In 1818, the State Legislature incorporated the Savannah Free School Society. The Society received Lot 39, Brown Ward, as a gift from the City of Savannah for a school building. The Society accepted William Jay's school building proposal at the April 5, 1819 Board meeting, and approved his estimate of $2,200 on June 17, 1819. The building was dedicated on February 16, 1820, but was destroyed by fire in June 1852.