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