uncovered her family’s path from slavery to becoming prominent community leaders.
In her lecture, Stone will discuss efforts to restore her family’s ancestral property, an 1890s home located south of Savannah State University. The Stone home notably became a haven for the local Black community during segregation and is situated on the former Placentia Plantation, where generations of the Stone family were once enslaved. The property is currently being nominated for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places, due to the significant contributions of Percy H. Stone, Harriet P. Stone, Monroe Nathan Work and the entire Stone family.
Stone and her family seek to honor the legacy of Percy and Harriet Stone by archiving their personal libraries and maintaining the family home.
A graduate of Howard University, Stone earned a master’s degree in architecture and serves as a design associate with Gunn Meyerhoff Shay Architects in Savannah, Ga., where she designs and restores buildings that are significant to the Hostess City’s cultural landscape. To date, she has worked on a number of notable local buildings, including the Savannah Cultural Arts Center and The Alida Hotel.
An accomplished real estate professional and former TEDxSavannah speaker, Stone also serves as a Director with the Vantosh Commercial Group at Seabolt Real Estate in Savannah, Ga., where she specializes in commercial, land and residential real estate. Active in the community, she is a housing and small business advocate who currently serves on the Chatham County Zoning Board of Appeals and the board of directors for the Creative Coast, a local nonprofit that supports the creative economy in Savannah, Ga.
Historic Savannah Foundation’s 2025 Lecture Series is open to the public. Reservations are recommended, as space is limited.
Attendance is free for Historic Savannah Foundation members and $15 for non-members. Members and non-members may RSVP by emailing Kendall Graham at or calling 912-233-7787, ext. 109.
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Historic Savannah Foundation Headquarters, 321 East York Street, Savannah, United States
