Working Benevolent Temple and Professional Building
Also known as: A.M.E. Working Benevolent Temple and Professional BuildingBroad and Fall Sts., Greenville, South Carolina
Photo
Working Benevolent Temple and Professional Building
Photo taken by Michael Miller in April 2021
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Coordinates:
+34.84718, -82.3991134°50'50" N, 82°23'57" W
Quadrangle map:Greenville
Description
The Working Benevolent Temple and Professional Building is significant for its historic association with the development of Greenville’s black business district and professional activities for fifty years. It was designed, built, and financed by the Working Benevolent State Grand Lodge of South Carolina, a black health, welfare, and burial benefit society. The site was chosen to serve as the administrative offices and headquarters of the lodge, as well as to attract black professionals to Greenville. Built in 1922, it provided offices for black doctors, lawyers, dentists, a newspaper, and insurance firms and housed the first black mortuary in Greenville. The temple was also the center for Greenville’s civil rights activities during the 1960s. The building is a three-story, brick building with a steel superstructure. The first and second floors are of brick laid in common bond; the third floor is laid in Flemish bond with burnt headers. Listed in the National Register July 1, 1982. - SCDAH
National Register information
- Status
- Posted to the National Register of Historic Places on July 1, 1982
- Reference number
- 82003865
- Areas of significance
- Ethnic Heritage - Black; Architecture; Social History
- Level of significance
- Local
- Evaluation criteria
- A - Event; C - Design/Construction
- Property type
- Building
- Historic functions
- Religious structure; Professional
- Current functions
- Professional; Religious structure
- Period of significance
- 1900-1924
- Significant year
- 1922
Update Log
- April 7, 2021: New photo from Michael Miller
- September 15, 2014: Updated by Michael Miller: Added "Description" & "Street View", Corrected "Category" and Imported Photo
- September 15, 2014: Photo imported by Michael Miller