Masonic Building (Fort Benton, Montana)

The Masonic Building in Fort Benton, Montana, also known as Sharps Store or Benton Pharmacy, was built in 1882. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.[1]

Masonic Building
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Location	1418 Front St., Fort Benton, Montana
Coordinates	47°49′3″N 110°39′41″W
Area	0.2 acres (0.081 ha)
Built	1882
Architect	Wilton, John H.; Combs, Frank
NRHP reference No.	80002408[1]
Added to NRHP	October 14, 1980

It is a two-story 30 by 100 feet (9.1 m × 30.5 m) brick building, built for the Masonic Lodge which had been chartered in 1880. It was built at cost of $16,000, with about $6,000 of that borrowed. Sale of the building was forced after the Masons could not make their payment on the borrowed funds in c.1887. The Masonic Lodge continued to rent the second floor until 1901.[2]

The building was for a time the meeting hall for Benton Lodge #25, but the lodge now meets elsewhere[3]

References

1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
2. "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Masonic Building (Sharps Store) / Benton Pharmacy". National Park Service. Retrieved August 8, 2017. With photos.
3. Website of Benton Lodge #25, Af&AM