Historic District - South in Savannah in Chatham County, Georgia — The American South (South Atlantic)

"Jingle Bells"

Photographed By Mike Stroud, February 1, 2008

1. "Jingle Bells" Marker

Inscription. James L. Pierpont (1822-1893), composer of "Jingle Bells", served as music director of this church in the 1850s when it was a Unitarian Church located on Oglethorpe Square. Son of the noted Boston reformer, Rev. John Pierpont, he was the brother of Rev. John Pierpont, Jr. minister of this church, and uncle of financier John Pierpont Morgan. He married Eliza Jane Purse, daughter of Savannah mayor Thomas Purse, and served with a Confederate cavalry regiment. He is buried in Laurel Grove Cemetery. A prolific song-writer, his best known "Jingle Bells" is world famous.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Arts, Letters, Music. In addition, it is included in the Unitarian Universalism (UUism) series list.

Location. 32° 4.351′ N, 81° 5.389′ W. Marker is in Savannah, Georgia, in Chatham County. It is in the Historic District - South. Marker is on Habersham Street near Macon Street, on the left. Located across from Troup Square. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Savannah GA 31401, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Beach Institute (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Flannery O'Connor Childhood Home (about 500 feet away); Cathedral of St. John the Baptist (about 600 feet away);

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St. Vincent's Academy (about 700 feet away); Marist Place (about 700 feet away); Mary Musgrove (about 700 feet away); Andrew Low House (about 800 feet away); Colonial Dames House (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Savannah.

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. This marker is where “Jingle Bells” was actually composed.

Also see . . . Hymns & Carols of Christmas. James Lord Pierpont (Submitted on February 29, 2008, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina.)

Additional commentary.
1. More about the history of Jingle Bells.
"Jingle Bells" was first recorded by the Edison Male Quartette in 1898 on an Edison cylinder as part of a Christmas medley entitled "Sleigh Ride Party". In 1902, the Hayden Quartet recorded "Jingle Bells".

In 1943, Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters recorded "Jingle Bells" as Decca 23281 which reached No. 19 on the charts and sold over a million copies. In 1941, Glenn Miller and His Orchestra with Tex Beneke, Marion Hutton, Ernie Caceres and

"Jingle Bells" Marker at Troup Square, Savannah image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mike Stroud, 2008

2. "Jingle Bells" Marker at Troup Square, Savannah

the Modernaires on vocals had a No. 5 hit with "Jingle Bells" on RCA Victor, as Bluebird 11353. In 1935, Benny Goodman and His Orchestra reached No. 18 on the charts with their recording of "Jingle Bells". In 1951, Les Paul had a No. 10 hit with a multi-tracked version on guitar. In 1955, Don Charles, from Copenhagen, Denmark, recorded a novelty version with dogs barking to the melody of "Jingle Bells" as RCA 6344, which sold a million copies. In 1966, Dean Martin recorded the song for "The Dean Martin Christmas Album". A version credited simply to "St. Nick" called "Jingle Bells (Laughing All the Way)" features someone laughing (rather than singing) the entire song.

"Jingle Bells" has been performed and recorded by Perry Como, Frank Sinatra, Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Dave Brubeck, Count Basie, Drake Bell, Ray Brown, Oscar Peterson, Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole, The Hoppers, En Vogue, Boney M, Longines Symphonette and Ann Hampton Callaway, Basshunter, Diana Krall, The Brian Setzer Orchestra, among many others. In 2006, Kimberley Locke had a No. 1 hit on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart with a recording of "Jingle Bells". A recording by Tony Bennett appeared on a special edition of A Swingin' Christmas (2008), exclusive to the retailer Bloomingdales.

First song in outer space
"Jingle Bells" was the first song broadcast from space, in a Christmas-themed

"Jingle Bells" Marker, at right image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mike Stroud, November 23, 2008

3. "Jingle Bells" Marker, at right

The Unitarian Church in background

prank by Gemini 6 astronauts Tom Stafford and Wally Schirra. While in space on December 16, 1965, they sent this report to Mission Control: "We have an object, looks like a satellite going from north to south, probably in polar orbit... I see a command module and eight smaller modules in front. The pilot of the command module is wearing a red suit...." The astronauts then produced a smuggled harmonica and sleighbells and broadcast a rendition of "Jingle Bells." The harmonica, shown to the press upon their return, was a Hohner "Little Lady", a tiny harmonica approximately one inch long, by 3/8 of an inch wide.(excerpt Wikipedia)

— Submitted December 24, 2010, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina.

2. In 2016, the marker was damaged by Hurricane Matthew.
Students at Savannah Technical College, in 2017, finished a historic preservation project aimed at repairing a slice of Savannah history: the Troup Square “Jingle Bells” marker. Damaged during Hurricane Matthew in 2016, the students, came up with a permanent repair fix at a greatly reduced cost.

— Submitted May 15, 2018, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.

The Unitarian Church of Savannah image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mike Stroud, February 1, 2008

4. The Unitarian Church of Savannah

The Unitarian Church is a small building on Troup Square between East Harris and East Macon Streets. The front of the church faces Habersham Street. The first congregation disbanded during the Civil War because their abolitionist doctrines ran against the sentiment of the town. The building was used as St. Stephen’s Parish and later became the Savannah Baptist Center. In 1997 the Unitarians reclaimed their original structure, picking up where they left off 137 years earlier. The congregation enjoyed the music of the choirmaster, James L. Pierpont, a transplanted northerner, who composed the classic holiday song “Jingle Bells”.

James L. Pierpont Grave at Laurel Grove Cemetery, Savannah image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mike Stroud, August 1, 2008

5. James L. Pierpont Grave at Laurel Grove Cemetery, Savannah

Unitarian Church image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Brian Scott, April 23, 2005

6. Unitarian Church

Credits. This page was last revised on February 8, 2023. It was originally submitted on February 29, 2008, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. This page has been viewed 4,218 times since then and 111 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on February 29, 2008, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. 2, 3. submitted on December 16, 2008, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. 4. submitted on February 29, 2008, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. 5. submitted on September 1, 2008, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. 6. submitted on October 6, 2012, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.