Scoville Square facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Masonic Temple Building
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 Location in Illinois
Location in the United States
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| Location | 119—137 N. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, Illinois |
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| Area | 0.5 acres (0.20 ha) |
| Built | 1906–1909 |
| Architect | Eben Ezra Roberts |
| Architectural style | Prairie School |
| NRHP reference No. | 82002532 |
| Added to NRHP | February 11, 1982 |
The Masonic Temple Building is a very old and special building in Oak Park, Illinois. It's also known by other names like the Scoville Block or Scoville Square Building. This building is famous for its unique Prairie School style of architecture.
It stands at the corner of Oak Park Avenue and Lake Street. Because it's so important, it's part of the Ridgeland-Oak Park Historic District. In 1982, it was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's a protected historic site.
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What Makes This Building Special?
The Masonic Temple Building is one of the few business buildings ever built in the Prairie School style. This style was popular in the early 1900s. It often features strong horizontal lines and natural materials.
Building's Amazing Design
The building has three main floors. It was designed by an architect named E. E. Roberts. Construction started in 1906 and finished in 1909.
- The first floor was made for shops and stores. It has big windows and iron frames.
- A special stone line separates the shops from the upper floors.
- The upper floors are covered in brick.
- In 1914, a fourth floor was added to the building.
Inside, the building has beautiful details. There's a grand oak staircase. The main entrance area, called the lobby, has special windows made of colored art-glass. It also has marble on the lower parts of the walls.
A Building with Many Lives
Over the years, this building has been home to different groups and businesses. It has a rich history of changes.
From Masons to Department Store
The first groups to use the building were the Masonic lodges from Oak Park. They are a social and charitable organization. This is why the building is called the Masonic Temple Building.
Later, the Masons moved out. In 1930, a large shop called Gilmore's Department Store bought the building. Gilmore's was a popular place to shop for many years. It stayed there until the 1970s when it closed down.
Saving a Historic Building
After Gilmore's closed, the building was in danger of being torn down. But the village of Oak Park stepped in! They bought the building to save it. They even used public money to help fix it up.
Part of the restoration work involved taking off a black glass cover that Gilmore's had put on the building. This helped bring back its original look. Today, the building is known as the Scoville Square building. It still has shops on the ground floor and offices on the upper floors.
