Savannah Architects: Hyman Witcover

Bnai Brith Synagogue

Hyman Wallace Witcover was born July 16, 1871 in Darlington, South Carolina. At the age of seventeen he moved to Savannah to work as a draftsman for noted Savannah architect A. S. Eichberg. After two years he had become an architect. This would begin one of Savannah’s most illustrative architectural careers.
Witcover was not only an accomplished architect but one of Savannah’s great citizens. He would serve on the board of Mickve Isreal Synagogue and the original board of Savannah’s public library. He would serve in the Georgia Hussars as a private. But his most prominent civic life was as a freemason. Which we will talk about later.
His first major project was Sacred Heart Catholic Church on Bull Street. It is a fine example of his Gothic architecture. During this same time period he designed The Jasper Spring Memorial in honor of legendary Revolutionary War hero Sgt. William Jasper. With these introductions to the Savannah community his career was off to a grand and long start.
He would design the Bull Street Library, Chatham Armory (which now houses Brighter Day Natural Food Store, Sentient Bean, American Legion, and a Local 911 restaurant),  and the Kehoe House. His designs for homes in the downtown Savannah area were so prolific that in 1903 the Morning News wrote ‘nearly all the new homes were designed by Witcover and his brand of attractive architecture’.  
Because Witcover was one of the first American born Jewish architects it is no surprise that he was selected to design the Moorish  Bnai Brith Jacob synagogue (today the Savannah College of art and Design student center). His most known work is City Hall built in 1913 in with a Beaux Art Design. It was heralded as one of the best City Halls in the South. This is his drawing of the proposed City Hall that mesmerized Savannahians.
His Freemason career grew throughout his life. He became the leader of the local chapter and later was voted the Active Sovereign Grand Inspector General of Georgia (I am told this is as important as it sounds). While leading the Freemasons he designed the Scottish Rite Temple on Bull Street. But his career in the Freemason world expanded as he was elected in 1923 the Secretary General of the Supreme Council of the national Freemasons in DC. This position led to his moving to DC. A DC paper wrote of the Secretary General Witcover “one of the most brilliant men the fraternity ever produced in the South.” He would design Scottish Rite Temples throughout the South including but not limited to Jacksonville, Montgomery, and Jackson, Mississippi. 
Witcover died on October 2, 1936 in DC. His funeral was held at the All Souls Unitarian Church. He is buried there in the Lincoln Cemetery. Various Savannah groups such as the Library wrote letters to the editor extolling his contributions. His legacy today can be seen throughout Savannah. 
​

---

Savannah Scottish Rite Temple

Sacred Heart Catholic Church

Chatham Armory

City Hall