Fort Worth Masonic Temple Explained

Masonic Temple
Coordinates:32.7472°N -97.3383°W
Map Label:Masonic Temple
Locmap Relief:yes
Built:1931
Builder:Harry B. Friedman
Added:June 19, 2017
Refnum:100001227[1]
Designated Other1:RTHL
Designated Other1 Date:1984
Designated Other1 Number:3246
Designated Other1 Num Position:bottom

The Fort Worth Masonic Temple is a Masonic Temple located at 1100 Henderson Street, Fort Worth, Texas. Designed by Wiley G. Clarkson, the Neoclassical/early PWA Art Moderne structure was completed in 1931 and has largely remained unchanged.[2] The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2017 as Masonic Temple.

History

Masonic bodies have existed within the city of Fort Worth since April 1854 with the founding of Lodge #148. William Stevenson Cooke purchased a four-block parcel of land in 1923 as a central meeting location for the city's various Masonic groups as part of an effort to consolidate all downtown lodges and orders under one roof. In 1926, a committee was formed to pool resources for a building.[3]

The original plans for Fort Worth's Masonic Temple were drafted by the architectural firm of Wiley G. Clarkson & Co. The Masonic Building Association called for an “imposing, one million dollar building of monumental character” with a stone exterior in classic Greek design. The stock market crash of 1929 forced the construction committee to accept a downsized plan, with an adjusted budget of $625,000. Groundbreaking ceremonies commenced on November 14, 1930, and construction was completed on September 16, 1931. The building exhibits an amalgamation Neo-classical styling with Art moderne influences and features upper-story Ionic columns and monel alloy bas-relief doors.[4] It features two grand staircases at the main entrance which leads to a terrace. The main doors depict the three Ancient Grand Masters of Masonic legend, King Solomon, Hiram, King of Tyre, and Hiram Abif.[5]

The Temple was dedicated to WS Cooke's memory upon his passing in 1951. During the Cold War the building was designated a Civil Defense Fallout Shelter (a marking still adorns the southern entrance of the temple).[6] The building became a recorded Texas historical landmark in 1984.[7] In 2017 the Masonic Temple was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

Historical Artifacts

Several historical artifacts are housed within the temple. Of note is a bell cast in London, England in 1782, one of the oldest historical artifacts in Fort Worth.[8] The bell was brought out to Texas by Lawrence Steele and used as a dinner bell for the Hotel Steele. Later it was used as a tolling bell for the First Ward School, the city's earliest elementary school building.[9]

Users

The Fort Worth Masonic Temple is home to four Craft Lodges and several Masonic appendant bodies & youth organizations in Tarrant County:

The facility is also available for rent to the general public.[19]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Weekly List of Actions Taken on Properties: 6/15/2017 through 6/22/2017. Staff. June 23, 2017. National Park Service. June 4, 2018.
  2. Web site: GmbH. Emporis. Wylie G. Clarkson Companies EMPORIS. 2016-02-25. Emporis.
  3. Book: Cohen, Judith Singer. Cowtown Moderne: Art Deco Architecture of Fort Worth, Texas. 1988. Texas A&M University Press. 0-89096-313-4. 1st. College Station. 110. 18556286.
  4. Book: Roark. Carol E.. Fort Worth & Tarrant County: An Historical Guide. Society. Tarrant County Historical. 2003-01-01. TCU Press. 9780875652795. en.
  5. Web site: Images of Masonic Temple, Fort Worth, by Wiley G. Clarkson. 2016-02-25. www.bluffton.edu.
  6. Web site: Masonic Temple of Fort Worth - Fort Worth, TX - Civil Defense Fallout Shelters on Waymarking.com. 2016-02-25. www.waymarking.com.
  7. Web site: The Masonic Center - History. 2016-02-25. www.fwmasonic.com.
  8. Web site: Masonic bell holds a special place in Fort Worth's early history. 2016-02-25. www.dallasnews.com.
  9. Book: Lale. Cissy Stewart. Sweetie Ladd's Historic Fort Worth. Ladd. Sweetie. 1999-01-01. TCU Press. 9780875651965. en.
  10. Clair M. Billington, President, Masonic Temple Association
  11. Web site: Fort Worth Scottish Rite Valley of Fort Worth. fortworthscottishrite.org. 2016-02-25.
  12. Web site: Texas Chapter #362, Royal Arch Masons of Texas. Texas Chapter and Council. 2016-09-14.
  13. Web site: Texas Council #321, Royal and Select Masters of Texas. Texas Chapter and Council. 2016-09-14.
  14. Web site: Worth Commandery #19, Knights Templar. Worth Commandery No. 19. 2016-02-25.
  15. Web site: Moslah Shrine. www.moslahshrine.org. 2016-02-25.
  16. Web site: El Texa Grotto M.O.V.P.E.R.. El Texa Grotto M.O.V.P.E.R.. 2016-02-25.
  17. Web site: H. Malvern Marks Chapter, Order of DeMolay. H. Malvern Marks Chapter Order of DeMolay - Home. 2016-09-14.
  18. Web site: Fort Worth #15, The International Order of Rainbow Girls. Abilene86 - Grand Assembly of Texas. 2016-09-14.
  19. Web site: The Masonic Center - Ft. Worth Texas. fwmasonic.com. 2016-02-29.

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