The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-04-23

Is contained in the records of the Grand
Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons:
The Grand Lodge convened In conse-
quence of an invitation by the Mayor and
aldermen to lay the cornerstone of the
city exchange. The members present went
IN procession, attended by the corpora
ton, when the stone was placed in post
ton IN the usual Masonic form by Most
Morsnipfui Grand Master William
stephens, aided by the grand
warden and accompanied by the
the brethren; after which the grand mas
Ter delivered an appropriate Grafton The
plate deposited with the stone had the
following description:
A. l.. 500
A. D. 1893
OF American Independence the go wear
Mathew McAllister, Mayor.
William Stephens, Grand Master.
The plan of the city drawn by John
William deBrahm. the old surveyor gems
eral of Georgia, which is still preserved in
the records of the state department of
England, and which was prepared in 1851
shows building of some character mark
ed Exchange" at the site of the present
building, so that the name is even older
than the building Being located on the
river, near the crane which was used for
hosting goods from ships UP the bluff and
central to the city, this was probably
meeting place for the merchants and ship
ping people, where business was trans
acted In various commodities.
A former account, published in the
Morning News a number of years ago,
states that the building located on this
spot was destroyed by fire in 1896, but
fans to state what was the character of
the building. The new building, however,
was designed and erected for
commercial purposes. The city be-
ing a stakeholder for only
twenty-five shares, the capital stock
being $4,000 at 800 share. The site was
leased to the company by the city for a
period of 90 years. Twenty thousand dol
lars was remarkable small capital with
which to erect such a building, even in
those days The same building could hard
ly be erected to-day for less than $4,000.
The plan of the building provided that
il was to be of brick and stone, Is feet by
50 feet. three stories high, with apart
ments for the different public Offices and
otherwise calculated for a city exchange"
There is no record of the date of the
completion and occupation of the build
ing, but this is presumed to have taken
place in 1901 The bell in the steeple bears
the date of 1903.
The building was a remarkable one for
that early period of Savannah's history as
is evidenced by the fact that it stlli re-
mains the domicife of the city government
nearly 100 years after its completion. That
it still renders satisfactory service for
such purpose, is a remarkable
tribute 10 the conception of
lis builders. and shows that the
fathers of Savannah built on broad lines,
and what additions have been made to the
building since it's completion, with the ex-
ception of the portico and the vault on the
north side are not known. The porch or
portico was added some years before the
civil war and did much to amend the for
bidding appearance of the structure.
The cd Savannahians, however, looked
upon it as one of the handsomest buisd-
ings of the age and regarded 1t with much
civic pride In their opinion the palatial
temples of the Old World did not excel
ii in beauty or magniicence. 1t Is told of
an old Savannahian, long since dead that
returning after several years abroad, and
arriving at Bay street, he stopped and
gazed with unfeigned admiration at the
municipal temple, exclaimed, Beautiful,
Beautiful
The exchange proved to be a profitable
investment for its builders and when the
city undertook to buy up the stock. having
already made small purchases at high fig
ures, il paid the holders $50 each on their
shares. The city Council had formerly
met in the old filature, but established
headquarters in the exchange after secur-
ing good portion Of the
stock. An agitation was begun
for the erection of a city han in 1911, but
a satisfactory arrangement being made
with the holders of the remainder of the
stock the city became the sole owner in
1872.
The building still continued to be used
for commercial purposes, however, and was
a popular place for business offices. The
United States custom house and postof-
flee We're located on the lower floor for
many years and later the same rooms were
occupied by the Daily Georgian. 1t is only
within the present decade that all YES
tige of commercial occupancy vanished
from the building, the city's business hav-
ing expanded sufficiently to require the
entire space. AT one time the lower floor
and the vaults beneath were used for po-
lice quarters and lookup. This was in
the day of the old city watch. The milf
tary companies of the city were given
quarters on the third floor previous to the
civil war, the offices now occupied by the
city engineer health officer and superin-
tendent Of water works. being then &C.
cupied by the Georgia Hussars. Oglethorpe
light Infantry. Irish Jasper Greens
and PhenN Rihemen. the latter company
having passed out of existence a number
of years since.
The long room" of the city exchange
formerly extended the whole length of the
front of the building on the second hoor.
the Mayors Office having been cut off
from this room number Of years since
The long room was the popular meeting
place OF the city. Political gatherings
We're held there. II was a fayoritc place
for balls and assemblies and public meet
ings OF every kind. The distinguished ora
tors and statesmen OF Savannah's early
history were wont to discuss the issues
OF the day there, and 10 argue upon ques-
lions OF public moment and wealth ana
fashion often gathered there 10 while the
hours away. n those old walls baa
tongues they might furnish volumes Of un-
published history which Otherwise may
never see the light.
should the SUGGESTION Of Hoo. Is. q. Afe.
London Of ThomasYilie that ho oue-hun.
dredth anniversary VI the "a building