Massie Common School House

Massie School is the only remaining building of Georgia's oldest chartered school system. Constructed in 1855-56 and opened for classes on October 15, 1856, the Greek Revival building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In 1841, Peter Massie, a Scottish planter in Glynn County, Georgia, bequeathed $5,000 for the education of the poor children of Savannah, and the donation was invested until enough had accumulated to build a school. In 1855, the city retained John S. Norris to design and build Massie School, and the original center portion cost $9,000. The west wing was built in 1872 from plans by John B. Hogg, and the east wing was erected in 1886. After Sherman's occupation of Savannah in December, 1864, the building was used briefly as a hospital by Federal troops, and beginning May 1, 1865, it was operated for a few months as a school for the Freedmen with teachers from the American Missionary Association. Massie School became a unit of the Savannah-Chatham County Board of Public Education when that body was established in 1866, and it was closed to regular classes in June, 1974, after educating Savannahians for 118 years.

Savannah, Georgia · United States