Fort Worth Masonic Temple
Masonic Temple | |
 Masonic Temple in 2016 | |
  Masonic Temple  Masonic Temple | |
| Location | 1100 Henderson St., Fort Worth, Texas |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 32°44′50″N 97°20′18″W / 32.74722°N 97.33833°W |
| Built | 1931 |
| Built by | Harry B. Friedman |
| Architect | Wiley G. Clarkson |
| Architectural style | Art Deco |
| NRHP reference No. | 100001227[1] |
| RTHL No. | 3246 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | June 19, 2017 |
| Designated RTHL | 1984 |
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.[1]
History[edit]
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.[3] 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[edit]
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[edit]
The Fort Worth Masonic Temple is home to four Craft Lodges and several Masonic appendant bodies & youth organizations in Tarrant County:
- Fort Worth Masonic Lodge #148, AF&AM[10]
- Julian Field Masonic Lodge #908, AF&AM[11]
- Cooke-Peavy Masonic Lodge #1162, AF&AM[12]
- Panther City Masonic Lodge #1183, AF&AM[13][14]
- Fort Worth Scottish Rite (Valley of Fort Worth)[15]
- Texas Chapter #362, Royal Arch Masons of Texas[16]
- Texas Council #321, Royal and Select Masters of Texas[17]
- Worth Commandery #19, Knights Templar[18]
- Moslah Shriners[19]
- El Texa Grotto M.O.V.P.E.R.[20]
- H. Malvern Marks Chapter, Order of DeMolay[21]
- Fort Worth #15, The International Order of Rainbow Girls[22]
The facility is also available for rent to the general public.[23]
See also[edit]
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Tarrant County, Texas
- Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks in Tarrant County
References[edit]
- ^ a b Staff (June 23, 2017). "Weekly List of Actions Taken on Properties: 6/15/2017 through 6/22/2017". National Park Service. Retrieved June 4, 2018.
- ^ GmbH, Emporis. "Wylie G. Clarkson | Companies | EMPORIS". www.emporis.com. Retrieved 2016-02-25.[dead link]
- ^ a b Cohen, Judith Singer (1988). Cowtown Moderne: Art Deco Architecture of Fort Worth, Texas (1st ed.). College Station: Texas A&M University Press. p. 110. ISBN 0-89096-313-4. OCLC 18556286.
- ^ Roark, Carol E.; Society, Tarrant County Historical (2003-01-01). Fort Worth & Tarrant County: An Historical Guide. TCU Press. ISBN 9780875652795.
- ^ "Images of Masonic Temple, Fort Worth, by Wiley G. Clarkson". www.bluffton.edu. Retrieved 2016-02-25.
- ^ "Masonic Temple of Fort Worth - Fort Worth, TX - Civil Defense Fallout Shelters on Waymarking.com". www.waymarking.com. Retrieved 2016-02-25.
- ^ "The Masonic Center - History". www.fwmasonic.com. Retrieved 2016-02-25.
- ^ "Masonic bell holds a special place in Fort Worth's early history". www.dallasnews.com. Retrieved 2016-02-25.
- ^ Lale, Cissy Stewart; Ladd, Sweetie (1999-01-01). Sweetie Ladd's Historic Fort Worth. TCU Press. ISBN 9780875651965.
- ^ "Home". www.fortworth148.org. Retrieved 2016-02-25.
- ^ "Julian Feild Lodge #908 AF&AM". sites.google.com. Retrieved 2016-02-25.
- ^ "Cooke-Peavy 1162 - Home". www.cooke-peavy1162.com. Retrieved 2016-02-25.
- ^ "Panther City Lodge #1183". panthercity1183.info. Retrieved 2016-02-25.
- ^ Clair M. Billington, President, Masonic Temple Association
- ^ "Fort Worth Scottish Rite | Valley of Fort Worth". fortworthscottishrite.org. Retrieved 2016-02-25.
- ^ "Texas Chapter #362, Royal Arch Masons of Texas". Texas Chapter and Council. Retrieved 2016-09-14.
- ^ "Texas Council #321, Royal and Select Masters of Texas". Texas Chapter and Council. Retrieved 2016-09-14.
- ^ "Worth Commandery #19, Knights Templar". Worth Commandery No. 19. Retrieved 2016-02-25.
- ^ "Moslah Shrine". www.moslahshrine.org. Retrieved 2016-02-25.
- ^ "El Texa Grotto M.O.V.P.E.R." El Texa Grotto M.O.V.P.E.R. Retrieved 2016-02-25.
- ^ "H. Malvern Marks Chapter, Order of DeMolay". H. Malvern Marks Chapter Order of DeMolay - Home. Retrieved 2016-09-14.
- ^ "Fort Worth #15, The International Order of Rainbow Girls". Abilene86 - Grand Assembly of Texas. Retrieved 2016-09-14.
- ^ "The Masonic Center - Ft. Worth Texas". fwmasonic.com. Retrieved 2016-02-29.
External links[edit]
