Masonic Temple (Kirksville, Missouri) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Masonic Temple
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Exterior view, south side and entrance.
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 Location in Missouri
Location in the United States
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| Location | 217 E. Harrison St., Kirksville |
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| Built | 1930 |
| Architectural style | Egyptian Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 09001208 |
| Added to NRHP | January 7, 2010 |
The Masonic Temple in Kirksville, Missouri is a special building. It's where several groups of Masons and related organizations meet. Masons are part of a very old and well-known social group. This historic building was added to the National Register of Historic Places on January 7, 2010. This means it's an important place worth protecting.
Contents
A Look Back: The Temple's History
Freemasonry has been active in Adair County, Missouri since before the American Civil War. The very first Masonic group, called Kirksville Lodge No. 128, started in May 1850. After the war, many more Masonic groups and related clubs grew in the county. At one point, over three thousand people were members!
These groups needed a big, central place to meet. They were tired of using different rented spaces. So, in 1919, the Masonic Temple Association was created. They picked a spot for the building and started raising money. Two wealthy local doctors, George M. Laughlin and Harry M. Still, were Masons themselves. They provided most of the money needed for the project. The rest of the funds came from selling bonds.
Building the Temple: How It Was Made
The chosen spot for the building was at 217 East Harrison Street. This was right in the middle of Kirksville's business area. It was also just two blocks east of the town square. In 1927, a company from St. Louis called Bonsack & Pearce was chosen to design the building.
They designed a four-story building in the Egyptian Revival style. This means it looks like ancient Egyptian temples! The Kirksville temple is one of only two buildings in Missouri built in this unique style. The other one is in St. Louis.
The first stone, called the cornerstone, was placed on April 2, 1930. A leader named Mr. Samuel L. Fleet did the honors. Inside the cornerstone, they placed a Bible, a Masonic apron, important Masonic papers, and a book. This book listed all the people from Adair County who died in World War I.
The original plan was to build the whole outside of the temple with yellow bricks. But a local Mason and the project's builder, Mr. Leonard Poelman, knew a stone company. He was able to get a lot of beautiful limestone at a lower price. So, they decided to use the yellow brick on the sides that were less visible. The south and east sides, which people would see more, got the special Carthage stone. The building was finished very quickly. It was ready and officially opened in December 1930. The total cost was just under $70,000.
The Finished Building: What It Looks Like Inside
The completed temple is shaped like a rectangle, about 55 feet by 77 feet. The main doors are on the east and south sides. These entrances have tall, decorative columns and fancy moldings.
- The first floor has a kitchen and a large dining room. This room can seat up to 250 people!
- On the second floor, there is one big meeting room.
- The third floor has offices for the Masonic secretaries. It also has a recreation room for the groups to relax.
- The fourth floor is used by special Masonic groups called the York Rite bodies.
The inside of the building looks much like it did in 1930. The only changes are modern upgrades to things like kitchen appliances.
A Famous Visitor: Harry S. Truman
In the early 1940s, a very important person visited the Kirksville Masonic Temple. This person was Harry S. Truman, who would later become the U.S. President. At that time, Truman was a leader of the Grand Lodge of Missouri Masons. He was also a United States Senator for Missouri.
