Sequoya Commons - History

The Origin of the Sequoya Name — Sequoya, or George Guess, b. c.1760, d. Aug. 1843, is credited with the creation of the written form of the Cherokee language, referred to as “the talking leaves.”

In recognizing the written word of white settlers, Sequoya developed a Cherokee syllabary consisting of 86 symbols to represent sounds of the Cherokee language. Sequoya’s creation and popularization of the syllabary, led to the founding of a Cherokee language newspaper, the Cherokee Phoenix in 1828.

Sequoya Branch Library — The Sequoya Branch of the Madison Library System celebrated 50 years of service to the area in January 2007. When Phase 1 of Sequoya Commons is complete, the library will more than double in size to over 20,000 square feet.

The Historic Westmorland Neighborhood — Westmorland is a quiet and friendly neighborhood located on Madison’s near-west side. Established for decades, the Westmorland neighborhood features streets lined with old-growth trees and architecture that appeals to the many tastes of it’s residents. Sequoya Commons will be situated in the heart of Westmorland, at the intersection of Tokay and Midvale Boulevards.