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HSF is delighted to kick off the 2025 season of our lecture series, "The People, Stories, and Places that define Savannah" with speaker Meredith Stone, a Savannah native, local architectural and urban designer, preservationist and real estate professional. She will present "Savannah Legacy: A Story of African American Cultural Preservation and Innovation" on Thursday, January 23. Ms. Stone 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. Her lecture 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 was recently determined eligible and is currently being nominated for the National Register of Historic Places for the significant contributions of Percy H. Stone, Harriet P. Stone, Monroe Nathan Work, and the entire Stone family. Today, Meredith and her family uplift and honor the legacy by maintaining the family home that Percy and Harriet created as well as the archives of their personal libraries. Meredith attended Percy and Harriet Stone’s Alma Mater, Hampton University and graduated with her master’s degree in architecture. She works with Gunn Meyerhoff Shay Architects, where she designs and restores buildings that are significant to Savannah’s cultural landscape. She is also a Director with the Vantosh Commercial Group at Seabolt Real Estate, specializing in commercial, land, and residential real estate. She is a community, small business, and housing advocate, TEDx Speaker, and real estate developer. Meredith currently serves on the Chatham County Zoning Board of Appeals and the board for the Creative Coast.The lecture will take place at HSF headquarters, located at 321 E. York Street, with a wine reception at 5:30 pm and the discussion starting at 6:00 pm. Reservations are recommended, as space is limited.Attendance is free for HSF members and $15 for non-members.Members may RSVP by emailing kgraham@myhsf.org and non-member may purchase their tickets at https://www.myhsf.org/events/lecture-series/. See less

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