Artley Company (Savannah, Ga.)

The Artley Company is a contracting firm in Savannah, Georgia that was founded around 1900 by A. A. Artley. Artley moved to Savannah from Pennsylvania. The family-owned business is still operating today. William Scarborough (1776-1838) was a wealthy Savannah merchant when he built his elaborate home at 41 West Broad Street (now Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive) in 1818. He was an owner of the Savannah Steam Ship Company. His elaborate home, designed by the English architect William Jay, was completed in 1819. Scarborough went bankrupt in 1820, and his home was sold at auction. The house passed through different owners before becoming home to the first public school for blacks in 1878. By the 1960s, the home was vacant and in danger of being demolished. In 1972, the Historic Savannah Foundation purchased the house. They restored it and used it as headquarters for a time. In 1976, the home was designated a National Historic Landmark. After changing owners a couple times, the house was again restored in 1996-1997 and is now home to the Ships of the Sea Museum. The Critz Buick Company was located at 3100 Montgomery Street in Savannah in 1951. Critz Inc. is still in operation today, but is located at 7000 Abercorn. They sell Buicks, BMWs, and Mercedes.