Historical Sculptures Move to Savannah Technical College

Students will restore the two century-old statues for future display at Massie's Historic Preservation Gallery.

Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Secondary Education

Gouache-painted editorial illustration of two weathered plaster Greek busts resting on wooden workshop tables, representing historic preservation. — Savannah Technical College students are restoring century-old plaster statues of the Greek figures Demeter and Athena for a future gallery display. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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The Savannah-Chatham County Public School System has transferred two century-old sculptures to Savannah Technical College following a major restoration of the district's office building. The statues, which represent the Greek figures Demeter and Athena, were held in storage since 1901.

Why it matters

The project serves as a hands-on learning opportunity for local students, who will now lead the restoration of the 125-year-old artifacts. These sculptures were originally created by artist John Walz as maquettes for larger figures located on Oglethorpe Street.

The two sculptures were recovered from the attic of the Central Office Building at 208 Bull Street after being stored there for 125 years. They were moved by Specialty Moving Co. to the college on October 29, 2026.

The players

Savannah-Chatham County Public School System

The local district responsible for overseeing school facilities and the preservation of historical district assets.

Savannah Technical College

A local institution that provides vocational training, including a specialized program in historic preservation.

John Walz

The historical sculptor who originally created these maquettes as studies for larger public works.

The details

The statues depict the Greek figures Demeter and Athena and were originally created by John Walz as study models for larger monuments. Specialty Moving Co. handled the physical transfer from the attic of the Central Office Building to Savannah Technical College. Once there, students enrolled in the college's Historic Preservation Program will repair the century-old artifacts as part of their vocational training.

1901: The sculptures were placed in storage at 208 Bull Street.
October 29, 2026: The sculptures were transported to Savannah Technical College.

The Home Front

This transfer highlights a growing trend of local institutions partnering with technical programs to restore municipal historical assets. Such collaborations provide necessary expertise for the upkeep of aging infrastructure and local artifacts that might otherwise remain in storage.

Residents should keep an eye on project updates for the planned public debut of the restored works at Massie's Historic Preservation Gallery. Supporting local technical college programs is a practical way to ensure historical artifacts remain preserved for the community.

The takeaway

The move preserves rare local art while providing students with professional experience working on century-old materials. Once restoration is complete, the public will be able to view the statues at Massie's Historic Preservation Gallery.