John S. Norris (1804-1876) was one of Savannah’s most prolific architects in the antebellum period, designing many of its most notable buildings and homes of that era.
Unfortunately, not all of his works have survived, whether destroyed by fire or storm or new developments, but numerous examples of his work do remain.
Some of his most notable commissions, including the Green-Meldrim House on Madison Square or the Mercer-Williams House on Monterey, are open to the public for tours. The rest are privately owned, and can be enjoyed for their exteriors only.
John Norris's Career
John S. Norris was born in New York. He began his career as a mason and builder, and later supervisor of construction works, before embarking on his own venture as an independent architect.
Though Norris lived most of his life in New York (both city and state) – where his wife and children remained – he spent extended periods in other cities whilst working on commissions, including several years spent in Savannah.
His first work in Savannah was the United States Custom House, constructed between 1846 and 1852, and which still stands on East Bay Street at Bull Street.
Norris arrived in Savannah the year construction on that building began, and continued to accept jobs in the city until shortly before the outbreak of the Civil War. He had one of the longest careers in Savannah of its nineteenth century architects.
Many of his works have since been destroyed, and many more survive without the necessary records to associate him with the design. John Norris employed a variety of styles in his projects, which makes the attribution of undocumented buildings to him more difficult than it is with architects such as William Jay, who worked in a more consistent style.
Nonetheless, the buildings which are definitely Norris’s designs are numerous. Extant buildings include:
- The United States Custom House, on East Bay Street
- The Green-Meldrim House, on Madison Square
- The Massie School House, on Calhoun Square
- Stoddard’s Upper and Lower Ranges, on East Bay Street
- The Mercer-Williams House, on Monterey Square
- The Unitarian Meeting House, on Troup Square
References:
Mary Lane Morrison, John S. Norris: Architect in Savannah, 1846-1860 (New York: Beehive Press, 1980)