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
Map
General information
Location341 Bull Street, Madison Square, Savannah, Georgia
Coordinates32°04′23″N 81°05′40″W / 32.073115°N 81.094337°W / 32.073115; -81.094337
Current tenantsGryphon Tea Room
Construction startedJune 30, 1913
Completed1923 (101 years ago) (1923)
OwnerSavannah College of Art and Design (since 1981)
Technical details
Floor count5
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

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  1. ^ "Gryphon". SCAD.edu. Retrieved 2022-05-01.
  2. ^ Rite, Savannah Scottish. "Historic Masonic Center". Savannah Scottish Rite. Retrieved 2022-05-01.
  3. ^ Nussbaum, Katie (February 18, 2020). "Freemasons sell historic Bull Street home to SCAD". Savannah Morning News. Retrieved 2023-05-30.