There is scene shortly after the film flashes to 1922 where Ward and Christmas are discussing the construction of "Imperial." The characters are referring to Imperial Sugar, which is the modern day corporate name for Dixie Crystal, who built their sugar refinery on Savannah's marsh front in 1916.
The Desoto Hotel mentioned throughout the movie was a real-life, upscale hotel. The hotel was demolished in the 1960s for a new, high-rise Hilton branded hotel which still exists as the Hilton Savannah Desoto.
Epilogue: "Ward Allen was born in Savannah, Georgia on August 8, 1856. He studied in England where he learned Latin, Greek, and a love for Shakespeare. He was a champion of common-sense game laws, fair to both hunter and game. Christmas Moultrie was born on Christmas Day in 1863. The last child born into slavery on Mulberry Grove Plantation, he spent his life tirelessly fishing and hunting game. In his later years, he was known in Savannah, affectionately, as the Mayor. Jack Cay first memorialized the story of Ward and Christmas in a paper given to the Madeira Club in Savannah, Georgia in 1958."
Epilogue: "Christmas Moultrie was born on Christmas Day in 1863. The last child born into slavery on Mulberry Grove Plantation, he spent his life tirelessly fishing and hunting game. In his later years, he was known in Savannah, affectionately, as the mayor. Jack Cay first memorialized the story of Ward and Christmas in a paper given to the Madeira Club in Savannah, Georgia in 1958."
Epilogue: "Ward Allen was born in Savannah, Georgia on August 8, 1856. He studied in England where he learned Latin, Greek, and a love for Shakespeare. He was a champion of common-sense game laws, fair to both hunter and game."