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{{Infobox person
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[[Image:FlorenceMartusTheWavingGirl.jpg|thumb|300px]]
| name = Florence Martus
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[[File:Florence Martus statue in Savannah, August 2016.jpg|thumb|300px|right|Savannah's ''Waving Girl'' statue.]]
| image = Florence Martus.jpg
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'''Florence Martus''' (1868–1943), also known as '''"the Waving Girl"''', took it upon herself to be the unofficial greeter of all ships that entered and left the [[Port of Savannah]], [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]], between 1887 and 1931. A few years after she began waving at passing sailors, she moved in with her brother, a light keeper, at his small white cottage about five miles up the river from Fort Pulaski. From her rustic home on [[Elba Island]], a tiny piece of land in the [[Savannah River]] near the [[Atlantic Ocean]], Martus would wave a handkerchief by day and a lantern by night. According to legend, not a ship was missed in her forty-four years on watch. A statue of Martus by the sculptor [[Felix de Weldon]] has been erected in Morrell Park on the historic riverfront of [[Savannah, Georgia|Savannah]].
| alt =
| caption = Martus around 1940
| birth_name = Florence Margaret Martus
| birth_date = August 7, 1868
| birth_place = [[Cockspur Island|Cockspur Island, Georgia]], U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|1943|2|8|1868|8|7}}
| death_place = [[Savannah, Georgia]], U.S.
| resting_place = [[Laurel Grove Cemetery|Laurel Grove North Cemetery]], Savannah
| nationality = American
| known_for = Waving
| occupation =
}}


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[[Image:FlorenceMartusTheWavingGirl.jpg|thumb|Historical marker]]
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==Personal life==
⚫
[[File:Florence Martus statue in Savannah, August 2016.jpg|thumb|300px|right|Savannah's ''Waving Girl'' statue, inscribed with Martus' incorrect year of birth]]
⚫
'''Florence Margaret Martus''' (August 7, 1868 – February 8, 1943),<ref name=southern/> also known as '''"the Waving Girl"''', took it upon herself to be the unofficial greeter of all ships entering and leaving the [[Port of Savannah]], [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]], via the [[Savannah River]], between 1887 and 1931.<ref name=southern/> A few years after she began waving at passing sailors, she moved in with her brother, a [[Lighthouse keeper|light keeper]], at his small white cottage about five miles upriver from [[Fort Pulaski National Monument|Fort Pulaski]]. From her rustic home on [[Elba Island (Georgia)|Elba Island]], a tiny piece of land in the Savannah River near the [[Atlantic Ocean]], Martus waved a handkerchief by day and a lantern by night. According to legend, not a ship was missed in her forty-four years on watch. A statue of Martus by the sculptor [[Felix de Weldon]] was erected in Morrell Park on Savannah's historic riverfront in 1972.


==Early life==
Martus' father was an ordnance sergeant at [[Fort Pulaski]] on [[Cockspur Island]], where she was born.<ref>NPS [http://www.cr.nps.gov/history/online_books/hh/18/hh18q.htm National Park Service]</ref>
Martus was born on August 7, 1868, in [[Cockspur Island]], near [[Savannah, Georgia]]. She was the daughter of German-born Civil War veteran John H. Martus and Rosanna Cecilia Decker.<ref name=southern>[https://archives.diosav.org/sites/all/files/archives/S8528p03.pdf ''Priest recalls Masses he said at aunt’s Elba Island Home''] – ''Southern Cross'', p. 3, August 18, 2005</ref> She had five siblings: Catherine, Annie, Charles, George and Mary.<ref name=southern/> John Martus was an ordnance sergeant at [[Fort Pulaski]] on Cockspur Island.<ref>NPS [http://www.cr.nps.gov/history/online_books/hh/18/hh18q.htm National Park Service]</ref>

Following her father's death (by 1890), the family moved to Savannah. They returned to [[Elba Island (Georgia)|Elba Island]] when her brother, George, became [[Lighthouse keeper|keeper]] of the Elba and South Channel lights.<ref name=southern/>


==Legends==
==Legends==
Many other legends endure about this woman, notably the following:
Many legends endure about Martus, notably the following:
* The reason she greeted ships was because she had fallen in love as a young girl with a sailor and wanted to be sure he would find her when he returned<ref name="pbs.org">[http://www.pbs.org/legendarylighthouses/html/satlgl.html#cockspur Legendary Lighthouses: Great Lighthouses-South Atlantic<!-- bot-generated title -->] at www.pbs.org</ref>
* The reason she greeted ships was because as a young girl, she had fallen in love with a sailor and wanted to be sure he would find her when he returned.<ref name="pbs.org">[https://www.pbs.org/legendarylighthouses/html/satlgl.html#cockspur Legendary Lighthouses: Great Lighthouses-South Atlantic<!-- bot-generated title -->] at www.pbs.org</ref> When, after 44 years, he did not, she died of a [[broken heart]].
* Sailors would bring her gifts<ref name="pbs.org"/>
* Sailors would bring her gifts.<ref name="pbs.org"/>
* When the captain of the ship that brought her memorial statue to Savannah arrived, he refused to accept payment because of his fond memories of Martus<ref>[http://www.softadventure.net/CharlestonSavannah.htm Charleston and Savannah<!-- bot-generated title -->] at www.softadventure.net</ref>
* When the captain of the ship that brought her memorial statue to Savannah arrived, he refused to accept payment because of his fond memories of Martus.<ref>[http://www.softadventure.net/CharlestonSavannah.htm Charleston and Savannah<!-- bot-generated title -->] at www.softadventure.net</ref>


⚫
==Personal life==
While these old tales may be accurate, there is no strong supporting evidence for any of them.
When George retired, they both moved to Bona Bella in Savannah, with the [[List of mayors of Savannah, Georgia|mayor of Savannah]] officially welcoming them to the city.<ref name=southern/>

===Death===
Martus died on February 8, 1943, aged 74. After a service at the [[Cathedral of St. John the Baptist (Savannah, Georgia)|Cathedral of St. John the Baptist]], she was buried in a family plot at [[Laurel Grove Cemetery|Laurel Grove North Cemetery]].<ref name=southern/>


==Legacy==
==Legacy==
On September 27, 1943 [[Liberty ship]] SS ''Florence Martus'' was named in her honor.
On September 27, 1943, [[Liberty ship]] SS ''Florence Martus'' was named in her honor.


In 1999, the city of Savannah named its [[ferry]] service the ''Savannah Belles Ferry'' after five of Savannah's notable women, including Florence Martus.<sup>[[Juliette Gordon Low|[90]]]</sup>
In 1999, the city of Savannah named its [[ferry]] service, the [[Savannah Belles Ferry]], after four of Savannah's notable women, including Florence Martus.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Savannah Belles Ferry – Chatham Area Transit (CAT) |url=https://catchacat.org/getting-around/ride-free-downtown/savannah-belles-ferry/ |access-date=2024-04-20 |language=en-US}}</ref>

The Waving Girl historical marker was officially dedicated in 1958 and is located near the visitor center at Fort Pulaski.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Waving Girl |url=https://georgiainfo.galileo.usg.edu/topics/historical_markers/county/chatham/the-waving-girl |website=Galileo.USG.edu |publisher=University System of Georgia |accessdate=10 July 2019}}</ref>


==Notes==
==Notes==
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* [http://www.savannah-online.com/full_story.cfm?sect=TourismOurCity&id=529 Savannah Online article]
* [http://www.savannah-online.com/full_story.cfm?sect=TourismOurCity&id=529 Savannah Online article]
* [http://georgiainfo.galileo.usg.edu/topics/historical_markers/county/chatham/the-waving-girl The Waving Girl] historical marker
* [http://georgiainfo.galileo.usg.edu/topics/historical_markers/county/chatham/the-waving-girl The Waving Girl] historical marker

{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Martus, Florence}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Martus, Florence}}
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[[Category:People from Savannah, Georgia]]
[[Category:People from Savannah, Georgia]]
[[Category:People from Chatham County, Georgia]]
[[Category:People from Chatham County, Georgia]]


{{GeorgiaUS-stub}}
{{US-bio-stub}}

Latest revision as of 20:07, 2 May 2024

Florence Martus
Martus around 1940
Born
Florence Margaret Martus

August 7, 1868
Cockspur Island, Georgia, U.S.
DiedFebruary 8, 1943(1943-02-08) (aged 74)
Savannah, Georgia, U.S.
Resting placeLaurel Grove North Cemetery, Savannah
NationalityAmerican
Known forWaving
Historical marker
Savannah's Waving Girl statue, inscribed with Martus' incorrect year of birth

Florence Margaret Martus (August 7, 1868 – February 8, 1943),[1] also known as "the Waving Girl", took it upon herself to be the unofficial greeter of all ships entering and leaving the Port of Savannah, Georgia, via the Savannah River, between 1887 and 1931.[1] A few years after she began waving at passing sailors, she moved in with her brother, a light keeper, at his small white cottage about five miles upriver from Fort Pulaski. From her rustic home on Elba Island, a tiny piece of land in the Savannah River near the Atlantic Ocean, Martus waved a handkerchief by day and a lantern by night. According to legend, not a ship was missed in her forty-four years on watch. A statue of Martus by the sculptor Felix de Weldon was erected in Morrell Park on Savannah's historic riverfront in 1972.

Early life

[edit]

Martus was born on August 7, 1868, in Cockspur Island, near Savannah, Georgia. She was the daughter of German-born Civil War veteran John H. Martus and Rosanna Cecilia Decker.[1] She had five siblings: Catherine, Annie, Charles, George and Mary.[1] John Martus was an ordnance sergeant at Fort Pulaski on Cockspur Island.[2]

Following her father's death (by 1890), the family moved to Savannah. They returned to Elba Island when her brother, George, became keeper of the Elba and South Channel lights.[1]

Legends

[edit]

Many legends endure about Martus, notably the following:

  • The reason she greeted ships was because as a young girl, she had fallen in love with a sailor and wanted to be sure he would find her when he returned.[3] When, after 44 years, he did not, she died of a broken heart.
  • Sailors would bring her gifts.[3]
  • When the captain of the ship that brought her memorial statue to Savannah arrived, he refused to accept payment because of his fond memories of Martus.[4]

Personal life

[edit]

When George retired, they both moved to Bona Bella in Savannah, with the mayor of Savannah officially welcoming them to the city.[1]

Death

[edit]

Martus died on February 8, 1943, aged 74. After a service at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, she was buried in a family plot at Laurel Grove North Cemetery.[1]

Legacy

[edit]

On September 27, 1943, Liberty ship SS Florence Martus was named in her honor.

In 1999, the city of Savannah named its ferry service, the Savannah Belles Ferry, after four of Savannah's notable women, including Florence Martus.[5]

The Waving Girl historical marker was officially dedicated in 1958 and is located near the visitor center at Fort Pulaski.[6]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f g Priest recalls Masses he said at aunt’s Elba Island Home – Southern Cross, p. 3, August 18, 2005
  2. ^ NPS National Park Service
  3. ^ a b Legendary Lighthouses: Great Lighthouses-South Atlantic at www.pbs.org
  4. ^ Charleston and Savannah at www.softadventure.net
  5. ^ "Savannah Belles Ferry – Chatham Area Transit (CAT)". Retrieved 2024-04-20.
  6. ^ "The Waving Girl". Galileo.USG.edu. University System of Georgia. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
[edit]
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