Welcome to the Savannah Sideways Podcast - Season One - The Strange Story of Savannah's Ancient Roman Statuary.

EPISODE 5 – Meet the Statues

In this fifth episode, host Jessica Leigh Lebos traces the fate of the Greenwich statues after the devastating fire that destroyed the Shotter mansion. What followed was a haunting chapter in Savannah’s history — an era when the city, still reeling from the Great Depression, struggled between preservation and progress.

As the ruins of the once-opulent Greenwich estate decayed into gothic splendor, Savannah’s economy transformed — from cotton and sugar to paper and industry. Jessica uncovers how marble relics of the past languished in city storage for decades, passed between departments and museums, nearly forgotten amid changing times and civic priorities.

Listeners are introduced to Harry Delorme, Senior Curator at the Telfair Museums, who has spent nearly four decades studying and preserving the Greenwich statuary. He offers insights into how these ancient works fit into Savannah’s evolving artistic narrative — from classical ideals to contemporary inclusion. We also meet Luciana Spracher, Director of the City of Savannah’s Municipal Archives, whose meticulous records illuminate the statues’ bureaucratic journey through time — including their appraisal, forgotten crates, and rediscovery.

This episode explores what gives art its worth: is it marble, money, or memory? And how does a city decide what’s worth keeping? As Jessica connects the past to the present, we see that the story of the Greenwich statues is as much about Savannah’s future as it is its past.

SHOW LINKS:

Meet Jessica Leigh Lebos

Check out Savannah Sideways Substack

Check out Jessica's books

Meet the Producers: Dee Daniels Media

THANKS TO THOSE WHO MADE THIS SHOW POSSIBLE:

Dr. Erika Morrow and the team at ForSight Unique Eye Care & Eye Wear

Bubba Gumbo's Tybee Island

Tybee Island Marina

BG’s Seafood Co-Op

Bonaventure Don

The 5 Spot

Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum

Shot By Somi

SIXBY

Lone Wolf Lounge

Over Yonder

Celebritees

FIND A FAVORITE SPOT IN THIS EPISODE:

00:00 The Abandoned Greenwich Mansion

00:40 Savannah's Economic Struggles and Industrial Growth

02:38 The Fate of the Greenwich Statues

04:39 The Telfair Museum's Role

05:54 Harry Delore's Contributions

11:39 Modern Art and Environmental Commentary

14:32 The 2012 Appraisal and City Council Decisions

17:30 Dr. Mark Abbey's Research and Future Plans

19:03 Conclusion and Teaser for Next Episode

Welcome to the Savannah Sideways Podcast - Season One - The Strange Story of Savannah's Ancient Roman Statuary.

EPISODE 4 – Ossabaw Coincidences & Connections: In this fourth episode, host Jessica Leigh Lebos follows the Torrey family’s journey from the ashes of their Greenwich mansion to the wild beauty of Ossabaw Island, uncovering how loss, legacy, and a touch of magic intertwined to shape one of Georgia’s most fascinating conservation stories.

Meet Eleanor “Sandy” Torrey West, the indomitable woman who turned her family’s Gilded Age retreat into a crucible for art, science, and spiritual exploration. From the ruins of Greenwich Place to the pink stucco mansion on Ossabaw, Sandy’s life bridges eras—where ancient myths meet modern activism and coincidence feels more like cosmic choreography.

Through conversations with Elizabeth DuBose of the Ossabaw Island Foundation and a deeply personal story of discovery, Jessica traces how statues, stories, and serendipity connect Savannah’s past to its present. Along the way, we meet a cast of visionaries—artists, philosophers, conservationists—and a woman whose 108 years embodied the spirit of the island she fought to save.

This episode is about more than marble and memory. It’s about meaning: how we follow signs, find purpose in patterns, and keep listening for the gods—Hermes included—who travel beside us.

SHOW LINKS:

Meet Jessica Leigh Lebos

Check out Savannah Sideways Substack

Check out Jessica's books

Meet the Producers: Dee Daniels Media

THANKS TO THOSE WHO MADE THIS SHOW POSSIBLE:

Dr. Erika Morrow and the team at ForSight Unique Eye Care & Eye Wear

Bubba Gumbo's Tybee Island

Tybee Island Marina

BG’s Seafood Co-Op

Bonaventure Don

The 5 Spot

Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum

Shot By Somi

SIXBY

Lone Wolf Lounge

Over Yonder

Celebritees

FIND A FAVORITE SPOT IN THIS EPISODE:

00:00 Introduction: Ossabaw Coincidences and Connections

00:13 The Torrey Family's New Beginning on Ossabaw Island

00:37 The Rich History of Georgia's Barrier Islands

01:26 Ossabaw Island Through the Ages

03:18 The Torrey Family Legacy and the Pink Mansion

05:49 Sandy West: The Woman Who Saved Ossabaw

08:55 The Ossabaw Island Project and Genesis Project

10:02 The Fight to Preserve Ossabaw Island

12:38 Sandy West's Final Years and Legacy

16:15 The Author's Personal Journey and Connection to the Story

22:25 The Auction and the Photograph

28:10 Conclusion: The Strange Story of Savannah's Ancient Roman Statuary

Welcome to the Savannah Sideways Podcast - Season One - The Strange Story of Savannah's Ancient Roman Statuary.

EPISODE 3 – In Turpentine We Trust: In this third episode, host Jessica Leigh Lebos traces Savannah’s rise from post–Civil War hardship to Gilded Age opulence through an unlikely source—turpentine. As the longleaf pine forests fueled a booming naval stores industry, fortunes were made, ecosystems were destroyed, and entire communities were bound to brutal labor and debt.

Meet Spencer Shotter, the magnate whose pine-scented empire made him one of Savannah’s richest men—and ultimately led to his downfall under America’s first antitrust prosecutions. Along the way, historian Dr. Drew Swanson sheds light on the environmental legacy of the longleaf pine, and we follow the thread from the Gilded Age to the Progressive Era, where unchecked capitalism finally met reform.

The story culminates in fire and renewal— and the extraordinary life of Sandy West, whose legacy transformed Georgia’s conservation movement.

This episode uncovers how pine sap, power, and progress shaped Savannah’s fortunes—and how one man’s empire helped set the stage for the city’s most enduring mysteries.

YOUTUBE VIDEO MENTIONED: Greenwich At Bonaventure Cemetery-Savannah GA's Own Biltmore House-Forgotten No Longer

SHOW LINKS:

Meet Jessica Leigh Lebos

Check out Savannah Sideways Substack

Check out Jessica's books

Meet the Producers: Dee Daniels Media

THANKS TO THOSE WHO MADE THIS SHOW POSSIBLE:

Dr. Erika Morrow and the team at ForSight Unique Eye Care & Eye Wear

Bubba Gumbo's Tybee Island

Tybee Island Marina

BG’s Seafood Co-Op

Bonaventure Don

The 5 Spot

Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum

Shot By Somi

SIXBY

Lone Wolf Lounge

Over Yonder

Celebritees

FIND A FAVORITE SPOT IN THIS EPISODE:

00:00 Introduction to Savannah's Ancient Roman Statuary

02:12 The Rise of Savannah's Naval Stores Industry

04:16 Environmental and Social Impact of Turpentine Production

10:30 The Decline of the Naval Stores Industry

17:44 Spencer Shotter's Legal Troubles and Legacy

24:06 The Tragic Fire at Greenwich Place

25:51 Sandy Tory West and the Preservation of Ossabaw Island

26:35 Conclusion and Sponsor Messages

Welcome to the Savannah Sideways Podcast - Season One - The Strange Story of Savannah's Ancient Roman Statuary.

EPISODE 2 - If the Land Could Talk: In this second episode, host Jessica Leigh Lebos recounts the enigmatic history of Greenwich Cemetery, once the site of an opulent estate filled with 2000-year-old Roman statues.

From General Oglethorpe's founding of Savannah to the tragic fate of the Yamacraw people, we explore the multifaceted narratives woven into this land. Learn about the mysterious burial of Revolutionary War Hero Casimir Pulaski, the grandeur of the Greenwich Place mansion, and the Shotters' extravagant art collection, including a shipment of ancient statues that took nearly five years to arrive.

This episode delves deep into Savannah's historical layers, touching on both well-documented facts and unresolved mysteries.

SHOW LINKS:

Meet Jessica Leigh Lebos

Check out Savannah Sideways Substack

Check out Jessica's books

Meet the Producers: Dee Daniels Media

THANKS TO THOSE WHO MADE THIS SHOW POSSIBLE:

Dr. Erika Morrow and the team at ForSight Unique Eye Care & Eye Wear

Bubba Gumbo's Tybee Island

Tybee Island Marina

BG’s Seafood Co-Op

Bonaventure Don

The 5 Spot

Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum

Shot By Somi

SIXBY

Lone Wolf Lounge

Over Yonder

Celebritees

FIND A FAVORITE SPOT IN THIS EPISODE:

00:00 Introduction to Savannah's Ancient Roman Statuary

01:40 The Origins of Greenwich Cemetery

05:46 The Revolutionary War and Kasmir Pulaski

19:26 The Civil War and Its Aftermath

24:50 The Gilded Age and Spencer Shotter's Mansion

30:29 The Arrival of the Roman Statuary

30:48 Conclusion and Sponsor Messages

Welcome to the Savannah Sideways Podcast - Season One - The Strange Story of Savannah's Ancient Roman Statuary.

EPISODE 1 - STUFF FOR SALE: In this debut episode, host Jessica Leigh Lebos begins unraveling the strange tale of Savannah’s ancient Roman statuary—a story that stretches from the ruins of Rome to the marshes of coastal Georgia.

On April 9, 2020, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Savannah’s City Council quietly considered selling off a cache of centuries-old artifacts, including a 15th-century ram’s head pedestal and a bust of Emperor Marcus Aurelius. These treasures had been tucked away for decades, but in a time of financial strain, they suddenly reemerged as a possible solution.

Jessica, a longtime Savannah resident and award-winning writer, blends personal reflection with deep research. She takes listeners from Savannah’s cemeteries to its council chambers, connecting the city’s eccentric charm to global history. With stories spanning the Revolutionary War to the digital age, this debut episode sets the stage for a season full of historical twists, cultural mysteries, and sideways views of Savannah you won’t hear anywhere else.

SHOW LINKS:

Meet Jessica Leigh Lebos

Check out Savannah Sideways Substack

Check out Jessica's books

Meet the Producers: Dee Daniels Media

THANKS TO THOSE WHO MADE THIS SHOW POSSIBLE:

Dr. Erika Morrow and the team at ForSight Unique Eye Care & Eye Wear

Bubba Gumbo's Tybee Island

Tybee Island Marina

BG’s Seafood Co-Op

Bonaventure Don

The 5 Spot

Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum

Shot By Somi

SIXBY

Lone Wolf Lounge

Over Yonder

Celebritees

FIND A FAVORITE SPOT IN THIS EPISODE:

00:00 Introduction to Savannah Sideways Podcast

00:15 City Council's Virtual Meeting and Surplus Statuary

04:23 The Fascinating Journey of Savannah's Roman Statuary

04:54 Meet Jessica Leigh Lebos: Your Guide to Savannah

07:01 Savannah's Rich History and Cultural Significance

08:06 Exploring Savannah's Historic Cemeteries

13:52 The Enchanting Greenwich Cemetery

17:02 Sponsors and Local Recommendations

18:33 Conclusion and Credits

SEASON 1: The Strange Story of Savannah's Ancient Roman Statuary

Savannah whispers history from every moss-draped corner — but behind the ghost tours and gravestones lies a mystery older than the city itself. When ancient Roman statues resurfaced nearly a century after being unearthed in a Savannah cemetery, writer Jessica Leigh Lebos began chasing their incredible story. Savannah Sideways is a 10-episode journey through lost mansions, robber barons, barrier islands, Gullah Geechee heritage, and the strangest Southern saga you’ve never heard.

Learn more at SavannahSideways.com

Welcome to the Savannah Sideways Podcast - Season One - The Strange Story of Savannah's Ancient Roman Statuary.

EPISODE 6 – Breaking Down the Myths

In this sixth episode, host Jessica Leigh Lebos digs deeper into the fascinating world of ancient art and modern mythmaking. Joined once again by Dr. Mark Abbe, University of Georgia professor and global expert in antiquities and art restoration, Jessica unpacks how America’s Gilded Age fascination with marble and grandeur shaped our collective imagination — and, in some ways, distorted history.

From the lavish collections of tycoons like J.P. Morgan, Andrew Carnegie, and Isabella Stewart Gardner, to the stately Southern estates that mirrored their northern counterparts, we explore how art collecting became both a symbol of sophistication and a tool for shaping America’s cultural identity. These early art patrons saw themselves not just as collectors, but as civilizers, building museums, libraries, and institutions meant to uplift the public — even as their wealth and privilege drew scrutiny.

Dr. Abbe also sheds light on one of art history’s biggest misconceptions: the myth of the “pure white” marble statue. Through groundbreaking scientific research, he reveals that the sculpted figures of ancient Greece and Rome were once vividly painted in lifelike colors — red lips, golden hair, and skin tones in every shade. This revelation challenges centuries of Western ideals about beauty, culture, and race, and exposes how a simple misunderstanding became an aesthetic standard with deep social implications.

As Jessica connects Savannah’s own Roman relics to this broader narrative, she invites listeners to reconsider what authenticity really means — in art, in history, and in how we tell our stories. Were the Greenwich statues truly ancient, or clever reconstructions? And what truths lie hidden beneath their white marble sheen?

This episode reminds us that history isn’t static marble — it’s painted in color, layered with meaning, and alive with questions.

SHOW LINKS:

Meet Jessica Leigh Lebos

Check out Savannah Sideways Substack

Check out Jessica's books

Meet the Producers: Dee Daniels Media

THANKS TO THOSE WHO MADE THIS SHOW POSSIBLE:

Dr. Erika Morrow and the team at ForSight Unique Eye Care & Eye Wear

Bubba Gumbo's Tybee Island

Tybee Island Marina

BG’s Seafood Co-Op

Bonaventure Don

The 5 Spot

Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum

Shot By Somi

SIXBY

Lone Wolf Lounge

Over Yonder

Celebritees

FIND A FAVORITE SPOT IN THIS EPISODE:

00:00 Introduction to Savannah's Ancient Roman Statuary

00:57 The Rise of American Art Collecting

04:34 Gilded Age Philanthropy and Art

08:35 Carnegie Libraries in Savannah

11:37 The Mystery of the Greenwich Statues

19:09 The Truth About Ancient Roman Statuary

24:35 Conclusion and Teasers for Next Episode