Fort Worth Masonic Temple

The Fort Worth Masonic Temple is a Masonic Temple located at 1100 Henderson St, Fort Worth, Texas. Completed in 1932, the building was designed by the architectural firm of Wiley G. Clarkson & Co, who also designed the Stripling Building, US Court House, Sinclair Building, and STS Tower in Fort Worth.[2] The building exhibits Neo-classical styling with Art moderne influences and features upper-story Ionic columns and monel alloy bas-relief doors.[3] 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.[4] The building still retains its Civil Defense Fallout Shelter sign which was placed there during the height of World War II.[5] The building became a recorded Texas historical landmark in 1984.[6] The Fort Worth Architecture website lists the structure as architecturally significant buildings in Downtown Fort Worth,[7] and is included on their recommended walking tour of architecture of Fort Worth.[8]

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

Several historical artifacts are housed within its walls, including a bell cast in London, England in 1782 which is believed to be one of the oldest historical artifacts in Fort Worth.[9] The bell was brought to Fort Worth originally by Lawrence Steele and used as a dinner bell for the Hotel Steele. It was then used as a tolling bell for the First Ward School, the first elementary school building in Fort Worth.[10]

Masonic bodies have existed within the city of Fort Worth since April 1854 when Fort Worth Masonic Lodge #148 was founded. These bodies desired a central meeting location within the city of Fort Worth, so several men led by William Stevenson Cooke selected a four-block square parcel of land which was purchased in 1923. The building was dedicated to WS Cooke's memory upon his passing in 1951. Since its construction, there have been very few changes to the building.[11] The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2017 as Masonic Temple.[1]

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[12]
  • Julian Field Masonic Lodge #908, AF&AM[13]
  • Cooke-Peavy Masonic Lodge #1162, AF&AM[14]
  • Panther City Masonic Lodge #1183, AF&AM[15][16]
  • Fort Worth Scottish Rite (Valley of Fort Worth)[17]
  • Texas Chapter #362, Royal Arch Masons of Texas[18]
  • Texas Council #321, Royal and Select Masters of Texas[19]
  • Worth Commandery #19, Knights Templar[20]
  • Moslah Shriners[21]
  • El Texa Grotto M.O.V.P.E.R.[22]
  • H. Malvern Marks Chapter, Order of DeMolay[23]
  • Fort Worth #15, The International Order of Rainbow Girls[24]

The facility is also available for rent to the general public.[25]

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. Roark, Carol E.; Society, Tarrant County Historical (2003-01-01). Fort Worth & Tarrant County: An Historical Guide. TCU Press. ISBN 9780875652795.
  4. "Images of Masonic Temple, Fort Worth, by Wiley G. Clarkson". www.bluffton.edu. Retrieved 2016-02-25.
  5. "Masonic Temple of Fort Worth - Fort Worth, TX - Civil Defense Fallout Shelters on Waymarking.com". www.waymarking.com. Retrieved 2016-02-25.
  6. "The Masonic Center - History". www.fwmasonic.com. Retrieved 2016-02-25.
  7. "Architecture in Downtown Fort Worth". www.fortwortharchitecture.com. Retrieved 2016-02-25.
  8. "Walking Tour - Architecture in Downtown Fort Worth". www.fortwortharchitecture.com. Retrieved 2016-02-25.
  9. "Masonic bell holds a special place in Fort Worth's early history". www.dallasnews.com. Retrieved 2016-02-25.
  10. Lale, Cissy Stewart; Ladd, Sweetie (1999-01-01). Sweetie Ladd's Historic Fort Worth. TCU Press. ISBN 9780875651965.
  11. Williams, Byrd; Roark, Carol E. (1995-01-01). Fort Worth's Legendary Landmarks. TCU Press. ISBN 9780875651439.
  12. "Home". www.fortworth148.org. Retrieved 2016-02-25.
  13. "Julian Feild Lodge #908 AF&AM". sites.google.com. Retrieved 2016-02-25.
  14. "Cooke-Peavy 1162 - Home". www.cooke-peavy1162.com. Retrieved 2016-02-25.
  15. "Panther City Lodge #1183". panthercity1183.info. Retrieved 2016-02-25.
  16. Clair M. Billington, President, Masonic Temple Association
  17. "Fort Worth Scottish Rite | Valley of Fort Worth". fortworthscottishrite.org. Retrieved 2016-02-25.
  18. "Texas Chapter #362, Royal Arch Masons of Texas". Texas Chapter and Council. Retrieved 2016-09-14.
  19. "Texas Council #321, Royal and Select Masters of Texas". Texas Chapter and Council. Retrieved 2016-09-14.
  20. "Worth Commandery #19, Knights Templar". Worth Commandery No. 19. Retrieved 2016-02-25.
  21. "Moslah Shrine". www.moslahshrine.org. Retrieved 2016-02-25.
  22. "El Texa Grotto M.O.V.P.E.R." El Texa Grotto M.O.V.P.E.R. Retrieved 2016-02-25.
  23. "H. Malvern Marks Chapter, Order of DeMolay". H. Malvern Marks Chapter Order of DeMolay - Home. Retrieved 2016-09-14.
  24. "Fort Worth #15, The International Order of Rainbow Girls". Abilene86 - Grand Assembly of Texas. Retrieved 2016-09-14.
  25. "The Masonic Center - Ft. Worth Texas". fwmasonic.com. Retrieved 2016-02-29.
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