Masonic Center (Savannah)
Savannah Masonic Center is a historic building at 341 Bull Street in downtown Savannah, Georgia, United States. Standing in the southwestern corner of Madison Square, it was constructed between 1913 and 1923, to a design by Hyman Witcover, previously the architect of Savannah City Hall. Today it is known as Gryphon, and is part of the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD).[1]
| Savannah Masonic Center | |
|---|---|
The building in 2021, viewed from within Madison Square, looking southwest | |
| General information | |
| Location | 341 Bull Street, Madison Square, Savannah, Georgia |
| Coordinates | 32°04′23″N 81°05′40″W / 32.073115°N 81.094337°W |
| Current tenants | Gryphon Tea Room |
| Construction started | June 30, 1913 |
| Completed | 1923 |
| Owner | Savannah College of Art and Design (since 1981) |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 5 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect(s) | Hyman Witcover |
The land on which the building stands was purchased in November 1895. Eight years later, a general appeal was made to the masonic community for additional support in financing the construction of a masonic hall. The corner stone was laid on June 30, 1913, by Robert L. Colding, Grand Master of Masons in Georgia. The building's construction was completed a decade later and deeded to the Scottish Rite.[2]
In July 2019, the building was sold to SCAD, which has previously leased part of it, and the Scottish Rite Masonic Center was moved to a new home on Chatham Center Drive.[3]
References edit
- ^ "Gryphon". SCAD.edu. Retrieved 2022-05-01.
- ^ Rite, Savannah Scottish. "Historic Masonic Center". Savannah Scottish Rite. Retrieved 2022-05-01.
- ^ Nussbaum, Katie (February 18, 2020). "Freemasons sell historic Bull Street home to SCAD". Savannah Morning News. Retrieved 2023-05-30.