Fort Worth Masonic Temple

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]

Masonic Temple
Masonic Temple in 2016
Masonic Temple
Masonic Temple
Location1100 Henderson St.,
Fort Worth, Texas
Coordinates32°44′50″N 97°20′18″W
Built1931
Built byHarry B. Friedman
ArchitectWiley G. Clarkson
Architectural styleArt Deco
NRHP reference No.100001227[1]
RTHL No.3246
Significant dates
Added to NRHPJune 19, 2017
Designated RTHL1984

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.[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

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:

  • 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

References
  1. 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.
  2. GmbH, Emporis. "Wylie G. Clarkson | Companies | EMPORIS". www.emporis.com. Retrieved 2016-02-25.
  3. 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.
  4. Roark, Carol E.; Society, Tarrant County Historical (2003-01-01). Fort Worth & Tarrant County: An Historical Guide. TCU Press. ISBN 9780875652795.
  5. "Images of Masonic Temple, Fort Worth, by Wiley G. Clarkson". www.bluffton.edu. Retrieved 2016-02-25.
  6. "Masonic Temple of Fort Worth - Fort Worth, TX - Civil Defense Fallout Shelters on Waymarking.com". www.waymarking.com. Retrieved 2016-02-25.
  7. "The Masonic Center - History". www.fwmasonic.com. Retrieved 2016-02-25.
  8. "Masonic bell holds a special place in Fort Worth's early history". www.dallasnews.com. Retrieved 2016-02-25.
  9. Lale, Cissy Stewart; Ladd, Sweetie (1999-01-01). Sweetie Ladd's Historic Fort Worth. TCU Press. ISBN 9780875651965.
  10. "Home". www.fortworth148.org. Retrieved 2016-02-25.
  11. "Julian Feild Lodge #908 AF&AM". sites.google.com. Retrieved 2016-02-25.
  12. "Cooke-Peavy 1162 - Home". www.cooke-peavy1162.com. Retrieved 2016-02-25.
  13. "Panther City Lodge #1183". panthercity1183.info. Retrieved 2016-02-25.
  14. Clair M. Billington, President, Masonic Temple Association
  15. "Fort Worth Scottish Rite | Valley of Fort Worth". fortworthscottishrite.org. Retrieved 2016-02-25.
  16. "Texas Chapter #362, Royal Arch Masons of Texas". Texas Chapter and Council. Retrieved 2016-09-14.
  17. "Texas Council #321, Royal and Select Masters of Texas". Texas Chapter and Council. Retrieved 2016-09-14.
  18. "Worth Commandery #19, Knights Templar". Worth Commandery No. 19. Retrieved 2016-02-25.
  19. "Moslah Shrine". www.moslahshrine.org. Retrieved 2016-02-25.
  20. "El Texa Grotto M.O.V.P.E.R." El Texa Grotto M.O.V.P.E.R. Retrieved 2016-02-25.
  21. "H. Malvern Marks Chapter, Order of DeMolay". H. Malvern Marks Chapter Order of DeMolay - Home. Retrieved 2016-09-14.
  22. "Fort Worth #15, The International Order of Rainbow Girls". Abilene86 - Grand Assembly of Texas. Retrieved 2016-09-14.
  23. "The Masonic Center - Ft. Worth Texas". fwmasonic.com. Retrieved 2016-02-29.
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