Masonic Temple (Kirksville, Missouri)
Encyclopedia
The Masonic Temple in Kirksville, Missouri
serves as the home for Kirksville Masonic lodge No. 105. The stucture was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
on January 7, 2010.
dates back prior to the American Civil War
, with the first lodge, Kirksville Lodge No. 128, chartered in May, 1850. Following the war a large number of various Masonic lodges and affiliated organizations flourished within the county and at its height the combined membership county-wide totaled over three thousand members. There proved a need and great desire for one central meeting point large enough for all activities instead of the scattered rental facilites then in use, so in 1919 the Masonic Temple Association was formed, a building site chosen, and fundraising efforts begun. Two wealthy local Osteopathic physicians
, Doctors George M. Laughlin and Harry M. Still, both Masons, provided the bulk of the financing for the project, with the issuing of bonds covering the rest.
firm of Bonsack & Pearce was chosen for the architectural design. The result would be a four-story building in the Egyptian Revival
style. The Kirksville temple is one of only two in Missouri in that particular style the other being in St. Louis. The cornerstone was laid on April 2, 1930 by Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Missouri
, Mr. Samuel L. Fleet. Among the contents were a Bible
, Masonic apron, various Masonic documents, and a book listing all the Adair Countians killed in World War I
. The original plan was to build the temple using yellow brick for the entire exterior. However Mr. Leonard Poelman, local Mason and the projects contractor, had connections with a stone company in Carthage, Missouri
and was able to arrange for a quantity of fine limestone at a discounted price. Thus it was decided to use the yellow brick on the lesser-seen west and north exteriors while the south and east would receive the Carthage stone. Construction was done at a rapid pace, with completion and dedication in December, 1930 at a final cost at just under $70,000.
. The first floor consists of the kitchen and a large dining room with seating for up to 250, while a single large meeting room can be found on the second floor. The third floor is dedicated to offices for the various Masonic secretaries and the lodges recreation room. The fourth floor is reserved for use by the York Rite
body. The building interior is much the same as it was in 1930 save for the upgrades to more modern appliances
. At the time Truman was Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Missouri while also a United States Senator for the Show-Me state. .
Kirksville, Missouri
Kirksville is the county seat of Adair County, Missouri, United States. It is located in Benton Township. The population was 17,505 at the 2010 census. Kirksville also anchors a micropolitan area that comprises Adair and Schuyler counties. The city is perhaps best known as the location of Truman...
serves as the home for Kirksville Masonic lodge No. 105. The stucture was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
on January 7, 2010.
History
Freemasonry in Adair County, MissouriAdair County, Missouri
Adair County is a county located in northeast Missouri. As of 2010, the population was 25,607. Its county seat is Kirksville. The county was organized in 1841 and is named in honor of Kentucky Governor John Adair....
dates back prior to the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, with the first lodge, Kirksville Lodge No. 128, chartered in May, 1850. Following the war a large number of various Masonic lodges and affiliated organizations flourished within the county and at its height the combined membership county-wide totaled over three thousand members. There proved a need and great desire for one central meeting point large enough for all activities instead of the scattered rental facilites then in use, so in 1919 the Masonic Temple Association was formed, a building site chosen, and fundraising efforts begun. Two wealthy local Osteopathic physicians
Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine
Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine is a professional doctoral degree for physicians in the United States. Holders of the MD degree, Doctor of Medicine, have the same rights, privileges and responsibilities as osteopathic physicians in the United States.The American Osteopathic Association’s Commission...
, Doctors George M. Laughlin and Harry M. Still, both Masons, provided the bulk of the financing for the project, with the issuing of bonds covering the rest.
Construction
The building site, at 217 East Harrison street, was in the heart of the Kirksville business district and two blocks east of the town square. In 1927 the St. LouisSt. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
firm of Bonsack & Pearce was chosen for the architectural design. The result would be a four-story building in the Egyptian Revival
Egyptian Revival architecture
Egyptian Revival is an architectural style that uses the motifs and imagery of ancient Egypt. It is attributed generally to the public awareness of ancient Egyptian monuments generated by Napoleon's conquest of Egypt and Admiral Nelson's defeat of Napoleon at the Battle of the Nile during 1798....
style. The Kirksville temple is one of only two in Missouri in that particular style the other being in St. Louis. The cornerstone was laid on April 2, 1930 by Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
, Mr. Samuel L. Fleet. Among the contents were a Bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
, Masonic apron, various Masonic documents, and a book listing all the Adair Countians killed in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. The original plan was to build the temple using yellow brick for the entire exterior. However Mr. Leonard Poelman, local Mason and the projects contractor, had connections with a stone company in Carthage, Missouri
Carthage, Missouri
Carthage is a city in Jasper County, Missouri, United States. The population was 14,378 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Jasper County and is nicknamed "America's Maple Leaf City."...
and was able to arrange for a quantity of fine limestone at a discounted price. Thus it was decided to use the yellow brick on the lesser-seen west and north exteriors while the south and east would receive the Carthage stone. Construction was done at a rapid pace, with completion and dedication in December, 1930 at a final cost at just under $70,000.
The finished building
The completed temple was rectangular, approximately 55 feet by 77 feet, with main entrances located on the east and south sides flanked by pylons and ornate Cavetto moldingsMolding (decorative)
Molding or moulding is a strip of material with various profiles used to cover transitions between surfaces or for decoration. It is traditionally made from solid milled wood or plaster but may be made from plastic or reformed wood...
. The first floor consists of the kitchen and a large dining room with seating for up to 250, while a single large meeting room can be found on the second floor. The third floor is dedicated to offices for the various Masonic secretaries and the lodges recreation room. The fourth floor is reserved for use by the York Rite
York Rite
The York Rite or American Rite is one of several Rites of the worldwide fraternity known as Freemasonry. A Rite is a series of progressive degrees that are conferred by various Masonic organizations or bodies, each of which operates under the control of its own central authority...
body. The building interior is much the same as it was in 1930 save for the upgrades to more modern appliances
Notable visitor
In the early 1940s the Kirksville lodge was visited by future U.S. President Harry S. TrumanHarry S. Truman
Harry S. Truman was the 33rd President of the United States . As President Franklin D. Roosevelt's third vice president and the 34th Vice President of the United States , he succeeded to the presidency on April 12, 1945, when President Roosevelt died less than three months after beginning his...
. At the time Truman was Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Missouri while also a United States Senator for the Show-Me state. .