The story
As you stand beneath the moss-draped branches of Columbia Square, look toward the northwest corner at the towering red-brick mansion that seems to watch over the park with a sense of Victorian authority. This is the Kehoe House, completed in 1892, and it serves as a grand testament to the American Dream, forged in fire and cast iron. The man behind this Renaissance Revival masterpiece was William Kehoe, an Irish immigrant who arrived in Savannah as a young boy with little more than ambition.
He began his career as an apprentice in an iron foundry, eventually rising to become the city’s most successful iron magnate. When it came time to build a home for his wife and ten children, Kehoe did not just want a residence; he wanted a showroom. Take a moment to look at the intricate details of the facade.
While the building is constructed of fine red brick, much of the ornamental trim—the window hoods, the cornices, and those elegant, sprawling balconies—is actually cast iron from Kehoe’s own foundry. It was a brilliant bit of marketing. By painting the iron to match the masonry, he demonstrated the versatility and beauty of his product.
The symmetry and the rounded bay windows are classic hallmarks of the Renaissance Revival style, reflecting a desire for order and classical grace in an era of rapid industrial growth. Columbia Square itself provides the perfect frame for this architectural jewel. Laid out in 1799 and named in honor of Columbia, the poetic personification of the United States, it is one of the original squares that followed the spirit of James Oglethorpe’s 1733 city plan.
Unlike some of Savannah’s more bustling squares, Columbia feels like a quiet sanctuary, surrounded by historic gems like the Davenport House nearby. The Kehoe family filled these rooms with life for decades, but the house has worn many hats since then. It spent time as a boarding house and even a funeral home before being meticulously restored to its current glory as one of Savannah’s most prestigious inns.
And because this is Savannah, the house carries its share of shadows. Local legends speak of the spirits of Kehoe children playing in the hallways, though the elegance of the mansion usually outweighs its eerie reputation. As you move along Habersham Street, notice how the mansion anchors the neighborhood.
It represents a pivot point in Savannah’s history—a bridge between the colonial vision of the 18th century and the industrial prosperity of the late 19th century. William Kehoe’s house remains a permanent, iron-clad reminder of a man who quite literally built his own legacy, helping to define the skyline of the city he called home.