BlockThe nomination, in full
Bibliography, boundary description, and the people who prepared and reviewed the nomination.
FORM B - BUILDING In Area no. Form no. 142-G MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Office of the Secretary, State House, Boston - - - 1. Town Worcester 1 Address Ionic Avenue 2. Photo (3x3" or 3x5") Staple to left side of form Photo number Name Masonic Temple Present use meeting halls and head- quarters for several chapters of Masons Present owner 3. Description: Date Worcester Masonic Charity and Education Association 1914 Source Worcester Magazine Exp -2 - - Roll 2 - - - Style Classical Revival 4. Map. Draw sketch of building location in relation to nearest cross streets and other buildings. Indicate north. Architect George C. Halcott Exterior wall fabric brick Outbuildings (describe)_ none Other features monumental Ionic colonnade, pedimented entry frame with bronze doors, rusticate brick- work Altered Date Moved no:: -Date Assessors' Book 3, OTM 3.
Lot size: Lots 4, 10, 11, 13, 19/268550/4682030 16, 16A & 17 53,002 sq.it. One acre or less Over one acre X Approximate frontage 271' Approximate distance of building from street 20' E M. Seaman 6. Recorded by_ ed. B.R. Pfeiffer Organization Worc. Heritage Pres. Soc. Date November 1977 (over) 30M-5-77 7. Original owner (if known). Masonic Charitable and Educational Association Original use Masonic Temple for the use 0f all Worcester chapters Subsequent uses (if any) and dates_ same 8. Themes (check as many as applicable) Aboriginal Agricultural Architectural The Arts Commerce Communication Community development Conservation Education Exploration/ settlement Industry Military Political Recreation .Religion Science/ invention Social/ humanitarian Transportation 9.
Historical significance (include explanation of themes checked above) The Masonic Temple is a monumental brick building approximately four and one half stories high with a rectangular floor plan. The structure's facade sits on a high basement and is framed by wide piers of brick laid up to give the appearance of rustication. Set between the piers are eight Ionic columns between which are windows set in blind-arch frames (Ist storey) and decorative brick panels (second storey). At the facade's center is an elaborately decorated entry set in an earred architrave and surmounted by a pedimebt on consoles. Above the facade's columns are an entablature and cornice above which is a series of square lights, surmounted by a brick parapet. Side elevations of the building repeat much of the brickwork, cornice and moulded trim of the facade, but lack columns and decorated window surrounds.
At present the Masonic Temple is in original condition. Feemasonry got is first foothold in Worcester in 1793 when Isaiah Thomas founded the Morning Star Lodge. As with so many other social and fraternal organizations, the Masons grew rapidly in numbers during the nineteenth century, particularly toward the turn of the century. By 1910 a conmittee was established to look into building a new head- quarters, as the Masonsi temple of nearly fifty years on Pearl Street had been outgrown. Land was purchased on Mower's Avenue, now Ionic Avenue (the street name wae reportedly changed due to the imposing: quality of the Masonic Temple's Ionic colonnade)- Construction was carried intendent of public (cont.) 10. Bibliography and/or references (such as local histories, deeds, assessor's records, early maps, etc.) Worcester Magazine, Sept. 1914 (article and photos.) Nutt, C.
Mistory of Worcester, Vo1. II, PP. 927-935 (history of Masonic chapters in Worcester) Rice, F Dictionary of Worcester, p. 62. Rice, Worcester of 1898, pp. 267-271. INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Office of the Secretary, Boston Community : Worcester Form No: 142-G Masonic Memole Property Name : Indicate each item on inventory form which is being continued belcw. 9. Of its completion the building contained a drill hall and banquet hall on the first floor, a "Grecian Chamber" on the second, an "Egyptian ! Chamber" on the third, and a Gothic Chapel- Ihe heaviness of the building's details and its scale make it one of the finer Classical Revival architecture in Worcester. Staple to Inventory form at bottom -Property Warcester Miltiple Resonue Aun (Parteal Daventany) state MA (Warcester Working Number8. 30.
79.2060 TECHNICAL CONTROL Photos 383 +13 Maps 2,63 Ercelent mulayl resaurce namenatioe fo ieetire cl, HISTORIAN Soth the general descrption /Acapt Lightne pustra, a reasons dan ta t aet oleded mael 10-30-79 yneicon AR ITECTURAL HISTORIAN conan m/h Bmsés ummento m 102-L-3 FmsHgnt cud /" bondanes nuch to be edlened pearhully on "6-CBD - ", "]-E, and 130-CBD-50 and indurdual ARCHEOLOGIST H6- CBD- 17 - Destroyed, connot be listed. 130 -CBD-44 -1 am nst cenuincee tues has 102 - L-3 - Perlod o anuncane anl cagorzatingitri ee atado be descussed with WINt 3 EXCENTONS AU PROPERTICS APPEAK TO ME TO MET AK CRITERI AND THE FORMS ARE ADEQUATE RSA BOTH TECHNUSLLY AND TO DETERMINE SIÇNIFLANCE ACMOUH SOME EE TE FORMS DID NOT CONTAIN SIRONK STATEMENS IF SIGNIFICANCE THE KESOURCE CATEGONIES WERE TUOROWHLY DICUSSED IN THE BODY OF MHE NONINAION; THEREFORE SIGNIFICANKE WAS ESTABLSHED.
UBDS WERE NOT NELESSARY BELNSE DF MHE SCHE MAPSAND CLEARLY DELNEATES BOUNDARIES . HURENDE WES MISSING DU SACE PROPEATTES BUT EIIS NOW INCLIDED AFTER DE 2/11/ CORRELRONI. THE ONLY RROPERTIES THSE I DO NOT RECOMMENA LISTING ARE - 1/6-CBD-/3 - DESAOYCOBYFIRE MO- 1OCBD-11 OTHER HCLEDT 2/28/58 HAER Inventory - Review 130-CBO -44- DOCS. NOT RETSIN INTEGRITY FOR INDIVIDUKLRELGIBILTY v10r-L-3 / DEASASA WGOT CONVINKED ABOUT BOUNDARH REVIEW UNIT CHIEF BUT BELENE THEY DOUCD BE DK. # BASEN Recommerd OEN ADDITONAL DOCUMLENTATON SUBMUTTED - / DEFER JUDLEMENT. Listing all properties nexcept these 3. Return II6-CBD-I to Stute notelegeble); Fe Petum 102-L-3 to State fer curestim; dercussi fotos y Be staf +state.
DUBIE BRANCH CHIEF 3/3/81 HOLD 130-CBD -44 for info from stute DURLE Staff conferenu 3/5/50 - agued to action as suted beloro: KEEPER soldhe 315/80 MAR 5 1980 National Register Write-up Federal Register Entry 2.3.81 Re-submit United States Department of the Interior - Heritaqe Conservation and Recreation Service - MAY 79 142-9 Masenio ler Sonc Avenue AUG 1979 Nouth elevation wercesto MRA, Ma Please refer to the map in the Multiple Property Cover Sheet for this property Multiple Property Cover Sheet Reference Number: 64000304