Fort Worth Masonic Temple facts for kids
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Masonic Temple
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Masonic Temple in 2016
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 Masonic Temple
Location in Texas
Masonic Temple
Location in the United States
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| Location | 1100 Henderson St., Fort Worth, Texas |
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| Built | 1931 |
| Built by | Harry B. Friedman |
| Architect | Wiley G. Clarkson |
| Architectural style | Art Deco |
| NRHP reference No. | 100001227 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | June 19, 2017 |
The Fort Worth Masonic Temple is a special building located at 1100 Henderson Street in Fort Worth, Texas. It is a place where different Masonic groups meet. A famous architect named Wiley G. Clarkson designed it. The building was finished in 1931 and still looks much like it did back then. It mixes Neoclassical and Art Deco styles. In 2017, this historic building was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
Building History
Masonic groups have been in Fort Worth since April 1854. This is when Lodge #148 was started. In 1923, William Stevenson Cooke bought a large piece of land. He wanted a central place for all the city's Masonic groups to meet under one roof.
In 1926, a group was formed to gather money for a new building. The first plans for the Fort Worth Masonic Temple were very grand. They wanted a huge, impressive building made of stone, designed in a classic Greek style. It was supposed to cost one million dollars.
However, the stock market crash of 1929 changed everything. The building committee had to accept a smaller plan. The new budget was $625,000. Construction began on November 14, 1930, and the building was finished on September 16, 1931.
The building combines Neo-classical and Art Deco styles. It has tall Ionic columns on its upper floors. The main doors are made of a special metal called monel alloy and have detailed carvings. Inside, two grand staircases lead to a terrace. The main doors show three important figures from Masonic stories: King Solomon, Hiram, King of Tyre, and Hiram Abif.
After WS Cooke passed away in 1951, the Temple was dedicated in his memory. During the Cold War, the building was marked as a Civil Defense Fallout Shelter. This meant it was a safe place for people to go if there was an emergency. You can still see this marking at the southern entrance. In 1984, the building became a recorded Texas historical landmark. Then, in 2017, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
Special Items Inside
The Temple holds several interesting historical items. One important item is a bell that was made in London, England, in 1782. This makes it one of the oldest historical items in Fort Worth. A man named Lawrence Steele brought the bell to Texas. It was first used as a dinner bell for the Hotel Steele. Later, it became a bell for the First Ward School, which was the city's very first elementary school.
Who Uses the Temple?
The Fort Worth Masonic Temple is home to many different Masonic groups and youth organizations in Tarrant County. These groups include:
- Fort Worth Masonic Lodge #148, AF&AM
- Julian Field Masonic Lodge #908, AF&AM
- Cooke-Peavy Masonic Lodge #1162, AF&AM
- Panther City Masonic Lodge #1183, AF&AM
- Fort Worth Scottish Rite (Valley of Fort Worth)
- Texas Chapter #362, Royal Arch Masons of Texas
- Texas Council #321, Royal and Select Masters of Texas
- Worth Commandery #19, Knights Templar
- Moslah Shriners
- El Texa Grotto M.O.V.P.E.R.
- H. Malvern Marks Chapter, Order of DeMolay
- Fort Worth #15, The International Order of Rainbow Girls
The building is also available for other groups or people to rent for events.
