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Aledo’s 1910 Masonic temple (no chapter at present)
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Constructed on the town square at 101 Southwest 3rd Street
in 1910, Aledo’s Masonic temple was the home of Cyrus Chapter No. 211.
See Aledo Lodge No. 252: “150 Years of Community Service”.
The first photograph to the left was captured by Flickr contributor Tourismguy (Bruce Wicks).
The second photograph is from Google Streetview.
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Alton’s (Upper Alton’s) Franklin Masonic Temple
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Located at 1513 Washington Avenue, in what was formerly Upper Alton, Franklin Masonic Temple (named for Franklin Lodge No. 25) is the home of Franklin Chapter No. 8, whose convocations are held on the third Wednesday in January, April, July, & October, at 7:30 p.m.
The images to the left were captured by Google Streetview.
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Alton’s old Masonic temple (no chapter at present)
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Constructed in 1918, at 300 State Street, in the city’s Christian Hill Historic District, this is the former home of Franklin Chapter No. 8, who now meet at 1513 Washington Avenue.
See Evert E. Lawson (ed.), 1968-1969 Masonic Directory: A Listing of Masonic Lodges and Appendant Bodies in Illinois, Glenwood, Illinois: Temple Publishers (1968).
The old structure is now home to Temple Banquet Center and Spirits Lounge, and is No. 78001165 on the National Register of Historic Places.
The first image was captured by Flickr contributor, Seth Gaines. Click here to see Mr. Gaines’ extraordinary portfolio.
The second image is from a postcard, courtesy of the Illinois Lodge of Research’s Louis L. Williams Masonic Library.
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Arcola’s 1895 former Masonic temple
(no chapter at present)
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Constructed on the the south side of the 200 block of East Main Street in 1895, Arcola’s former Masonic temple featured a lodge/chapter hall on the third story. It was the home of Arcola Chapter No. 163.
Arcola’s Masonic organisations moved directly across the street to
213½ East Main Street.
The first photograph to the left was captured by Flickr contributor Tourismguy (Bruce Wicks). The second image is a close-up form the same photograph.
The third image is a satellite view from Google Maps. Note the prominent impression of the chapter/lodge hall in the roof structure.
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Auburn Masonic Temple (no chapter at present)
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Constructed in 1913 at 217 North 5th Street, Auburn’s Masonic Temple was the home of Auburn Chapter No. 92, from that time until the chapter merged into Springfield Chapter No. 1, of Springfield, on 3 January 1951.
The photographs to the left come to us from Facebook site, “Historic Masonic Lodges and Temples (A Photo Tour)”.
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Aurora’s former Masonic Temple (no chapter at present)
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Aurora’s abandoned Masonic Temple, located at 104 South Lincoln Avenue, was home to Aurora Chapter No. 22.
See Evert E. Lawson (ed.), 1968-1969 Masonic Directory: A Listing of Masonic Lodges and Appendant Bodies in Illinois, Glenwood, Illinois: Temple Publishers (1968).
The chapter now meet at Aurora’s new Masonic Temple, on the third Wednesday of January, April, July, and October, at 7:30 p.m.
The second photograph was taken by Waymarking user BruceS.
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Beardstown’s former Masonic Temple (no chapter at present)
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Beardstown’s former Masonic Temple, located at the east corner of South State Street and East 6th Street, was home to Clarke Chapter No. 29.
See Evert E. Lawson (ed.), 1968-1969 Masonic Directory: A Listing of Masonic Lodges and Appendant Bodies in Illinois, Glenwood, Illinois: Temple Publishers (1968).
The cornerstone was laid on 3 September 1920, and the temple was dedicated on 14 September 1921.
Clarke Chapter merged into Lusk Chapter No. 20 on 28 July 2006.
The second photograph is a postcard of the then-new temple, produced by Curt Teich & Co. and is available from the Illinois Digital Archive.
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Belvidere Masonic Temple (no chapter at present)
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Belvidere’s Masonic temple, located at 107 West Lincoln Avenue, began life as the First National Bank Building and predates the 3 April 1911 purchase by Belvidere Lodge No. 60 of the second and third stories for US$4,000. The lodge spent another US$10,000 to remodel the building before it was dedicated on 11 April 1912.
See History of Belvidere Lodge No. 60.
Kishwaukee Chapter No. 90 purchased a life lease of the lodge room from Belvidere Lodge for US$3,000 on 20 May 1912. Ibid. The chapter merged into Winnebago Chapter No. 24 of Loves Park on 27 July 2001.
The combined chapter subsequently removed to Rockford.
The first image comes to us from Belvidere Lodge No. 60.
The second image was captured by Google Streetview.
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Blue Island’s former Masonic Temple (no chapter at present)
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Blue Island’s former Masonic Temple, located at the 12750 South Western Avenue, was home to Fairview Chapter No. 161 and Calumet Chapter No. 203.
See Evert E. Lawson (ed.), 1968-1969 Masonic Directory: A Listing of Masonic Lodges and Appendant Bodies in Illinois, Glenwood, Illinois: Temple Publishers (1968).
Notice the columns and archway, capped with a keystone. Difficult to see in these photographs are the square & compasses on the base of each column, and the Mark of Hiram on keystone.
Fairview Chapter No. 161 merged into Calumet Chapter No. 203
on 12 March 1975. The combined chapter subsequently merged into
Logan Chapter No. 196 of Oak Lawn on 13 June 1983.
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Cairo Masonic Temple (no chapter at present)
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Located at 900 Poplar Court, Cairo Masonic Temple was the home of
Cairo Chapter No. 71 who surrendered their charter on 16 July 1999.
The image to the left was captured by Flickr user Eridony.
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Canton’s former Masonic Temple & opera house (no chapter at present)
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Straight down Main Street from the town’s current Masonic Temple, one can find Canton’s former Masonic Temple and opera house, at 45 East Side Square. The building now houses offices and is known as Opera House Professional Center.
The image to the left was posted by Waymarking user gladtobehere
and published by Waymarking user Math Teacher.
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Carthage’s 1925 Masonic Temple (no chapter at present)
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The cornerstone of Carthage’s current Masonic Temple, was laid in 1925 at
700 Main Street. This temple was home to Carthage Chapter No. 33.
See Evert E. Lawson (ed.), 1968-1969 Masonic Directory: A Listing of Masonic Lodges and Appendant Bodies in Illinois, Glenwood, Illinois: Temple Publishers (1968).
The chapter merged into LaHarpe Chapter No. 111 of LaHarpe
on 14 January 1956.
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Carthage’s 1887 former Masonic temple (no chapter at present)
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Carthage’s former temple, located at 73 South Adams Street, was constructed in 1887 by N.P. McKee and Hancock Lodge No. 20.
This temple was home to Carthage Chapter No. 33 until 1924 when a three-alarm destroyed most of the interior and necessitated extensive exterior reconstruction as well. Mississippi Valley Telephone purchased the building’s remains that year and rebuilt it without architect George W. Payne’s original arched windows and pyramidal roof. Carthage’s Masonic bodies built a new, larger temple in the following year.
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Champaign’s 1912 Masonic Temple (in memoriam)
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Constructed in 1912 at 109½ North Neil Street, Champaign’s former downtown Masonic Temple was the home of Champaign Chapter No. 50 whose convocations are held on the first Wednesday evening of each month in Champaign’s current temple, built sixty years later.
The Neil Street site is now a parking lot.
The first image is from a postcard, courtesy of the Illinois Lodge of Research’s Louis L. Williams Masonic Library.
The second photograph depicts the building’s cornerstone, now displayed in front of Champaign’s current Masonic Temple, and was captured by Companion David Miley on 14 September 2008.
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Chicago – American Merchants’ United Express Co. Building (in memoriam)
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The upper floors of the American Express Building at 72-74-76-78 Monroe Street [o.s.] (23 to 33 West Monroe Street [n.s.]) were a Masonic temple complex of several halls and allied rooms, one or two of which were home to La Fayette Chapter No. 2, and Wiley M. Egan Chapter No. 126.
Designed by Henry Hobson Richardson for the American Express Company (f/k/a American Merchants’ Union Express Company), the building was constructed in 1872 in the aftermath of the Great Fire of 1871.
Each of the four halls boasted lavish ornamentation, murals, detailed moldings, and powerful pipe organs. One of the halls featured what may have been the first horse-shoe balcony in a Freemason hall in the United States.
Despite being equipped with a 4,000-gallon reservoir in its attic, and a basement steam pump capable of propelling water fifty feet above the roof, building was gutted by fire on 17 June 1930.
Please click here for more details and cited references.
La Fayette Chapter’s monthly convocations are now held on the fourth Tuesday evening of each month at Jefferson Park Masonic Temple.
Click here to visit the chapter’s website.
The photograph on the left depicts the exterior of the American Express Building dressed for the 1910 Triennial Conclave of the
Grand Encampment of Knights Templar of the U.S.A. See the reflection of the Majestic Building’s distinctive terra cotta lower walls in the American Express Building’s windows.
Photo courtesy of Apollo Commandery No. 1, Knights Templar.
Click here to see ninety more photographs of Chicago hosting the 1910 Triennial Conclave.
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Chicago – Auburn Park Masonic Temple (no chapter at present)
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The former Auburn Park Masonic Temple, located at 7832 South Union Avenue, in Chicago, was the home of Chicago Chapter No. 127, later relocated to Evergreen Park and renamed United Chapter No. 127, and before merging into Logan Chapter No. 196 of Oak Lawn on 14 January 1988.
See Evert E. Lawson (ed.), 1968-1969 Masonic Directory: A Listing of Masonic Lodges and Appendant Bodies in Illinois, Glenwood, Illinois: Temple Publishers (1968).
The former temple is now a charter high school, the Community Youth Development Institute.
The image to the left was captured by Google Streetview.
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Chicago – Central Masonic Temple (in memoriam)
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The cornerstone of the Central Masonic Temple formerly located at 912 North LaSalle Drive was laid 14 October 1909 by the Grand Master of Illinois, Most Worshipful Brother A. B. Ashley, following a grand parade to the site.
The temple was home to Corinthian Chapter No. 2, Wiley M. Eagan Chapter No. 126, Lincoln Park Chapter No. 177, and Saint Cecilia Chapter No. 220.
See Evert E. Lawson (ed.), 1968-1969 Masonic Directory: A Listing of Masonic Lodges and Appendant Bodies in Illinois, Glenwood, Illinois: Temple Publishers (1968).
Wiley M. Eagan Chapter merged into Corinthian Chapter who reassumed their former name, La Fayette Chapter No. 2. They currently meet on the fourth Tuesday evening of each month at Jefferson Park Masonic Temple.
Click here to visit the chapter’s website
St. Cecilia Chapter merged into Lincoln Park Chapter, who now meet at Mont Clare Masonic Temple.
The second photograph shows the cornerstone ready for its laying on 14 October 1909.
Click here for more photographs of the laying ceremony and the procession thereto.
The third photograph was taken during construction in early 1910.
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Chicago – Corinthian Hall (in memoriam)
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Formerly located at 185 to 189 East [o.s.] 56 West [n.s.] Kinzie Street, Corinthian Hall was home to Corinthian Chapter No. 69.
Please click here to see interior photographs of the interior of Corinthian Hall.
To the left is a woodcut depicting a westward view along the Chicago River, South Water Street (now Wacker Drive) and Kinzie Street, from Rand McNally’s 1893 Bird’s-Eye Views and Guide to Chicago. Corinthian Hall is in the upper right corner, at the northwest corner of the intersection of Kinzie and Dearborn Streets. Dearborn is identified by the second bridge from the top (west).
The webmaster is attempting to secure a photograph or more detailed drawing of Corinthian Hall’s exterior. If you have images of this long lost building, please email them to the webmaster, Thank you.
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Chicago – Grand Crossing Masonic Temple (no legitimate chapters at present)
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Located at 7439 South Ingleside Avenue, Grand Crossing Temple was home to … wait for it … Grand Crossing Chapter No. 219. The chapter merged into Pullman Chapter No. 204, at Pullman Masonic Temple, on 17 November 1959.
The temple is now the headquarters of a clandestine grand lodge.
The image the left was captured by Google Streetview.
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Chicago – Logan Square Masonic Temple (no chapter at present)
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Located at 2451 North Kedzie Avenue, in Chicago’s Logan Square neighbourhood, this temple was home to Logan Square Chapter No. 238.
See Evert E. Lawson (ed.), 1968-1969 Masonic Directory: A Listing of Masonic Lodges and Appendant Bodies in Illinois, Glenwood, Illinois: Temple Publishers (1968).
Logan Square Chapter merged into Lincoln Park Chapter No. 177 who now meet at Mont Clare Masonic Temple.
The former Logan Square Masonic Temple is now known as Armitage Baptist Church.
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Chicago – Masonic Temple (in memoriam)
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The upper floors of the Chicago Masonic Temple at 47-59 State Street [o.s.] (151 to 167 North State Street [n.s.]) were a Masonic temple complex of several halls and allied rooms, one of which was home to Washington Chapter No. 43.
The twenty-two story building, designed by John Wellborn Root of Burnham and Root, was constructed in 1892. Below the Masonic floors were offices. The lower nine floors featured shops surrounding an open court. The lodge halls served also as theaters, but the building’s elevators, barely sufficient for daily commercial activity, were woefully inadequate for the theater crowds. The building, with its lackluster utility services and elevators, struggled to retain commercial tenants. The building’s death knell was the construction of the State Street subway (now part of the Red Line), which would have necessitated prohibitively expensive upgrades to the structure’s foundation. Consequently, the temple was razed in 1939.
Please click here to see Washington Chapter’s insurance policy for their furnishings at this temple, dated 7 January 1903.
The photograph on the left depicts the exteriors of the Chicago Masonic Temple and its neighbor to the south, Marshall Field & Company, dressed for the 1910 Triennial Conclave of the Grand Encampment of Knights Templar of the U.S.A.
Click here to see ninety more photographs of Chicago hosting the 1910 Triennial Conclave.
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Chicago – Myrtle Masonic Temple (no chapter at present)
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Located at 4240 West Irving Park Road, in Chicago’s Old Irving Park neighbourhood, Myrtle Masonic Temple was home to Irving Park Chapter No. 195.
See Evert E. Lawson (ed.), 1968-1969 Masonic Directory: A Listing of Masonic Lodges and Appendant Bodies in Illinois, Glenwood, Illinois: Temple Publishers (1968).
Lincoln Park Chapter No. 177 merged into Irving Park Chapter in 1978. The chapter, having readopted the Lincoln Park name and number in 2009, now meet at Mont Clare Masonic Temple.
The former Irving Park Masonic Temple is now a church.
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Chicago – Oriental Hall (in memoriam)
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Formerly located at 122 [o.s.] 18 North [n.s.] LaSalle Street, in Chicago, Oriental Hall was home to Washington Chapter No. 43.
Please click here to read Washington Chapter’s 5 March 1878 letter to Oriental Lodge No. 33, inquiring about becoming a tenant.
The woodcut on the left depicts the exterior of Oriental Hall, circa 1873, as it appeared in The Land Owner, Vol. 4, No. 10, Chicago: J. M. Wing (Oct. 1872), at 173. Click on it to see a high-resolution image.
The photograph on the left, from the archives of Oriental Lodge No. 33, depicts the exterior of Oriental Hall, sometime after the 1894 completion of Louis Sullivan’s Chicago Stock Exchange (on the right edge of the image, immediately north of Oriental Hall on the other side of the Calhoon Place alley, but prior to the 1909 demolition of the hall and the LaSalle Building (left edge of the photo, abutting the hall to the south) to make room for Holabird & Roche’s Hotel LaSalle. Click on it to see a high-resolution image.
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Chicago – Paul Revere Masonic Temple (no chapter at present)
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The former Paul Revere Masonic Temple, located at 1521 West Wilson Avenue, in Chicago, was the home of Loyal Chapter No. 223.
See Evert E. Lawson (ed.), 1968-1969 Masonic Directory: A Listing of Masonic Lodges and Appendant Bodies in Illinois, Glenwood, Illinois: Temple Publishers (1968).
Paul Revere Chapter No. 260 also resided in this temple until its 28 February 1935 merger into Loyal Chapter.
Please click here for a history of the temple from its former owner, Paul Revere Lodge No. 998, AF&AM.
Following the building’s sale, Loyal Chapter formally removed to Evanston and became effectively dormant until being resurrected at Franklin Park on 17 July 2006. Having been renamed M.I.B. Red Chapter on 1 August 2008, the chapter removed on 29 June 2012 to Elmhurst where their convocations are held on the third Monday of each month at 7:30 p.m.
The building is now a Buddhist temple, and is a mere block east of another former Masonic temple at 4605 North Paulina Street.
The first image was captured by Google Streetview, and shows the structure in its current state.
The second image was taken by Robert W. Krueger in 1985, and is available from the Chicago Public Library’s digital collections.
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Chicago – Pullman Masonic Temple (no chapter at present)
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This former temple was built by Brother George Pullman at 614 East 113th Street, as part of his eponymous company town. It was home to Pullman Chapter No. 204. See Evert E. Lawson (ed.), 1968-1969 Masonic Directory: A Listing of Masonic Lodges and Appendant Bodies in Illinois, Glenwood, Illinois: Temple Publishers (1968).
Pullman Chapter merged into Calumet Chapter No. 203 of Blue Island on 11 July 1975. The combined chapter then merged into Logan Chapter No. 196 of Oak Lawn on 13 June 1983.
After years of neglect, the former temple is now the offices of the Historic Pullman District Foundation.
The photograph on the left was captured by Picasa user Bob Cafarelli (a/k/a Flickr user caferhead).
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Chicago – Scottish Rite Cathedral (in memoriam)
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The cathedral was a complex of individual, yet abutting and interconnected, buildings facing Walton Place, Dearborn Street, and Delaware Place, all owned by the Scottish Rite Valley of Chicago. The most prominent of the buildings was the limestone church at 935 North Dearborn Street [n.s.] (235 Dearborn Avenue [o.s.]), built by Collier’s Unity Church,[2] an offshoot of the Unitarians,[3] beginning with the laying of its cornerstone on
29 August 1867, and later purchased by the Medinah Shriners on 30 April
1903.[4]
The more significant building in the complex, from our perspective here, however, is the large structure built, and first occupied in 1905, by the Scottish Rite[5] in the centER of the block, adjoining the south side of the church, and accessing the street via a stone-faced corridor extension constructed in the vacated alleyway at 923 North Dearborn Street [n.s.] (293-5 Dearborn Avenue [o.s.]).[6] The Valley’s so-called “Small Preceptory” occupied the third floor of this building in the centre of the block, and was the meeting place of La Fayette Chapter No. 2 from the 1960s until the complex was turned over to the property developers on 19 December 2006.[7] The structure was carefully razed over the course of several weeks in September and October 2007;[8] care and precision were required in order not to damage the surrounding structures.
Despite it having been constructed by the Scottish Rite, rather than a Holy Royal Arch chapter or other York Rite entity, notice the keystone design of the apex of the west wall in the second photograph on the left. In later years, large ductwork obscured the view of the keystone shape.
Both buildings face Washington Square Park, popularly known in the early 20th Century as “Bughouse Square.” [9]
The colorized postcard to the left depicts both Medinah Shriners’ church building and the Scottish Rite’s structure (albeit with the entrance to the latter erroneously coloured as brick, rather than as its actual grey stone), sometime between 1905 and 1911, C.E. The monochromatic photograph of the Scottish Rite structure and the 1891 George B. Carpenter mansion comes to us by the courtesy of the Scottish Rite Valley of Chicago. The aerial or orbital photographs of the complex are copyright by MapQuest and are used herein pursuant to the fair use doctrine. The areal photograph of the demolition
were captured by Companion Stanley W. Smith of La Fayette Chapter No. 2 on 13 September 2007. The ground-level
photographs were captured by Companion David A. Miley, also of La Fayette Chapter No. 2 on 15 September and 1 November 2007.
[2] Sam Loiacono & Harry Strouse, eds., Scottish Rite Cathedral Tour, Valley
of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois: Scottish Rite Valley of Chicago (2003): 1.
[3] Alphonse Cerza, 33°, A History of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite in
Illinois, 1846-1965, Bloomington, Illinois: Illinois Council of Deliberation (1966): 65-66.
[4] Id.
[5] George W. Warvelle, LL.D., 33°, History of Scottish Rite Masonry in Chicago:
From its introduction until the semi-centennial anniversary in the year 1907, Chicago: Oriental Consistory (1907): 38.
[6] Id. at 19.
[7] Companion Gregory R. Klemm, MEPGHP, 33°, “Scottish Rite – Valley of Chicago change of address” email message, Chicago: Scottish Rite Valley of Chicago (12 Dec. 2006).
[8] Companion Stanley W. Smith (La Fayette Chapter No. 2), email statement to Companion David A. Miley (La Fayette Chapter No. 2), (17 Sep. 2007); Companions Stanley W. Smith & David A. Miley (La Fayette Chapter No. 2), personal observations and photographic records (17 Sep. – 1 Nov. 2007).
[9] Electronic Encyclopedia of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois: Chicago Historical
Society (n/k/a Chicago History Museum), at http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/178.html
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Chicago – United Masonic Temple (no chapter at present)
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Located 1.6 km (1 mile) due south of the Scottish Rite Cathedral is the Oriental Theater Building, originally the Chicago United Masonic Temple, at 32 West Randolph Street. The temple was designed by prominent theater architects Cornelius W. Rapp and George L. Rapp, and was built on the tragic site of the ill-fated Iroquois Theatre.
When dedicated in 1926, the temple was the home of La Fayette Chapter No. 2, Wiley M. Egan Chapter No. 126, Hyde Park Chapter No. 240, and Temple Chapter No. 252. No Masonic bodies meet there at present.
See Evert E. Lawson (ed.), 1968-1969 Masonic Directory: A Listing of Masonic Lodges and Appendant Bodies in Illinois, Glenwood, Illinois: Temple Publishers (1968).
The first photograph on the left is a post card from the Curt Teich Postcard Archives of the Lake County Discovery Museum.
The second photograph was captured by the Chicago Architectural Photographing Company and is found among the University of Illinois’ Northwest Architectural Archives (American Terra Cotta Company Photographs).
The tall, dark building, seen half a block to the east, is the Daniel Burnham-designed Masonic Temple Building (1892-1939).
The third image is the cover of the temple’s leather-bound dedication book, and is a part of the archives of La Fayette Chapter No. 2.
The final image comes to us from Planet99.com.
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Chicago – West Chicago Masonic Temple (no chapter at present)
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Despite its somewhat confusing name, West Chicago Masonic Temple was not located in West Chicago, but rather on the west side of the City of Chicago, at 12 South Oakley Boulevard [n.s.] (105 South Oakley Boulevard [o.s.]).
The temple was the home of Washington Chapter No. 43, Wiley M. Eagan Chapter No. 126, and York Chapter No. 148, when it opened in 1907. Wiley M. Egan Chapter removed nineteen years later to the United Masonic Temple downtown. All three of the chapters each gradually merged into what is now La Fayette Chapter No. 2.
The temple is currently home to a church. A formal cornerstone laying occurred on 2 November 1907, yet the northeast corner is bare of markings. Whether there is a ceremonial cornerstone elsewhere on the structure is currently under investigation.
The photographs were captured by Companion David Miley. The image of the commemorative fob image comes courtesy of Companion Paul A. Scheeler, Past High Priest of La Fayette Chapter No. 2.
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Chicago – 1501 North Harding Avenue (no chapter at present)
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The former Masonic temple located at 1501 North Harding Avenue, in Chicago, was the home of York Chapter No. 148, which later merged into Wiley M. Egan Chapter No. 126 on 21 June 1974.
See Evert E. Lawson (ed.), 1968-1969 Masonic Directory: A Listing of Masonic Lodges and Appendant Bodies in Illinois, Glenwood, Illinois: Temple Publishers (1968).
The building is currently home to a Baptist church.
The image to the left was captured by Google Streetview.
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Chicago – 4605 North Paulina Street (no chapter at present)
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The former Masonic temple located at 1501 North Harding Avenue, in Chicago, was the home of Columbia Chapter No. 202, which later merged into Maine Chapter No. 257 of Park Ridge; the combined chapter merged into Wilmette Chapter No. 253 of Wilmette on 10 December 1982.
See Evert E. Lawson (ed.), 1968-1969 Masonic Directory: A Listing of Masonic Lodges and Appendant Bodies in Illinois, Glenwood, Illinois: Temple Publishers (1968).
The building currently houses the American Indian Center of Chicago, and is only a block west of the former Paul Revere Masonic Temple at 1521 West Wilson Avenue.
The images to the left were captured by Google Streetview. |
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Chicago – 3900 North Damen Avenue (no chapter at present)
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The former Masonic temple located at 3900 North Damen Avenue, in Chicago, was the home of Fort Dearborn Chapter No. 245.
See Evert E. Lawson (ed.), 1968-1969 Masonic Directory: A Listing of Masonic Lodges and Appendant Bodies in Illinois, Glenwood, Illinois: Temple Publishers (1968).
Fort Dearborn Chapter merged into Irving Park Chapter No. 195 on 23 July 1969. Irving Park Chapter, into which Lincoln Park No. 177 had merged in 1978, restored that name and number on 31 July 2009, and is now located at Chicago’s Mont Clare Masonic Temple.
The interior space of this temple was reconfigured into loft apartments.
The image to the left was captured by Google Streetview.
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Chicago – 1350 West 103rd Street (no chapter at present)
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This building, located at 1350 West 103rd Street, in Chicago, was the home of America Chapter No. 250.
See Evert E. Lawson (ed.), 1968-1969 Masonic Directory: A Listing of Masonic Lodges and Appendant Bodies in Illinois, Glenwood, Illinois: Temple Publishers (1968).
America Chapter removed to Tinley Park before merging into Blue Island Chapter No. 203 on 11 December 1975. The combined chapter merged into Logan Chapter No. 196 of Oak Lawn, on 13 June 1983.
The building currently houses the Bowman Dairy Company and Universal Family Connection.
The image to the left was captured by Google Streetview.
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Danville Scottish Rite Cathedral (no chapter at present)
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M.W. Grand Master Ralph H. Wheeler laid the cornerstone of the cathedral of the Scottish Rite Valley of Danville on 26 April 1916. Located at 109 West North Street, the cathedral was the home of Vermilion Chapter No. 82 until that chapter’s 2004 merger into Champaign Chapter No. 50.
See Evert E. Lawson (ed.), 1968-1969 Masonic Directory: A Listing of Masonic Lodges and Appendant Bodies in Illinois, Glenwood, Illinois: Temple Publishers (1968).
The first and third photographs to the left come to us from
Facebook site, “Historic Masonic Lodges and Temples (A Photo Tour)”.
The second image is from a postcard, courtesy of the
Illinois Lodge of Research’s Louis L. Williams Masonic Library.
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Delavan’s former Masonic Hall (no chapter at present)
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Located on the southwest corner of 4th and Locust Streets, Delavan’s former Masonic Hall was home to Crossman Chapter No. 155 until the chapter merged into Pekin Chapter No. 25, of Pekin, on 15 February 1940.
The building was later deconsecrated. The Masonic bodies of Delavan now utilize a smaller cinder block temple two blocks away at 205 East 3rd Street.
The first photograph to the left was captured by Waymarking contributor Tourismguy (Bruce Wicks).
The second photograph was published in Federal Writers’ Project, Delavan, 1837-1937: A Chronicle of 100 Years, Delavan, Illinois: City of Delavan (1937), at 41.
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Edwardsville’s 1927 Masonic Temple (no chapter at present)
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Located at 131 Hillsboro Avenue, Edwardsville’s Masonic temple was home to Edwardsville Chapter No. 146.
See Evert E. Lawson (ed.), 1968-1969 Masonic Directory: A Listing of Masonic Lodges and Appendant Bodies in Illinois, Glenwood, Illinois: Temple Publishers (1968).
Edwardsville Chapter merged into Franklin Chapter No. 8, of Alton, on 16 April 1964.
The first photograph to the left was captured by Bing.
The second photograph comes to us from Flickr contributor gambleg42.
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El Paso’s Current Masonic Temple (no chapter at present)
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Located at 40 East Main Street, El Paso’s current Masonic Temple was the home of Mackey Chapter No. 130, until their 1 August 2008 merger into Bloomington Chapter No. 26 of Bloomington.
The temple is essentially due south of El Paso’s former Masonic temple.
The images to the left were captured by Google Streetview.
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El Paso’s former Masonic temple & Grand Opera House (no chapter at present)
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Located on the eastern edge of East Front Street’s Block 43, this temple was home to both El Paso’s Masonic bodies – including Mackey Chapter No. 130 – but town’s Grand Opera (not to be confused with the City Opera House, a block to the west) as well.
Mackey Chapter relocated to El Paso’s current Masonic Temple, almost directly due south of this former temple, before merging on 1 August 2008 into Bloomington Chapter No. 26 of Bloomington.
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Elgin – the old Home National Bank Building (in memoriam)
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In 1887, John Lee Borden installed elaborate Masonic quarters on the newly added fourth floor of the Home National Bank building, then located at Chicago and Douglass Streets in Elgin.
See Cathy Newby, “Masonic Temple”, James McDunn, ed., Postcards From the Past: A Brief History of Elgin Illinois.
Loyal L. Munn Chapter No. 96 had been chartered on 5 October of the preceding year. Investigation is on-going to determine whether the chapter resided in the Home National Bank Building.
The building was razed for the construction of the 1929 Home National Bank Tower (now known as the Elgin Tower) on the same parcel.
The vintage photograph on the left can be viewed in detail at
The Stickling Foundation.
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Elgin – Monitor Masonic Temple (in memoriam)
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This former temple was built on Spring Street in Elgin by Monitor Lodge No. 522 (now Barrington Lodge No. 522 of Barrington). It was home to Loyal L. Munn Chapter No. 96 until the building was consumed by fire on 16 November 1920.
See Cathy Newby, “Masonic Temple”, James McDunn, ed., Postcards From the Past: A Brief History of Elgin Illinois.
The image on the left is a vintage postcard, available for viewing from the Illinois Lodge of Research’s Louis L. Williams Masonic Library.
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Elgin’s 1923 former Masonic Temple (no chapter at present)
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Located at 310 East Chicago Street, Elgin’s former Masonic temple was home to Loyal L. Munn Chapter No. 96.
See Evert E. Lawson (ed.), 1968-1969 Masonic Directory: A Listing of Masonic Lodges and Appendant Bodies in Illinois,
Glenwood, Illinois: Temple Publishers (1968).
Following the 16 November 1920 fire that destroyed Monitor Temple, approximately 1,200 Freemasons – the largest gathering of men ever in the history of the city – met at the Elgin State Hospital on 24 November, to deliberate about a new temple, and to form a committee to make a recommendation.
The cornerstone was laid on 9 June 1923, and the temple was constructed at an estimated cost of US$200,000.
See Cathy Newby, “Masonic Temple”, James McDunn, ed., Postcards From the Past: A Brief History of Elgin Illinois.
The costs of maintaining the large, aging temple eventually became untenable for its resident Masonic bodies. The building was sold on 22 March 1991 for US$163,000. Ibid.
The former temple was subsequently converted into a fundamentalist low-Protestant church. On 10 October 2007, the Elgin City Council approved 5-2 the church’s request to alter the historical landmark by removing the cornerstone, square & compasses, and other Masonic symbols from its exterior, on the condition that the removal be performed by professionals under the city’s supervision. The materials were placed in the custody of the Elgin Historical Society and Museum.
The convocations of Loyal L. Munn Chapter No. 96 are now held in Palatine at 7:30 p.m. on the first Wednesday evening of each month, aside from July and August in which the chapter is dark.
The first and third photographs to the left were captured by Flickr contributor, Seth Gaines.
Click here to see Mr. Gaines’ extraordinary portfolio.
The second photograph is a vintage postcard from James McDunn’s site, Postcards From the Past: A Brief History of Elgin Illinois.
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Evergreen Park Masonic Temple (no chapter at present)
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Located at 9407 Trumbull Avenue, Evergreen Park’s former Masonic temple was the home of Normal Park Chapter 210.
See Evert E. Lawson (ed.), 1968-1969 Masonic Directory: A Listing of Masonic Lodges and Appendant Bodies in Illinois,
Glenwood, Illinois: Temple Publishers (1968).
Normal Park Chapter merged into Chicago Chapter No. 127 on 29 November 1967. The combined chapter merged into Logan Chapter No. 196 of Oak Lawn on 14 January 1988.
The former temple is now a United Methodist church.
The images to the left were captured by Google Streetview.
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Fairbury Masonic temple (no chapter at present)
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Located at 114½ East Locust Street, Fairbury’s Masonic Temple was home to Fairbury Chapter No. 99.
See Evert E. Lawson (ed.), 1968-1969 Masonic Directory: A Listing of Masonic Lodges and Appendant Bodies in Illinois, Glenwood, Illinois: Temple Publishers (1968).
Fairbury Chapter merged into Bloomington Chapter No. 26, of Bloomington, on 27 July 2007.
The photograph to the left comes to us from Wikimedia Commons user Ivo Shandor.
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Flora Masonic temple (no chapter at present)
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Located at 103½ East North Avenue, Flora’s Masonic Temple was home to Flora Chapter No. 154 who merged on 18 November 1957 into Henry Godeke Chapter No. 38, then of Olney (now of Bridgeport).
The first photograph to the left was captured by Google Streetview.
The second photograph was captured by Flickr contributor, Tourismguy (Bruce Wicks).
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Franklin Park – Laurel Masonic Temple (no chapter at present)
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Located at 2401 Ernst Street in Franklin Park, Laurel Masonic Temple was the home of Loyal Chapter No. 233 (renamed M.I.B. Red Chapter No. 233 on 1 August 2008) from its 17 July 2006 rebirth until relocating to Elmhurst on 29 June 2012.
Click here to visit the chapter’s website.
This photograph was captured by Companion David Miley.
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Galena’s current Masonic Temple (no chapter at present)
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Located at 212 North Bench Street, Galena’s Masonic Temple was the home of Jo Daviess Chapter No. 51 until their charter arrested 3 May 2011 due to inactivity.
See Evert E. Lawson (ed.), 1968-1969 Masonic Directory: A Listing of Masonic Lodges and Appendant Bodies in Illinois, Glenwood, Illinois: Temple Publishers (1968).
The image to the left was captured by Google Streetview.
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Galena’s former Masonic temple (no chapter at present)
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Located at 319 South Main Street, Galena’s former Masonic Temple and Galena National Bank building towers over the town’s historic and romantic downtown.
The temple was home to Jo Daviess Chapter No. 51 until the Masonic bodies vacated the building in favor of their current smaller temple.
The first photograph to the left was captured by Flickr contributor Moonlight Cocktail Photography (Johanna).
The second photograph comes to us from Flickr contributor johnriley (John Riley).
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Galesburg’s former Masonic temple (in memoriam?)
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Galesburg’s former Masonic temple was the home of Galesburg Chapter No. 46.
The chapter now hold their convocations at Knoxville at 7:30 p.m., on the fourth Thursday evening each month.
The image to the left is a vintage postcard which comes to us from the ILGenWeb Project, by the courtesy of Bob Miller.
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Geneseo Masonic Temple (no chapter at present)
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Located at 313 West Elk Street, Geneseo’s Masonic Temple was the home of Geneseo Chapter No. 12 until the chapter surrendered their charter on 18 July 1997.
See Evert E. Lawson (ed.),
1968-1969 Masonic Directory: A Listing of Masonic Lodges and Appendant Bodies in Illinois,
Glenwood, Illinois: Temple Publishers (1968).
The image to the left was captured by Google Streetview.
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Geneva – J.C. Peterson’s 1907 hall (no chapter at present)
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Located at 223 West State Street, J.C. Peterson’s Hall was the home of Fox River Chapter No. 14 from December 1907 until 1923.
The building replaced Peterson’s original hall which served as Geneva’s Masonic temple from 1881; it was into the earlier building which the chapter removed from Saint Charles in 1882, to join Geneva Lodge No. 139 there.
See “Geneva Masonic Lodge 139 History”.
The first photograph to the left was captured by Google Streetview.
The second photograph was captured by Bing.
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Geneva – 204 West State Street (no chapter at present)
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The building at 203 West State Street, is immediately adjacent to Geneva’s current Masonic Temple. Fox River Chapter No. 14 relocated there in May 1892, and remained until removing in December 1907.
See “Geneva Masonic Lodge 139 History”.
The first photograph to the left (204 West State Street is the green building; the current temple is the white building) was captured by Panoramio contributor samyost.
The second photograph was captured by Bing. At the bottom-left (white building, black roof) is the current Masonic Temple. Immediately next to it is 204 West State Street. At the top-right (grey roof) is the former Peterson’s Hall.
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Girard’s 1923 former Masonic temple (no chapter at present)
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Constructed in 1923 at 223 West Madison Street, Girard’s former Masonic temple was home to Girard Chapter No. 132.
See Evert E. Lawson (ed.),
1968-1969 Masonic Directory: A Listing of Masonic Lodges and Appendant Bodies in Illinois,
Glenwood, Illinois: Temple Publishers (1968). See also
Girard Historical Committee, History of Girard, Illinois, “from Then ’til Now,” 1855-1955, Girard (Ill.): Girard Historical Committee (1955), at chapter 6.
The chapter’s convocations are now held at the Virden American Legion Hall on the second Wednesday evening of each month, at 8:30 p.m., less July and August when the chapter is dark.
The first photograph to the left was captured by Google Streetview.
The second photograph was captured by Flickr contributor, Seth Gaines.
Click here to see Mr. Gaines’ extraordinary portfolio.
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Hamilton Masonic Temple & City Hall (no chapter at present)
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Located at 10th & Broadway Streets, the ground floor of this building is Hamilton’s City Hall, and the second story is their Masonic temple. It was home to Tecumseh Chapter No. 152, 30 April 1988 when the chapter surrendered their charter. Despite the chapter’s demise, their anunnciator lamp with its fading Mark Master keystone still hangs on the building’s corner.
The photographs to the left were captured by Flickr contributor, Tourismguy (Bruce Wicks).
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Harrisburg’s 1925 former Masonic temple (no chapter at present)
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Constructed in 1925 at 206 North Main Street, Harrisburg’s former Masonic temple was home to Saline Chapter No. 165.
See Evert E. Lawson (ed.), 1968-1969 Masonic Directory: A Listing of Masonic Lodges and Appendant Bodies in Illinois, Glenwood, Illinois: Temple Publishers (1968).
The chapter merged into Marion Chapter No. 100, of Marion, on 12 February 1973.
The building was vacated in 2008 and a new temple was dedicated by Grand Master Richard Swaney in November of the following year.
See Brian DeNeal, “Lodge Dedicated in Ancient Tradition”, The Daily Register,
Harrisburg, Illinois: Temple Publishers (9 Nov. 2009).
The photograph to the left was captured by Flickr contributor DClemm.
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Harvard Masonic Temple (no chapter at present)
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Located at 66 North Ayer Street, Harvard’s former Masonic temple was home to Harvard Chapter No. 91.
See Evert E. Lawson (ed.), 1968-1969 Masonic Directory: A Listing of Masonic Lodges and Appendant Bodies in Illinois, Glenwood, Illinois: Temple Publishers (1968).
Harvard Chapter merged into Woodstock Chapter No. 36 on 14 July 1969. The chapter was subsequently renamed Cary-Grove Chapter No. 36 and is located in Cary.
The former temple is now an antiques store.
The first photograph to the left was captured by Bing.
The second photograph comes to us from the McHenry County Historical Society and Museum.
The third photograph is a vintage postcard from eBay seller paper-collectibles-4sale, showing a view circa 1950s, when much of today’s parking space was vegetation.
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Harvey Masonic Temple (no chapter at present)
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Located at 15300 Lexington Avenue, Harvey’s former Masonic Temple was the home of Harvey Chapter No. 232.
See Evert E. Lawson (ed.), 1968-1969 Masonic Directory: A Listing of Masonic Lodges and Appendant Bodies in Illinois, Glenwood, Illinois: Temple Publishers (1968).
The chapter merged into Chicago Heights Chapter No. 218 on 5 March 1976 who removed first to Lansing, and later to Homewood on the 31st anniversary of the aforestated merger. The combined chapter merged into West Suburban Chapter No. 207 of Downers Grove on 30 July 2010.
The former temple now houses Catholic Charities’ South Suburban senior services center.
The images to the left were captured by Google Streetview.
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Havana Masonic Temple (no chapter at present)
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Located at 224 West Main Street, Havana’s Masonic Temple was the home of Havana Chapter No. 86 until 23 March 2010, when their charter was arrested for dormancy.
See Evert E. Lawson (ed.),
1968-1969 Masonic Directory: A Listing of Masonic Lodges and Appendant Bodies in Illinois,
Glenwood, Illinois: Temple Publishers (1968).
Havana Chapter’s companions then affiliated with Springfield Chapter No. 1 of Springfield.
The photographs to the left were captured by Flickr contributor gambleg42.
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Highland – John Wildi Masonic Temple (no chapter at present)
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Located at 721 9th Street, Highland’s John Wildi Masonic Temple was the home of Highland Chapter No. 169 until the chapter merged into Granite City Chapter No. 221 on 15 October 1984.
See Evert E. Lawson (ed.),
1968-1969 Masonic Directory: A Listing of Masonic Lodges and Appendant Bodies in Illinois,
Glenwood, Illinois: Temple Publishers (1968).
John Wildi commissioned M. O. Ulrich to build a French revival-style home and carriage house for his family. Upon his death in 1910, Wildi’s widow, Louise, continued living in the home. Then in 1920, Mrs. Wildi deeded her home in a trust to the brothers of Highland Lodge No. 583.
Mrs. Louise Wildi also donated $10,000.00 to the lodge if they could match it for the purpose of adding on a dining room and lodge/chapter hall. On 4 March 1922 the addition was dedicated. In 1933 Mrs. Wildi set up an endowment trust fund for the maintenance and upkeep of the building.
Please click here for a much more detailed history of John Wildi Masonic
Temple.
The first photograph to the left comes to us from Highland Lodge No. 583.
The second photograph was captured by Bing.
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Highland Park – Hundley Memorial Masonic Temple (no chapter at present)
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Located at 461 Laurel Avenue in Highland Park, Hundley Memorial Masonic Temple was the home of Highland Park Chapter No. 226 until the chapter merged into Libertyville Chapter No. 272 on 31 May 1991.
See Evert E. Lawson (ed.),
1968-1969 Masonic Directory: A Listing of Masonic Lodges and Appendant Bodies in Illinois,
Glenwood, Illinois: Temple Publishers (1968).
This photograph was captured on 8 May 2010 by Companion David A. Miley.
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Hinsdale Masonic Temple (no chapter at present)
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Located at 40 South Washington Street, the Hinsdale Masonic Temple was the home of Hinsdale Chapter No. 278 until its 1966 merger into Grove Chapter No. 230 in Downers Grove.
Please click here to read more about the history of Hinsdale Masonic Temple.
The colorized postcard images to the left depict the temple circa 1909 and, like the modern photograph of the front door, come to us through the courtesy of Companion Paul A. Scheeler, Past High Priest of La Fayette Chapter No. 2 in Chicago, and Past Master of Hinsdale Lodge No. 934, A.F.&A.M.
The monochromatic photograph depicts the temple circa 1920 and comes to us by the courtesy of Hinsdale Lodge No. 934, A.F.&A.M.
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Homer Masonic Temple (no chapter at present)
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Homer Masonic Temple, constructed in 1892 at 104 East Wabash Avenue,
was the home of Homer Chapter No. 94.
See Evert E. Lawson (ed.),
1968-1969 Masonic Directory: A Listing of Masonic Lodges and Appendant Bodies in Illinois,
Glenwood, Illinois: Temple Publishers (1968).
Homer Chapter merged into Champaign Chapter No. 50, of Champaign, on 31 July 2009.
Please click here to see a lovely collection of photographs depicting the temple’s beautiful old lodge hall. The east features stained glass windows in symbolic and capitular themes.
The first image to the left was captured by Google Streetview.
The second image is a vintage postcard, available to view on Flickr by the Homer Historical Society.
The third image, depicting the temple’s cornice, was captured by Greg Knott and comes to us from Homer Masonic Lodge No. 199.
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Hoopeston Masonic Temple (in memoriam)
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Hoopeston’s Masonic Temple & Commercial Club was the home of the former Hoopeston Chapter No. 181 who merged into Vermilion Chapter No. 82, then of Danville, on 30 December 1952.
This image is from a postcard, courtesy of the Illinois Lodge of Research’s Louis L. Williams Masonic Library.
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Illiopolis’s 1958 Masonic Temple (no chapter at present)
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Illiopolis’ 1958 temple is located at the south end of the 400 block of 5th Street, two lots south of the former Masonic Opera House which had burned to the ground eight years earlier.
The temple was home to Kedron Chapter No. 138 only briefly. The chapter merged into Mount Pulaski Chapter No. 121 on 6 February 1960.
See:
Gene Hall, “More Than You Probably Want to Know About Illiopolis Illinois”, 1984;
Kinahan Rule, “Speech Given to the Sangamon County Historic Society”, circa 1994.
The images to the left were captured by Waymarking contributor, gladtobehere.
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Illiopolis’ 1899 Masonic Opera House (in memoriam)
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The cornerstone of Illiopolis Lodge No. 521’s Masonic opera house was laid in the 400 block of 5th Street, on 30 August 1899, and opened for use in February 1901. The temple’s footprint was 40’×86′, and consisted of three stories and a basement. The theater had a seating capacity of 500, and featured a large stage equipped with scenery from Sassnian & Landes of Chicago. The temple was consumed by a gas fire on 4 July 1950.
The third floor was home to the Masonic bodies, including Kedron Chapter No. 138, with a large hall, dining room, and reception rooms.
See:
“Supplement”, The State Center Record, 11 Jan. 1901;
Gene Hall, “More Than You Probably Want to Know About Illiopolis Illinois”, 1984;
Kinahan Rule, “Speech Given to the Sangamon County Historic Society”, circa 1994.
The image to the left shows the then-new Masonic Opera House, and was published in the The State Center Record‘s 11 January 1901 Supplement.
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Jerseyville Masonic Temple (no chapter at present)
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Located at 116 West Pearl Street, Jerseyville’s Masonic Temple was the home of Jerseyville Chapter No. 140, until the chapter merged into Franklin Chapter No. 8, of Alton, on 7 January 1964.
The photographs to the left were captured by Flickr contributor, Tourismguy (Bruce Wicks).
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Joliet’s 1890 Masonic Temple (in memoriam)
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Formerly located on the north side of Jefferson Street, east of Michigan Street, the cornerstone of this temple was laid in 1890, and was the home of Joliet Chapter No. 27. The temple’s cornerstone is displayed outside of Joliet’s current Masonic Temple.
The property where the temple and the adjacent buildings formerly sat is now Silver Cross Field, hosting the Joliet Slammers and the University of St. Francis‘ baseball team.
The first two images to the left are vintage postcards.
The third image was captured by Waymarking user JBDiver.
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Joliet’s 1849 Masonic Temple (in memoriam)
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Formerly located on the northwest corner of West Jefferson Street & North Bluff Street, this temple was constructed in 1849 by A.W. Strong and Edmond Wilcox, and was the home of Joliet Chapter No. 27.
Although built of wood, it stood the ravages of time and was in fairly good condition as late as 1935, having been continuously occupied since erection. Masonic, Odd Fellows, and Good Templars lodges met there.
The property where the temple and the adjacent buildings formerly sat is now a park.
The photograph to the left was captured in 1935. It is contained within the M.V. Hartong Glass Plate Slide Collection of the Plainfield Historical Society and available from the Illinois Digital Archives.
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Lanark Masonic Temple (no chapter at present)
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Located at 106 South Broad Street, Lanark’s Masonic Temple was the home of Lanark Chapter No. 139 until they surrendered their charter in 1977.
See Evert E. Lawson (ed.),
1968-1969 Masonic Directory: A Listing of Masonic Lodges and Appendant Bodies in Illinois,
Glenwood, Illinois: Temple Publishers (1968).
The temple is now the Lanark Herritage Center. It remains in Masonic usage by Lanark Lodge No. 423.
The image to the left was captured by Google Streetview.
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Litchfield Masonic Temple (no chapter at present)
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Located at 121 West Ryder Street, Litchfield’s former Masonic temple was the home of Elliott Chapter No. 120.
See Evert E. Lawson (ed.),
1968-1969 Masonic Directory: A Listing of Masonic Lodges and Appendant Bodies in Illinois, Glenwood, Illinois: Temple Publishers (1968).
The chapter merged into Hillsboro Chapter No. 197, of Hillsboro, on 21 July 1995.
The building is now a banquet hall.
The first image to the left is a photograph captured by Flickr contributor, myoldpostcards.
The second image is a vintage postcard viewable at the Illinois Lodge of Research’s Louis L. Williams Masonic Library.
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Loves Park Masonic Temple (no chapter at present)
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Located at 6780 North 2nd Street, Loves Park’s Masonic Temple was the home of Winnebago Chapter No. 24 until the chapter removed back to Rockford.
The image to the left comes to us from Rockford Lodge No. 102.
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Macomb Masonic Temple (no chapter at present)
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Located at 133 South Randolph Street, adjoining Courthouse Square, is
Macomb’s Masonic Temple. This temple was the home of Morse Chapter No. 19 until the chapter merged into LaHarpe Chapter No. 111 on 14 July 2000.
See Evert E. Lawson (ed.),
1968-1969 Masonic Directory: A Listing of Masonic Lodges and Appendant Bodies in Illinois,
Glenwood, Illinois: Temple Publishers (1968).
The image to the left was captured by Flickr user, Lights in the Old Farmhouse.
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Marion’s joint Masonic & Knights of Pythias temple (in memoriam?)
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Marion’s combined Masonic and Knights of Pythias temple was a former home of Marion Chapter No. 100. The chapter now hold their convocations at Marion’s current Masonic temple at 7:30 p.m., on the second Wednesday evening in February, April, June, August, October, and December.
The image to the left is a vintage photograph which comes to us from the Marion High School Class of 1986’s reunion committee.
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Marshall Masonic Temple (no chapter at present)
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Located at 302 South 6th Street, Marshall Masonic Temple. This temple was the home of Marshall Chapter No. 70 until the chapter merged into
Edgar Chapter No. 32 on 12 December 1977.
See Evert E. Lawson (ed.),
1968-1969 Masonic Directory: A Listing of Masonic Lodges and Appendant Bodies in Illinois,
Glenwood, Illinois: Temple Publishers (1968).
The images to the left are postcards viewable on the
Illinois Lodge of Research’s Louis L. Williams Masonic Library website.
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Mattoon’s 1929 former Masonic Temple (no chapter at present)
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The cornerstone of Mattoon’s former Masonic temple, located at 1421 Charleston Avenue, was laid by Grand Master Louis L. Emerson on 15 June 1929, and opened for use on 29 November of that year.
See Mattoon Lodge No. 260,
One Hundredth Anniversary 1858-1958 (Kip Torp, 2002 transcriber), 1958.
It was the home of Mattoon (née William F. Gammill) Chapter No. 85.
See Evert E. Lawson (ed.),
1968-1969 Masonic Directory: A Listing of Masonic Lodges and Appendant Bodies in Illinois,
Glenwood, Illinois: Temple Publishers (1968).
The chapter and lodge left the temple in 1991, having erected a
smaller, more manageable temple at 116 North 1st Street.
See
House Resolution 1365, “150th Anniversary Masons Mattoon”, 95th General Assembly, 30 May 2008.
The first image comes to us from The Association for the Preservation of Historic Coles County, and shows the structure in its current state.
The second image is a vintage postcard, viewable at The Illinois Lodge of Research’s Louis L. Williams Masonic Library.
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Mattoon’s 1991 Masonic Temple (no chapter at present)
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Located at 116 North First Street, Mattoon’s current was the home of
Mattoon Chapter No. 85 from the building’s 1991 construction until the chapter merged into Tuscola Chapter No. 66 of Tuscola on 28 July 2006.
The image to the left was captured by Google Streetview.
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Mendon Masonic Temple (no chapter at present)
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Located on the southeast corner of Collins Street & South State Road,
Mendon’s Masonic Temple was the home of Mendon Chapter No. 157 until the chapter was declared defunct on 15 March 1935.
The photograph on the left was captured by Google Streetview.
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Mendota Masonic Temple (no chapter at present)
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Located at 810 Washington Street, Mendota’s Masonic Temple was the home of Mendota Chapter No. 79, who merged into Shabbona Chapter No. 37 of Ottawa in 1994.
The image to the left was captured by Google Streetview.
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Metropolis’ current Masonic Temple (no chapter at present)
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Located at 111 East 3rd Street, Metropolis’ Masonic Temple was the home of Metropolitan Chapter No. 101.
See Evert E. Lawson (ed.),
1968-1969 Masonic Directory: A Listing of Masonic Lodges and Appendant Bodies in Illinois,
Glenwood, Illinois: Temple Publishers (1968).
The chapter was dispensed on 31 October 2011 to merge into Murphysboro Chapter No. 164, of Murphysboro. The merger was officialized on 27 July 2012.
The photograph on the left was captured by Google Streetview.
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Metropolis’ 1894 Robert W. McCartney Music Hall (in memoriam)
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Constructed in 1894 at 116 East 4th Street, Metropolis’ Robert W. McCartney Music Hall was the home of Metropolitan Chapter No. 101,
and also served as the town’s first library.
This facility was replaced by Metropolis’ current Masonic Temple, approximately one block to the south-west.
The photograph on the left was captured during the
Illinois Historic Structures Survey (1971-1975), and comes to us from
Darius Bryjka, “What a Loss”, Mesker Brothers, 11 November 2011.
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Morris’ former Masonic temple (no chapter at present)
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Located at the intersection of Fulton and West Jefferson Streets,
this former Presbyterian church subsequently served as Morris’ Masonic temple. It was home to Orient Chapter No. 31.
See Evert E. Lawson (ed.),
1968-1969 Masonic Directory: A Listing of Masonic Lodges and Appendant Bodies in Illinois, Glenwood, Illinois: Temple Publishers (1968).
Orient Chapter merged into Joliet Chapter No. 27 of Joliet on 25 January 1978.
The first image to the left was captured by Flickr contributor Tourismguy (Bruce Wicks).
The second image is a vintage photograph, viewable at The Illinois Lodge of Research’s Louis L. Williams Masonic Library.
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Mount Carmel Masonic Hall & Palace Theatre (no chapter at present)
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Located in the 200 block of North Market Street, Mount Carmel’s former Masonic Hall and Palace Theatre was the home of Mount Carmel Chapter No. 159 who merged into Henry Godeke Chapter No. 38 on 23 March 1989.
This image is from a postcard, courtesy of the Illinois Lodge of Research’s Louis L. Williams Masonic Library.
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Naperville – DuPage County Cash Store (no chapter at present)
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The third floor of the former DuPage County Cash Store building, located on what was then River (now 40 Chicago Avenue), was the original home of
Euclid Chapter No. 13 from 1851 thru 1852. The related Euclid Lodge No. 65 was organized in 1848 in the frame building to the left of the store.
The wording on the front of the building, between the second and third floors, reads “Crockery Hardware Dry Goods Groceries”. From the Naperville Historic Walking Tour, courtesy of the Naper Settlement Museum:
Henry Peaslee, 1850. This is one of Naperville’s oldest commercial buildings, similar to [214 North Ellsworth Street].
The building housed a grocery and dry goods store, with dances and social gatherings held in a hall on the third floor.
Please visit the history section of Euclid Chapter’s website to see the other buildings that formerly served as their temple.
The picture to the left shows the first lodge hall building as it looks as of April 2007.
These images are presented through the courtesy of Euclid Chapter No. 13.
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Neoga’s 1904 Masonic Temple (no chapter at present)
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Located at 661 Chestnut Avenue, Neoga’s Masonic former temple was home to Neoga Chapter No. 150.
See Evert E. Lawson (ed.),
1968-1969 Masonic Directory: A Listing of Masonic Lodges and Appendant Bodies in Illinois,
Glenwood, Illinois: Temple Publishers (1968).
Neoga Chapter merged into Mattoon Chapter No. 85, of Mattoon,
in 1978. The combined chapter merged into Tuscola Chapter No. 66, of
Tuscola, on 28 July 2006.
The former temple is now used by commercial enterprises.
The photographs to the left were captured by Flickr contributor Tourismguy (Bruce Wicks).
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Oakland’s Masonic Temple & Post Office (no chapter at present)
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Located at the northeast corner of Main and Pike Streets, the Masonic hall is on the second story. When still new, it was home to Oakland Chapter No. 153, until 25 October 1883 when the chapter was declared defunct.
The first photograph to the left was captured by Bing.
The second photograph comes to us from Flickr contributor Ray Cunningham
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Olney Masonic Temple (no chapter at present)
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Located at 405 South Fair Street, Olney’s Masonic Temple was the home of
Henry Godeke Chapter No. 38, until that chapter’s removal to Bridgeport Temple on 26 May 2008.
Click here to visit the chapter’s website.
This image comes to us through the courtesy of the Bridgeport York Rite bodies.
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Oregon Masonic Temple (no chapter at present)
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Constructed in 1900 at 117½ South 4th Street, Oregon’s Masonic Temple
was the home of Rock City Chapter No. 151 until their 30 June 1942 merger into Tyrian Chapter No. 61 of Polo. The combined chapter merged into Nachusa Chapter No. 56 of Dixon on 5 November 1963.
The three-story, yellow brick façade was designed in the Classical Revival style, and features ivory brick accents to create a quoin effect
on the upper storeys. The second story windows are consist of sets of three lights surrounding a smaller central light. Above the triangular pediment is a stone shield bearing the year 1900 and a Mark Master capstone.
Following the departure of the chapter and other bodies, Oregon Lodge No. 420 refurbished and repainted the old annunciator globe lights to commemorate the lodge and memorialize John C. Berger.
See
the temple’s National Register of Historic Places registration form;
Wikipedia article, “Masonic Temple Lodge No. 420” [sic].
The first image to the left was captured by Flickr contributor Teemu008.
The second image is a close-up view of the same photograph.
The third photograph, showing the globe lamps, was captured by Andy McMurray.
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Palatine’s 1904 Masonic Temple (in memoriam)
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Erected 20 November 1904 at 1 North Plum Grove Road, this structure was the oldest, continuously occupied non-commercial, non-residential building in Palatine. Built of brick by Palatine Lodge No. 314 and Palatine Chapter No. 206, the second story held the lodge/chapter hall, with storage in the attic above. The temple later also became home to Loyal L. Munn Chapter No. 96. The building’s cornerstone was hollow and held a time capsule that was opened in 2004. Its contents were donated to the Palatine Historical Society.
See “Palatine’s Masonic Hall steeped in rich history”, Melissa Hollander, Daily Herald, 2 July 2004; and an unidentified newspaper article hand-dated December 1961, on display in the current Palatine Masonic Temple.
The ground floor was originally rented out to various organisations and businesses. For the building’s first decade, that floor was the Palatine Athletic Club, at which time the temple held suburban Cook County’s first two-lane bowling alley. The temple had no non-Masonic tenants again until 1951 when the Palatine’s Public Library moved in briefly between permanent homes, to be replaced by the Palatine Leader newspaper and, thereafter, a Christian Science reading room.
See Hollander, supra.
In approximately 1961, the lodge rehabilitated the temple, replacing the utilities and updating the exterior brickwork with blue-grey paint and adding shutters to the windows. See unidentified 1961 article, supra.
The city of Palatine condemned the temple in 2009 in order to reconfigure and improve the traffic intersection at Plum Grove and Palatine Roads. A multi-step land-swap was negotiated between the city and the lodge. The city traded a its soon-to-be vacated fire station at
455 West Dundee Road and approximately US$592,000 for the 1904 temple property. As the city needed the old temple nearly two years before the replacement fire station would be completed, the deal also included temporary use of a previously condemned and vacant former Harris Bank data processing annex less than two blocks west of the old temple. See
“New Palatine Fire Station Coming to Quentin Road”, Brian Slupski, Palatine Patch, 27 October 2010.
The first two photographs were captured by Michael Zale (Flickr alias Neopsychedelia) in March 2008.
Click here to see Mr. Zale’s Flickr portfolio.
The last two photographs depict Eugene Fifielski’s beautifully detailed scale model of the temple, and were captured by Companion David Miley on 6 November 2010. The model is displayed in the current Palatine Masonic Temple and makes periodic appearances in local parades and the public library.
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Palatine’s 2009-2011 interim Masonic Temple (no chapter at present)
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Located at 150 West Wilson Street, Palatine, this former Harris Bank data processing annex was the temporary home of Loyal L. Munn and Palatine Chapters No. 96 and 206, who meet on, respectively, the first Wednesday and second Thursday of each month.
In 2009, the City of Palatine condemned the 1904 temple in order to reconfigure and improve the traffic intersection at Plum Grove and Palatine Roads. A multi-step land-swap was negotiated between the city and Palatine Lodge No. 314. The city traded a its soon-to-be vacated fire station at 455 West Dundee Road and approximately US$592,000 for the 1904 temple property. As the city needed the old temple nearly two years before the replacement fire station would be completed, the deal also included temporary use of the ground floor of this previously
condemned and vacant former Harris Bank data processing annex located less than two blocks west of the old temple. See
“New Palatine Fire Station Coming to Quentin Road”, Brian Slupski, Palatine Patch, 27 October 2010.
Located adjacent to both the city’s central train station and the future site of the new city hall, this building is slated to be razed to make room for a multi-deck parking garage.
Rather than simply using make-shift arrangements during their brief
tenure in the bank building, Palatine’s Masonic bodies outfitted the
space with a proper lodge-chapter-council hall & asylum, mounted their
framed material on the walls, built daises, installed ceiling lights for
the altar and Easter Star positions, inter alia.
These photographs were captured by Companion David Miley on 6 November 2010.
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Pana Masonic Temple (no chapter at present)
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Constructed at 215 South Locust Street, Pana’s Masonic Temple’s cornerstone was laid in 1926. The temple was home to Pana Chapter No. 115.
See Evert E. Lawson (ed.), 1968-1969 Masonic Directory: A Listing of Masonic Lodges and Appendant Bodies in Illinois, Glenwood, Illinois: Temple Publishers (1968).
Pana Chapter merged into Jackson Chapter No. 55, of Shelbyville on 14 December 1967.
The images to the left were captured by Waymarking contributor gladtobehere.
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Peru Masonic Temple (no chapter at present)
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Located at 1711 4th Street, Peru’s Masonic Temple was home to Peru Chapter No. 60 until their charter was revoked on 7 November 2006.
See Evert E. Lawson (ed.),
1968-1969 Masonic Directory: A Listing of Masonic Lodges and Appendant Bodies in Illinois, Glenwood, Illinois: Temple Publishers (1968).
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Polo Masonic Temple (no chapter at present)
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Located at 101 East Mason Street, Polo’s Masonic Temple was home to
Tyrian Chapter No. 61 until the chapter merged into Nachusa Chapter No. 56, of Dixon, on 5 November 1963.
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Rochelle Masonic Temple (no chapter at present)
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Located at 500 Lincoln Highway, Rochelle’s Masonic Temple was home to
Rochelle Chapter No. 158, until 18 July 1997 when the chapter surrendered their chapter.
The photographs to the left were captured by Google Streetview.
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Rock Island’s 1912 former Masonic Temple (no chapter at present)
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The cornerstone of the Rock Island’s former Masonic Temple, located at
420 18th Street, was laid in 1912 by the Grand Lodge of Illinois.
The temple was home to Rock Island Chapter No. 18.
See Evert E. Lawson (ed.),
1968-1969 Masonic Directory: A Listing of Masonic Lodges and Appendant Bodies in Illinois,
Glenwood, Illinois: Temple Publishers (1968).
Rock Island Chapter removed to Moline in 2007, and meets on the fourth Monday evening of each month at 7:00 p.m.
The former temple is now a banquet facility known as Skellington Manor.
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Saint Charles – van Patten’s Masonic Hall (no chapter at present)
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Fox River Chapter No. 14 originated in van Patten’s Hall, located on the second story of 117 West Main Street, in Saint Charles.
The chapter’s convocations were held there from the time of their 7 October 1851 dispensation and 30 September 1852 charter, until they removed south to J.C. Peterson’s Hall in Geneva in 1882.
See “Geneva Masonic Lodge 139 History”.
The interior of the building and its neighbor to the west were merged and now effectively form a single commercial structure, with retail on the ground floor and a restaurant above.
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Saint Elmo Masonic Temple (no chapter at present)
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Located at 312 North Main Street and featuring a Mark Master keystone
on the middle of three engraved stones, Saint Elmo’s Masonic Temple was the home of Mason Chapter No. 76.
See Evert E. Lawson (ed.),
1968-1969 Masonic Directory: A Listing of Masonic Lodges and Appendant Bodies in Illinois,
Glenwood, Illinois: Temple Publishers (1968).
The chapter merged into Vandalia Chapter No. 136, of Vandalia, on
10 January 1974.
The combined chapter then merged into Hillsboro Chapter No. 197, of
Hillsboro, on 14 October 2009.
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Salem Masonic Temple (no chapter at present)
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Located at 300 South Broadway, Salem’s Masonic Temple was the home of
Salem Chapter No. 64.
The chapter consolidated on 19 June 1990 into Centralia Chapter No. 93.
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Springfield’s 1909 Masonic Temple (no chapter at present)
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The former home of Springfield Chapter No. 1.
The following is excerpted from History of Springfield Chapter No. 1, Royal Arch Masons:
Planning for this temple [now the Hoogland Centre for the Arts]
was initiated in 1904. Building sites were scarce and after mature consideration the one at 418-420 South 6th Street was approved and finally selected.
The committee canvassed the situation and recommended that an assessment of $1,666.66 be placed against each of the bodies. It was decided to call for subscriptions, Comp. Herman Pierik leading off with the sum of $1,000.00. Pledges were received of $500.00, $200.00 and one hundred and ten of $100.00 each. A great many others were received from $75.00 down to $5.00, aggregating $40,000.00. It was decided as impracticable to remodel the house as originally intended. This building was later sold for $1,000.00 which was turned into the building fund.
Bro. John I. Rinaker, Jr., of Central Lodge was selected as the architect and he drew the plans for the present temple.
The corner-stone was laid with appropriate Masonic services by the
Grand Lodge of Illinois with Bro. Alexander Hamilton Bell, grand master, of Carlinville, presiding in 1908.
The cost of the building without the elevator was to be $50,000.00 but
with the elevator and changes suggested by the committee the cost of the building was raised to $60,000.00.
Comp. Pierik devoted ten years to collecting the outstanding pledges, collecting from the bodies their shares and redeeming them at maturity, all except $9,000.00. This was finally cleared up twenty-seven years after commencement of the enterprise.
They later constructed a penthouse so that the elevator could run the full four stories.
The following is from The Historic Sites Commission of Springfield Illinois, the source of the photograph to the left:
“In 1960, the Masons built a large addition to the original building and placed a limestone and brick façade to both buildings. Bill Turley was commissioned as the architect for the addition and renovation of
the Masonic Temple. Mr. Turley was also the architect for the YMCA and the Thomas Rees Memorial Tower and Carillon. As part of the renovation, Mr. Turley utilized a limestone facade for the original building.”
From the Hoogland Center for the Arts:
“Then in 2001, through the generous gift of Carolyn Oxtoby and Stephen Bartholf, the Masonic Temple was purchased, and the not-for-profit organization Springfield Arts Center, Inc. began its quest to
transfigure the facility into the Center for the Arts. Additional funding was secured from the Illinois Arts Council for architectural planning and consultation. Recognizing the immense public benefit this project held for the people of Springfield, the State of Illinois awarded a grant of $5.5 million to begin the renovation. Disbursement of state monies
came in 2003, and renovation work began almost immediately.”
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Sterling Masonic Temple (no chapter at present)
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Located at 113½ West 3rd Street, Sterling’s Masonic Temple was the home of Sterling Chapter No. 57 until their 2009 merger into Nachusa Chapter No. 56 in Dixon.
Notice the lights bearing the symbols to indicate the various Masonic organisations in the temple, including the triple-tau, equilateral triangle, and circle, representing the supreme degree of Holy Royal Arch Mason,
and thus Sterling Chapter No. 57.
These photographs were captured by Wikimedia user IvoShandor.
Click here to see more.
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Streator Masonic Temple (no chapter at present)
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Located at 122 North Park Street, Streator’s Masonic Temple was the home of Streator Chapter No. 168 until its 2009 merger into Shabbona Chapter No. 37 of Ottawa.
This photograph was captured by J. A. Brown, and comes to us through the courtesy of Image Community.
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Sullivan – Royal Arch Memorial Hospital (in memoriam)
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A temple of mercy built in 1915 and expanded in 1973, the Royal Arch Memorial Hospital served the residents of Mason Point (formerly the Illinois Masonic Home) at Sullivan, and was the official philanthropic concern
of the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of the State of Illinois, until 2006 when the hospital was converted to a Medicare facility by the Grand Lodge of Illinois,
in preparation for divesting itself of Mason Point. The hospital was a fifty-bed
(all private rooms) facility, providing intermediate level nursing care.
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Sumner’s former Masonic building (no chapter at present)
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Located at the southeast corner of Christy and South Avenues,
Sumner’s former Masonic building was the home of Harmony Chapter No. 35 from the time of their 10 August 1870 removal from Lawrenceville.
See Evert E. Lawson (ed.),
1968-1969 Masonic Directory: A Listing of Masonic Lodges and Appendant Bodies in Illinois,
Glenwood, Illinois: Temple Publishers (1968).
The chapter merged into Henry Godeke Chapter No. 38, then of Olney, on 21 July 1995.
The combined chapter removed to Bridgeport on 26 May 2008.
This building was de-consecrated when Sumner Lodge No. 334 left the building in favor of a smaller, more manageable temple, two lots to the east, at 131 East South Avenue.
The first image was captured by Google Streetview.
The second image is a vintage postcard in the collection of WorthPoint.
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Taylorville Masonic Temple (no chapter at present)
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Located at
114 East Franklin Street
Taylorville’s Masonic Temple was the home of
Taylorville Chapter No. 102.
See Evert E. Lawson (ed.),
1968-1969 Masonic Directory: A Listing of Masonic Lodges and Appendant Bodies in Illinois,
Glenwood, Illinois: Temple Publishers (1968).
The chapter merged into
Pana Chapter No. 115
on 28 May 1976. The combined chapter merged into
Jackson Chapter No. 55, of
Shelbyville, on 14 December 1967.
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Toulon’s 1883 Masonic Temple (no chapter at present)
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Following the 17 May 1877 fire that destroyed Toulon’s original Masonic Hall
near the Methodist church, facing Henderson Street, a new Masonic hall was constructed on the town square, at 205 West Main Street, in 1883.
See
Toulon’s 125th Celebration Corp., Toulon’s 125th Anniversary Historical Booklet, 1841-1966, Toulon (Ill.): Toulon’s 125th Celebration Corp. (1966).
The temple was home to Wyoming Chapter No. 133 until they merged into Kewanee Chapter No. 47 of Kewanee on 8 October 1959.
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Urbana’s 1858 Gere Hall (no chapter at present)
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The first meeting place of Urbana Chapter No. 80 was Gere Hall, located above Clapp & Gere Dry Goods, at 104 East Main Street, two doors down from the east end of the so-called “Gere Block” of commercial buildings constructed in 1859 by Johnny Gere.
The building was severely damaged by the Urbana fire of 9 October 1871 while Chicago and Peshtigo simultaneously burned. It was rendered uninhabitable but was eventually salvaged with a new façade.
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Urbana’s Odd Fellows Hall (in memoriam)
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Following the Urbana fire of 9 October 1871, Urbana Chapter No. 80 relocated one block east to the third floor of the Odd Fellows Hall at
201 East Main Street.
The site on which the Odd Fellows Hall stood now hosts a bank.
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Urbana’s 1871 Tiernan Building (no chapter at present)
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In 1889, Urbana Lodge No. 157 purchased the Tiernan Building, at 115 West Main Street, where the lodge and Urbana Chapter No. 80 moved into the former Busey’s Opera Hall on the third story.
The ground floor and second story were, respectively, commercial space and offices, leased to various concerns over the years. In the early twentieth century, the building was significantly remodelled and gained a new, generally classical revival façade, culminating with a rededication by M.W. Grand Master Henry T. Burnap on 14 November 1914. The Beaux-arts parapet was discovered in early 1950s to be structurally unsound, and was replaced in 1953 by architects Royer and Davis with a simpler design which complimented the classical revival style below it.
Click here to read the City of Urbana’s page about the Tiernan Building, which the city considers one of their 100 most significant buildings.
Click here to read Masonic author Todd E. Creason’s page about the building.
Urbana Chapter No. 80 merged into Champaign Chapter No. 50, of
Champaign, on 11 September 1983
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Vicksburg (Mississippi) Masonic Temple (in memoriam)
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Formerly located at the corner of Grove and Washington Streets, in Vicksburg, Mississippi, this temple was constructed in 1848 and razed in 1973 as part of an urban renewal plan. As one can see in an aerial view,
the land is still vacant.
For one month in early 1864, the temple was the temporary home of
Asboth Military Chapter UD to whom a dispensation was issued in 1863 by the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of the State of Illinois.
The chapter was officered by civilians attached to the military work at
Columbus, Kentucky, where it existed from 6 July 1863 until 20 January 1864, when it was moved to Vicksburg, and it met there from 28 January to 24 February 1864. The Grand High Priest, Hiram W. Hubbard, went with the chapter to Vicksburg, Mississippi. He said upon arrival:
We found the Masonic Temple under control of the Military Authorities. The Lodge room was occupied by three Military Lodges, the Chapter room by the Military Commission, who cheerfully gave way. We found several Royal Arch Masons there from Illinois, and a number of the former officers and members of Vicksburg Chapter No. 3, who rendered every assistance in their power by furnishing robes, jewels and fixtures, and aiding in the work.
The simple yet substantial building, an example of late Georgian architecture, had cast-iron lintels, brick pilasters and cornices. The brick
entablature consisted of a wide capitular architrave and frieze, and a
cornice with dentils ran across the east and south sides.
The second photograph shows a close-up of the large stone inset on the west side, between the second and third floors. It bears a Square and Compasses, within a capitular archway, flanked by a level and plumb.
The third photograph shows the south entrance at 717 Grove Street, which had been converted into a window. It features a capitular architrave, the keystone of which is inscribed with the Square and Compasses.
The fourth photograph shows the east and south sides. The white × in the background, less than two blocks west, marks the Illinois Central Railroad tracks.
These photographs were produced in 1972, by the Library of Congress’ Historic American Buildings Survey, a year before the building’s demolition.
Click here to see the complete file on the temple.
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Waukegan’s 1920 former Masonic temple (no chapter at present)
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Having outgrown the earlier Masonic temple at the corner of Sheridan Road and Washington Street, Waukegan’s temple association purchased the former “Dickinson property” at 220 North Sheridan Road, from William I. and Charles R. Lyon in March 1919.
This new temple was designed by E.E. Roberts and constructed by Hanson Brothers for US$136,000, with the cornerstone being laid on 24 April 1920. In the mean time, the old temple was sold on 2 February 1920 to Samuel Schwartz for US$21,500 and a lease pending completion of this new temple. The earlier temple’s third floor Masonic hall became Congregation Am Echod’s synagogue.
See:
•City of Waukegan, Department of Planning and Zoning, Historic Preservation Commission: “Waukegan Masonic Temple”;
•Landmarks Illinois: “Old Masonic Temple, 220 North Sheridan Road, Waukegan, (E.E. Roberts, 1920-21)”;
•Congregation Am Echod: “Congregation Am Echod History 1896 – 2006”;
This temple was the home of Waukegan Chapter No. 41 from 1921 until
its sale in 1982, at which time the chapter and Waukegan’s other Masonic organizations established a new temple on Genesee Street,
where convocations are held on the third Tuesday evening of each month. The 1920 temple remains abandoned and in an increasingly poor state of disrepair.
See:
•City of Waukegan, Department of Planning and Zoning, Historic Preservation Commission: “Waukegan Masonic Temple”;
•Landmarks Illinois: “Old Masonic Temple, 220 North Sheridan Road, Waukegan, (E.E. Roberts, 1920-21)”;
•Evert E. Lawson (ed.),
1968-1969 Masonic Directory: A Listing of Masonic Lodges and Appendant Bodies in Illinois,
Glenwood, Illinois: Temple Publishers (1968).
The second image is a vintage photograph available from the Waukegan Historical Society.
The third picture, depicting the temple’s cornerstone, was captured by
Flickr contributor hannibal1107.
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West Chicago’s 1891-1926 Masonic Hall (in memoriam)
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In 1890, Norris and Son erected a building on 112 Main Street for their new furniture and undertaking establishments and added a third floor for the Masonic Hall.
The hall was used by Doric Chapter No. 166 from January 1891 until the summer of 1926.
See
Nils L. Kullman, “Our History”, West Chicago (Ill.): Amity Lodge No. 472 (1966);
Norris-Walen-Segert Funeral Home, “History: Our Story”.
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West Chicago’s 1870-1876 Masonic Hall (in memoriam)
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West Chicago’s so-called “Volls Block”, a two-story, brick commercial building, was constructed in 1870. It only briefly housed Doric Chapter No. 166.
The chapter was chartered 29 October 1875, and Voll’s block was consumed by fire in January, 1876.
See
Nils L. Kullman, “Our History”, West Chicago (Ill.): Amity Lodge No. 472 (1966);
Combination Atlas Map of Du Page County, Illinois, Compiled, Drawn and Published From Personal Examinations and Surveys by Thompson Bros. and Burr, Elgin (Ill.): Thompson Bros. and Burr (1874).
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Western Springs Masonic Temple (no chapter at present)
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Located at 1215 Chestnut Street, Western Springs’ Masonic Temple was the home of Three Pillars Chapter No. 280, Illinois’ last weekday daylight chapter (Jackson Chapter No. 55 in Shelbyville continues to meet on the 2nd Saturday morning). Three Pillars’ companions found getting a lunch-time quorum increasingly impracticable, finally merged the chapter into West Suburban Chapter No. 207 in Downers Grove on 10 June 2010. Not only was West Suburban Chapter geographically closest, but the two chapters shared a substantial overlap in membership.
The temple was constructed in 1893 as a meeting house of the Religious Society of Friends (a/k/a “Quakers”). The property was subsequently acquired by the First United Methodist Church.
In 1951, the church built a new stone structure downtown, and their former home was re-consecrated as the Western Springs Masonic Temple. In addition to re-configuring the chapel into a lodge / chapter hall, the brethren excavated a basement and constructed a fellowship hall therein.
The photograph is presented through the courtesy of Three Pillars Chapter No. 280.
The painting hangs on the wall in the chapter hall.
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Wilmington’s 1989 Masonic Temple (no chapter at present)
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Located at 311 North Main Street, Wilmington’s Masonic temple was home to Wilmington Chapter No. 142.
See Evert E. Lawson (ed.),
1968-1969 Masonic Directory: A Listing of Masonic Lodges and Appendant Bodies in Illinois,
Glenwood, Illinois: Temple Publishers (1968).
Wilmington Chapter merged into Kankakee Chapter No. 78, of
Kankakee, on 30 July 2004.
The chapter’s earlier temple stood on the same lot and, quite atypically, was owned by the chapter. Wilmington Chapter of Royal Arch Masons No. 142. The earlier temple was built as an Episcopal church in 1867 at a cost of US$7,000; and was long disused and in a poor state of repair when Wilmington Chapter purchased it for a mere US$600 in 1903. The chapter spent another US$473.43 on repairs, and it was consecrated as a Masonic temple on 21 October 1904. The chapter sold the deed to the
Temple Association for a pro forma US$1.00 in preparation for razing that temple and constructing the current building.
See
Wilmington Lodge No. 208, A History of Wilmington Lodge No. 208, A. F. & A. M., Prepared for the Re-dedication and Sesquicentennial Celebration, November 10 & 11, 2006, Wilmington, Illinois: Wilmington Lodge No. 208 (2006).
The first photograph to the left was captured by Bing.
The second photograph comes to us from Wilmington Lodge No. 208.
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Yates City Masonic Temple (no chapter at present)
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Located at 102 East Main Street, Yates City Masonic Temple was the home of Eureka Chapter No. 98, until the chapter’s relocation to Canton.
The image to the left was captured by Google Streetview.
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Yorkville Masonic Temple (no chapter at present)
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Located at 214 South Bridge Street, Yorkville Masonic Temple was the home of Aurora Chapter No. 22, until the chapter’s 2012 relocation back to Aurora.
The image to the left was captured by Google Streetview.
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