SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - As voters head to polls for local elections on Nov. 4, Savannah’s history offers a reminder of what citizens can accomplish when they exercise their democratic power.

In 1954, Savannahians used that same power to transform their city from a debt-ridden municipality into a nationally recognized community.

“Early 1950s was not a good time for Savannah,” said Luciana Spracher, Savannah’s Archives & History Officer.

City faced multiple crises

The city was drowning in debt, operating under a political system that favored a few, while citizens wanted to reclaim their voice. Spracher said the city reached a critical point in the decade after World War II.

The Port of Savannah moved upriver, leaving River Street in decline. City Market, once a commerce hub at Ellis Squa

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