Ground for the memorial was broken at noon on June 5, 1922. Louis Watres, president of the association, and Charles H. Callahan, vice president, broke ground in a driving rain. The shovel and pick used to break ground, as well as four small stones from the first two spades of earth turned, were preserved by the Alexandria-Washington Lodge. Excavation of the memorial's foundation began a few days later, with Cranford Paving Co. of Washington, D.C., doing the work."Many Companies Assisted In Building Great Temple." Washington Post. May 12, 1932. The foundation was roughly hemispherical to provide the greatest stability, and of the top of hill removed (lowering the elevation to just ) in order to accommodate the wide by long foundation.Riddell, J.P. "How High is the Memorial?" The Light. Winter 2000, p. 5. To ensure that the clay remained damp and did not dry out, which would cause the building to settle, a concrete pad was laid on top of the clay. This pad was deep in the center but only deep on the edges, and consisted of of concrete and of reinforcing steel rods. The pad was allowed to set for several months before work began on the foundation itself.Brown, History of the George Washington Masonic National Memorial..., p. 10. The basement of the building was as large as the first two floors combined and was intended to house the structure's mechanical plant."Memorial Site Once Was Land of Washington." Washington Post. June 11, 1935. Although steam shovels were used to excavate the foundation, the earth was carried away by mule-drawn wagons."Early Construction of the Masonic Memorial." Alexandria Times. March 26 – April 2, 2009. Accessed 2011-03-24. A wide road was constructed to the top of Shooter's Hill to permit the transport of earth off the site and construction materials to the hilltop.
