Brunswick's Historic Old Town Blocks

Brunswick, Georgia is a small, historic city founded in 1771. The Brunswick Old Town Historic District, added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979, preserves the site of the original 1771 city plan and the colonial British town that was built there. The Historic District runs several blocks east of the riverfront between H Street and 1st Avenue.

The Brunswick Old Town Historic District preserves the site of the 1771 city plan

Brunswick, a small city in Glynn County, Georgia, was founded in 1771. Brunswick's Old Town Historic District preserves the site of the 1771 city plan and the colonial British town that was built there, though most of its surviving buildings are from the 19th century.

The Historic District, added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979, runs several blocks east of the riverfront between H Street and 1st Avenue. It encompasses the majority of Brunswick's most significant architecture and historic sights, including the main downtown shopping area.

Brunswick's original town plan was laid out on similar lines to its more northerly precursor, Savannah. The plan set out 14 squares, distributed evenly across Brunswick's present-day Historic District, though some have since been either lost or heavily encroached upon.

The city was named Brunswick to honour the royal duchy of Bransweig-Lunenbureg, Germany, home of the Hanoverian kings of England. The loyalists of Brunswick did not change the names of their streets after the Revolutionary War, so names like Prince, Newcastle, London, and Gloucester are still seen today.

The Brunswick Old Town Historic District includes the site of the colonial British town of Brunswick, named after the family of King George III of Great Britain. It retains its original grid plan, with 19th-century residential and public buildings, including the Hazelhurst-Taylor House in Hanover Square, the Mahoney-McGarvey House on Reynolds Street, and the Old Brunswick City Hall. Some of the sidewalks use hexagonal stone tiles.

The Historic District includes the Mahoney-McGarvey House, designed by JA Wood in the early 1890s

Brunswick, Georgia, is a small, historic city founded in 1771. It is the gateway to the Golden Isles, a group of four beautiful barrier islands off the coast of Georgia, including Jekyll and St Simons Island. The city boasts a wealth of history, architecture, and natural beauty.

Brunswick's Old Town Historic District preserves the site of the original 1771 city plan and the colonial British town that once stood there. Running several blocks east of the riverfront, between H Street and 1st Avenue, the Historic District encompasses the majority of Brunswick's most significant architecture and historic sights.

Among the notable buildings in the Historic District is the Mahoney-McGarvey House, designed by architect JA Wood in the early 1890s. The house was built for railroad man Timothy Mahoney and is considered the finest example of Carpenter Gothic architectural style in Georgia. It features a stunning three-story, ornately decorated wood portico. Today, the house is occupied by a legal firm.

The Mahoney-McGarvey House is located on Reynolds Street, opposite the Brunswick Historic Courthouse. The courthouse, completed in 1907, is another architectural highlight of the city. It was designed in the Neoclassical style by architect Charles Alling Gifford, who also designed several turn-of-the-century buildings in the nearby Jekyll Island Historic District.

The Historic District of Brunswick, Georgia, showcases the city's rich history and architectural heritage, with the Mahoney-McGarvey House, designed by JA Wood, being a standout example of the Carpenter Gothic style within the district's collection of late 19th-century buildings.

Downtown Brunswick's Old City Hall was designed by Jewish-American architect Alfred Eichberg

Brunswick, Georgia, founded in 1771, is a small city with a rich history and unique architecture. The city's Old Town Historic District preserves the original 1771 city plan and the colonial British town that was built upon it, with most of the surviving buildings dating from the 19th century. Running several blocks east of the riverfront, the Historic District encompasses Brunswick's most significant architecture and historic sights, including Downtown Brunswick's Old City Hall.

Downtown Brunswick's Old City Hall, located at 1229 Newcastle Street, is a striking landmark. Completed in 1889, the building stands out with its bright red brick and light grey stone construction in the distinctive Richardsonian Romanesque style. What's more, it was designed by the Jewish-American architect Alfred Eichberg, a New Yorker who grew up in Atlanta and studied architecture in Heidelberg, Germany. Eichberg was a leading Victorian-era architect in nearby Savannah and also maintained an office on Newcastle Street in Brunswick for his commissions in the city.

Eichberg's design for Old City Hall began construction in 1886 and was completed in 1889, with the installation of the clock/bell tower in 1893. The building is characterised by its massive stature, with Romanesque architecture being the style of choice for many public buildings in the US during this period. The exterior features elaborate terracotta friezes on the clock tower and side entries, as well as corner columns adorned with gargoyles. The interior boasts original heart-pine and marble floors, vintage fireplaces, and refitted gaslight fixtures, creating an elegant atmosphere.

The Old City Hall served as a part-time city courthouse and now functions as a venue for various events, including class reunions and wedding receptions. It is the only facility of its kind in Brunswick that is open to the general public, offering a unique and historic setting for gatherings. The building was fully restored and reopened in 2004, with special attention given to preserving its elegant features.

In addition to Old City Hall, Eichberg designed several other notable structures in Atlanta and Savannah. In Brunswick, he designed the National Bank of Brunswick, which showcased the city's prosperity in the late 19th century. Unfortunately, this building was demolished in 1958, but fragments were discovered and used to construct the fountain in Machen Square East. Eichberg's legacy also lives on through his Glynn Academy Annex, which has served students for over 130 years and is celebrated for its architectural style and innovative "fireproof" design.

The Brunswick Bazaar and Farmer's Market is held in Mary Ross Waterfront Park every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday

Brunswick, Georgia, is a small, historic city founded in 1771. It is known for its history, architecture, and setting amidst the tranquil marshes of southern Georgia. The city's Old Town Historic District preserves the site of the original 1771 city plan and the colonial British town that was built there, with most of its surviving buildings dating from the 19th century. Running several blocks east of the riverfront, the Historic District includes notable landmarks such as the Old City Hall, the Mahoney-McGarvey House, and the Brunswick Courthouse.

The Brunswick Bazaar and Farmers Market is held in Mary Ross Waterfront Park, located downtown on the Brunswick waterfront. The market takes place every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday from 8 am to 5 pm. It offers a variety of local produce, crafts, and specialty items. The park itself provides a pleasant spot to watch the ships and boats on the river, and visitors can also see a scale model of a World War II Liberty Ship built in Brunswick.

Mary Ross Waterfront Park is also home to other events throughout the year, such as the Brunswick Harbor Market, an open-air market held on select Saturdays, and the Forward Brunswick Farmer's Market, which features homegrown fruits, vegetables, and local crafts. The park hosts celebrations such as National Food Truck Day and an Old Fashion 4th of July event with traditional games, music, and fireworks.

The Historic District of Brunswick, including the waterfront area, showcases the city's rich history and architecture. Visitors can explore the oak-shaded streets, admire the Victorian commercial buildings and grand residential homes, and learn about the city's past as a plantation farming community. The district is bounded by 1st, Bay, New Bay, "H," and Cochran Streets, with "G" Street marking the northern boundary and 4th Avenue the southern boundary.

The Brunswick Old Town Historic District is bounded by 1st, Bay, New Bay, H and Cochran Streets

The district includes several notable buildings, such as the Mahoney-McGarvey House, the Old City Hall, and the Glynn County Courthouse. The Mahoney-McGarvey House, designed in the Carpenter Gothic architectural style, is considered one of the finest examples of this style in Georgia. The Old City Hall, completed in 1889, stands out for its bright red brick and light grey stone construction in the Richardsonian Romanesque style. The Glynn County Courthouse, located on Magnolia Square, was completed in 1907 and designed in the Neoclassical style.

The Brunswick Old Town Historic District encompasses several blocks east of the riverfront between H Street and 1st Avenue. It includes the majority of Brunswick's significant architecture and historic sights, such as Hanover Square (formerly a stockyard and city hall site, now a recreational park) and the main downtown shopping area around Newcastle and Gloucester Streets.

The original town plan of Brunswick, dating back to 1771, was laid out in a grid pattern similar to Savannah, Georgia. This plan included 14 squares distributed across the Historic District, some of which have been lost or encroached upon over time. The streets and squares of Brunswick retain names reflecting English heritage, such as Gloucester, Halifax, London, Newcastle, and Prince.

Frequently asked questions