American Folk Figure. She was the daughter of a Civil War veteran, George Martus, who was keeper of the lighthouse on Elba Island on the banks of the Savannah River. After her father died, she went to live on Elba Island with her brother, whp assumed the duty of lighthouse keeper. In 1887 she met a Naval Lieutenant and fell in love. Soon after, his ship sailed but he promised to return to Florence. Months went by and she heard nothing from him. She began to stand on the river's edge and wave a white handerchief at every ship that entered the Savannah River while sailing into port, a practice she kept up for the next 44 years. In 1931, her brother retired, taking Florence with him. To honor her, a statue was erected on the banks of the river, and ships now blow their horns when entering the river in honor of "Savannah's Waving Girl".
American Folk Figure. She was the daughter of a Civil War veteran, George Martus, who was keeper of the lighthouse on Elba Island on the banks of the Savannah River. After her father died, she went to live on Elba Island with her brother, whp assumed the duty of lighthouse keeper. In 1887 she met a Naval Lieutenant and fell in love. Soon after, his ship sailed but he promised to return to Florence. Months went by and she heard nothing from him. She began to stand on the river's edge and wave a white handerchief at every ship that entered the Savannah River while sailing into port, a practice she kept up for the next 44 years. In 1931, her brother retired, taking Florence with him. To honor her, a statue was erected on the banks of the river, and ships now blow their horns when entering the river in honor of "Savannah's Waving Girl".
Bio by: cayley
Family Members
Advertisement
See more Martus memorials in:
Advertisement
