The Masonic Temple is a historic clubhouse in
Lagro, Indiana
Lagro is a town in Lagro Township, Wabash County, in the U.S. state of Indiana. The population was 349 at the 2020 census.
History
The community was named after Le Gris, a Miami Chief. The Lagro post office has been in operation since 1893. ...
completed in 1913. The
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the Federal government of the United States, United States federal government's official United States National Register of Historic Places listings, list of sites, buildings, structures, Hist ...
listed the
masonic temple
A Masonic Temple or Masonic Hall is, within Freemasonry, the room or edifice where a Masonic Lodge meets. Masonic Temple may also refer to an abstract spiritual goal and the conceptual ritualistic space of a meeting.
Development and history
I ...
in 2020.
[
]
History
On May 26, 1853, the Free and Accepted Masons
Freemasonry (sometimes spelled Free-Masonry) consists of fraternal groups that trace their origins to the medieval guilds of stonemasons. Freemasonry is the oldest secular fraternity in the world and among the oldest still-existing organizati ...
chartered the Tuscan Lodge No. 143. repointing
Repointing is the process of renewing the pointing, which is the external part of mortar joints, in masonry construction. Over time, weathering and decay cause voids in the joints between masonry units, usually in bricks, allowing the undesirabl ...
the facade, and replacing exterior lighting.[
]
Architecture
The 1913 building reflects both early commercial and classical revival
Neoclassicism, also spelled Neo-classicism, emerged as a Western cultural movement in the decorative and visual arts, literature, theatre, music, and architecture that drew inspiration from the art and culture of classical antiquity. Neoclassic ...
architectural styles. The two-story structure consists of a street-level storefront: the former bank on the left and the hardware store on the right. The second level contains a one-bedroom apartment and meeting room for the lodge. The building shares a common wall with the Red Men Hall
The Improved Order of Red Men are a fraternal organization in the United States. The group focuses on fundraising for charity and bases their rituals on perceived Native American customs. The Red Men had a peak membership of over half million in 1 ...
, forming a commercial block.[
The brick facade has a ]cornice
In architecture, a cornice (from the Italian ''cornice'' meaning "ledge") is generally any horizontal decorative Moulding (decorative), moulding that crowns a building or furniture element—for example, the cornice over a door or window, ar ...
with dentil
A dentil (from Lat. ''dens'', a tooth) is a small block used as a repeating ornament in the bedmould of a cornice. Dentils are found in ancient Greek and Roman architecture, and also in later styles such as Neoclassical, Federal, Georgian Rev ...
detailing along the roof. Each window is framed with limestone lintels
A lintel or lintol is a type of beam (a horizontal structural element) that spans openings such as portals, doors, windows and fireplaces. It can be a decorative architectural element, or a combined ornamented/structural item. In the case of ...
and windowsills. An inlaid panel includes the Masonic square and compasses
The Square and Compasses (or, more correctly, a square and a set of compasses joined) is the single most identifiable symbol of Freemasonry. Both the square and compasses are architect's tools and are used in Masonic ritual as emblems to teac ...
symbol. The former bank side has limestone Tuscan order
The Tuscan order (Latin ''Ordo Tuscanicus'' or ''Ordo Tuscanus'', with the meaning of Etruscan order) is one of the two classical orders developed by the Romans, the other being the composite order. It is influenced by the Doric order, but wit ...
pillars rising to a bulkhead with carved letters reading "19 Citizens State Bank 13". In contrast, the former hardware storefront is relatively simple.[
]
See also
* List of Masonic buildings in Indiana
List of Masonic buildings in the United States identifies notable Masonic buildings in the United States. These have served as meeting halls by Masonic lodges, Grand Lodges or other Masonic bodies. Many of the buildings were built to house Mas ...
*
References
External links
Indiana Freemasons
Lagro Canal Foundation
Citizens State Bank
Wabash River Trail
{{NRHP
National Register of Historic Places in Wabash County, Indiana
Organizations established in 1853
1853 establishments in Indiana
1913 establishments in Indiana
Lagro, Indiana
Lagro is a town in Lagro Township, Wabash County, in the U.S. state of Indiana. The population was 349 at the 2020 census.
History
The community was named after Le Gris, a Miami Chief. The Lagro post office has been in operation since 1893. ...
Clubhouses on the National Register of Historic Places in Indiana
Neoclassical architecture in Indiana
Buildings designated early commercial in the National Register of Historic Places
1996 disestablishments in Indiana
Organizations disestablished in 1996