Winona Masonic Temple facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Winona Masonic Temple
|
|
The Winona Masonic Temple from the northeast
|
|
 Location in Minnesota
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | 255 Main Street, Winona, Minnesota |
|---|---|
| Area | Less than one acre |
| Built | 1908–09 |
| Built by | John Lohse |
| Architect | Warren Powers Laird and C.F. Osborne |
| Architectural style | Beaux-Arts |
| NRHP reference No. | 98000152 |
| Added to NRHP | February 26, 1998 |
The Winona Masonic Temple is a special old building in Winona, Minnesota. It was finished in 1909. This building was a meeting place for a group called the Masons. Many important people in Winona were Masons. The Temple had a big ballroom and other rooms. It was used for both Mason events and public gatherings.
In 1998, the Winona Masonic Temple was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's a very important historical site. It's known for its role in Winona's community life. It also has the biggest collection of special theater backdrops and stage equipment used by Masons in Minnesota.
Contents
The Masons in Winona: A Look Back
Many European-American men who came to Minnesota in the mid-1800s were Freemasons. Freemasonry is one of the oldest and largest social groups in the world. Because of this, Mason groups grew as new towns were formed in Minnesota.
Early Days of Masonry in Minnesota
In 1853, a main group called the Grand Masonic Lodge was started. It was created by three Mason groups already in Stillwater, Saint Paul, and St. Anthony. The Grand Lodge gave permission for new groups to form. It also set up rules and special ceremonies. In January 1857, the Winona Lodge No. 18 was officially started.
Where the Winona Masons Met
For its first few years, the Winona Lodge met in different buildings. They often held meetings in members' businesses. In 1863 and 1864, other Mason groups, like the Royal Arch and Knights Templar, joined with the Winona Lodge.
In 1873, the Masons moved to the third floor of the new Laird Norton Lumber Company Building. This space was designed just for their needs.
Growing Membership and New Groups
In the late 1800s, more people joined the Masons in Winona. Their activities became more complex. New Mason groups were formed under different orders. Several groups followed the Scottish Rite, which is a very detailed part of Freemasonry. In 1900, a local group called the Order of the Eastern Star was formed. This group allowed women to become members.
Building the New Temple
With more members, the Winona Masonic Benevolent Association (WMBA) was created in 1906. One of their main goals was to build a new Masonic temple. The WMBA hired architects Warren Powers Laird and C.F. Osborne from Philadelphia. A local builder named John Lohse constructed the building.
The temple was built using red brick and stone. Its style is called Beaux-Arts, which is a type of Neoclassical style. This style often looks grand and formal.
Inside the Temple: The Grand Stage
The most important part inside the temple was a large stage. It had a special arch called a proscenium arch. This stage and its scenery were very important for the ceremonies of the different Mason groups, especially the Scottish Rite.
The WMBA bought ninety-eight hand-painted scenic backdrops. These were made by the Sosman and Landis Scene Painting Studios in Chicago. The temple was finished in December 1909. It had beautiful mahogany wood finishes. Special Mason furniture and decorations were also bought for the building.
The Temple's Role in the Community
The Masons were highly respected in Winona. Building the temple made them even more visible in the community. Mason events at the temple often brought many people to Winona. Since the town was a center for the Scottish Rite, it also hosted regional Mason conferences for over eighty years. The large ballroom was used for dances, dinners, and other community events.
Changes Over Time
In the 1930s, fewer people started joining Mason groups. The Winona Temple did better than many others because it was a center for the Scottish Rite. However, in 1978, the Scottish Rite moved to a temple in Rochester, Minnesota. This meant the Winona Temple lost its special role.
A year later, in 1979, the WMBA sold the Winona Temple to the city. The valuable scenic backdrops were left in the building, even though the Scottish Rite had moved.
The Temple Today
In 1979, the Winona Masonic Benevolent Association sold the building to the city. The city created a senior center on the ground floor. The Masons kept access to the second and third floors.
In 1997, a theater group called Theatre du Mississippi started performing in the Masonic Temple. The city of Winona also rents out the building for different events. It continues to be a place for community gatherings.
More to Explore
