The James Building Griffin

Visitors to METC can't help but notice the four-foot tall terracotta griffin that stands in our courtyard. This cast figure is one of the original three griffins that once stood atop the James Building, directly across Green Village Road from the home of the Museum of Early Trades & Crafts.

The James Building was built at the behest of Daniel Willis James in 1899, the same year the philanthropist began building the library building that is now our home. The James Building has five peaks, three of which were topped with griffins. Local legend has it that in the 1920s lightning completely destroyed one griffin and, at some point, another mysteriously lost a wing tip. The third griffin remained intact.

Artisan David Finlay used the intact griffin to cast three reproductions that were then returned to their perches atop the James Building. In May of 2000 an original griffin that faced the library for so many years was installed on a pedestal in the courtyard of the Museum, a gift of the Solu family.

A griffin's lion-like body symbolizes strength, and its eagle's head represents intelligence. Long ears and eagle claws complete their look of vigilance and readiness. Griffins were considered by the Greeks to be the embodiment of Nemesis, the goddess of retribution. The fierce-looking creatures were considered by some civilizations to represent satanic figures. Some cultures considered the griffin a symbol of the dual nature of Jesus Christ, divine and human. Whatever its role or reputation, we are delighted to have the original griffin that watched us for so many years from across the street now on duty at METC's new conservatory entrance.