Yamacraw Village in Savannah in Chatham County, Georgia — The American South (South Atlantic)

Colored Shopmen's Locker & Lavatory

Photographed by Don Morfe, September 22, 2013

1. Colored Shopmen's Locker & Lavatory Marker

Inscription.
The railroad provided separate washroom facilities for whites and African-Americans.

Facilities and opportunities were quite different for black and white people historically in the segregated South. Jim Crow laws required “separate but equal” public facilities. The Central of Georgia railroad was no exception. Typically, African-Americans held labor and trade jobs, with limited opportunities for advancement. African-American railroad employees formed their own social and professional organizations.

This washroom served African-Americans, while a washroom for white workers was located near the Worker’ Garden. Washrooms at the site provided shower, lockers, and changing facilities. “White” and “Colored” signs defined these spaces, the same way the signs on the right marked foundations at the rail shops.

(captions)
(upper right) Central of Georgia All-Star Colored Baseball Team

(lower right) Members Central of Georgia Porter’s Club

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Railroads & Streetcars.

Location. 32° 4.533′ N, 81° 6.1′ W. Marker is in Savannah, Georgia, in Chatham County. It is in Yamacraw Village. It can be reached from Louisville

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Road 0.2 miles east of West Boundary Street, on the right when traveling east. The marker is located on the grounds of the Georgia State Railroad Museum. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 655 Louisville Road, Savannah GA 31401, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Coastal Plain and on the Georgia Coast and the Golden Isles.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Deep South.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Central of Georgia (within shouting distance of this marker); Drop Table (within shouting distance of this marker); Roundhouse (within shouting distance of this marker); Roundhouse Foreman’s Office (within shouting distance of this marker); Storehouse (within shouting distance of this marker); Blacksmith Shop (within shouting distance of this marker); Smokestack (within shouting distance of this marker); Turntable (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Savannah.

Also see . . .
1. Georgia State Railroad Museum. Wikipedia entry (Submitted on October 5, 2023, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

2. Coastal Heritage Society. Website homepage (Submitted on October 5, 2023, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

Photographed by Don Morfe, September 22, 2013

2. Colored Shopmen's Locker & Lavatory Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on October 5, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 18, 2013, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 670 times since then and 21 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 18, 2013, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.