William Kehoe emigrated from County Wexford, Ireland in 1842 at the age of ten with his mother, father, four brothers and three sisters. The family settled in the Old Fort District with other Irish immigrants. William apprenticed in an iron foundry and worked his way up to become a foreman. Eventually he bought the foundry that was then located to the East of Broughton Street. After World War One, he built a new foundry on the riverfront and quickly became one of Savannah’s most successful and prominent businessmen.

William Kehoe and Anne Flood married in 1868 and started their family. Their first home was also on Columbia Square, located at 130 Habersham Street. As his business and family grew, he felt a larger and grander home was in order. He liked the district so much that he purchased the south half of the lot located diagonally across the street for $950. The home he erected was designed by DeWitt Bruyn at the cost of $25,000 and was completed in May of 1892. Immediately after that, Mr. and Mrs. Kehoe occupied the home with their ten children.

Mr. Kehoe’s heirs sold the house in 1930. Over the next 60 years the property was used as a boarding house, funeral parlor, and held for a time held by Alabama and New York Jets football star, Joe Namath. In 1990, Mr. Namath sold the property, and after a two year renovation, the property opened as a Historic Bed and Breakfast Inn, The William Kehoe House. The property was sold again in 2003. It was purchased by its current owner, HLC Hotels, in May of 2007.