Page 315 - Cornelius Hedges Story

For This And Succeeding Generations Gardiner 302

The furniture was rude and all home-made, as well as the jewels.
From there the first removal was made to the second story of a
frame building on Main Street, at the foot of Broadway. Here we
had greater conveniences of room, but the rent was heavy, $167.50
a month in gold dust.
The next move was to the north side of Broadway, the second lot
west of the present Monticello Hotel, where. Messrs. Hartwell and
Jürgen’s were erecting a Public Hall, and allowed the Masons to put
on a second story at their own expense, rent free. This lodge room
was destroyed by fire in August, 1872, having been occupied since
November 11, 1866. Even before its destruction, the Masons had
purchased a lot on the corner of Main and Wall streets and had laid
the corner stone on St. John’s day, June 24, 1872, and the completed
structure was dedicated by Grand Lodge in October, 1873. The
lower story of this building was rented at a good price. But there
was only a single room for all the Masonic bodies which had so
multiplied and increased that it was insufficient to accommodate all.
The present Temple, located at the northeast corner of Broadway and
Jackson Street, was erected in 1884 - 1885. The lots cost $14,000.
The excavation and basement were completed in 1884, at a cost of
$6,000. The three stories above the basement were added during
1885. The whole building, completed and furnished, cost upwards
of $50,000. Part of the basement, all of the first floor and some of
the second story were rented at good prices for several years and
contributed handsomely towards reducing the debt, which is still
$20,000, in bonds drawing 5 per cent. The main hall is in the second
story, with a large reception room. Here also is the Grand Secretary’s
office, while the large front rooms on this floor are occupied as a
reading room and club room. The third story contains two large
halls, one for the Commandery and the other for the chapters. It
also contains the banqueting room and kitchen. To resume on the
special of June 6th. Owing to the bad weather and delays in making
contracts, only a week’s notice of the cornerstone laying was given,
but there was a large attendance and the weather was exceptionally
fine. The oration for the occasion was delivered by Past Grand
Master Comly and is published with the proceedings of 1885. The
ladies of the Eastern Star gave a banquet in the evening in honor of
the occasion, the crowning glory of the occasion.

At the opening of the Twenty-first Annual Communication, October
7, 1885, there were twenty-six chartered lodges and all but three
were represented. The membership showed an increase of 150, but
the revenue showed a decrease of $718. On the whole it had been a