Masonic Buildings in Grand Rapids
There have been three distinct 'homes' that Masony has occupied in Grand Rapids since it was first brought here in 1849. Prior to being united under one roof, several masonic organizations occupied the third or upper floor of a building once at the Southeast Corner of Lyon and Campau Streets, which later became the Northwest corner of the Paintlind Hotel Block.
Today we have only two pictures of these early Masonic quarters. As far as we know, they consisted of little more than the traditional lodge room shown:
Click on image to see larger version
Click on image to see larger version
Nothing in the way of the furniture or ornaments depicted in these pictures is believed to have survived to present day. The possible exception being a few of the lodge officer jewels seen pinned on the backs of chairs. Take note of the fact that the lights of the room were plummed gas lights. Also note the several spitoons arranged along the sidelines. It appears as if an elaborate rope and pulley system existed to raise curtains/draps up about the walls of the room. This sort of alteration of appearence would have been consistent with the desire to change the appearence of the room for ceremonies of intiation.
Our Lodge, Doric #342, held its first meetings in 1876 at the hall over 37 West Bridge Street, in the Covell Block. In 1886, when the Strahan Block was completed, the lodge moved its meetings to the hall over 52 West Bridge Street. These rooms were built especially for Doric with new furniture and lodge decorations. This remained Doric's home until it moved into the first 'Grand Rapids Masonic Temple' in October 1895.
Grand Rapids Masonic Temple
The 'second home' of Grand Rapids Masonry began in 1892 with an unsuccessful bid to raise funds towards erecting a Masonic Temple for the use of the various Grand Rapids Masonic Bodies. Following the failed 1892 attempt, arrangements were made with Brother Col. E. Crofton Fox for Masonry to occupy the four upper floors of the building he was erecting at the corner of Iona Ave and Louis Street which would become known as the "Masonic Temple." That building still stands today:
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The 'Fox building' or 'Bishop Furniture building' as it was long known, became the first instance in Grand Rapids history where all masonic organizations were housed in one home. The rooms and decorations were opulent and were host to numerous masonic meetings, banquets and late night euchre tournaments. Unfortunately, we have precious few pictures showing the interior of the temple as it was in Masonic times:
 
Chapter Room - Views East and West
 
Commandery Asylum and Parlor
Arguably, the greatest of rooms in the building was the "Blue Room" or central lodge room where the Masonic Lodges of Grand Rapids met on their various evenings of the week. Doric Lodge held a large final banquet in our West Bridge Street Hall in October, 1895. On November 7, 1895, Doric Lodge held its first meeting in the new blue room. The date was noted in our lodge minutes as the lodge records began to read "Masonic Temple" as opposed to "Doric Hall."
 
Blue Lodge Room - East and West - Click on image to see larger version
Doric experienced tremeandous growth during its occupation of the first masonic temple. In the year 1915, Doric initiated 106 members. A feat which is almost unfathomable by those of us engaged in the initiation of new masons. This time period, the first of three great growth periods for the lodge, Doric held an annual homecoming dinner for memebrs and families. As a sign of things to come, the Bishop Building quarters were inadequate to accomodate the homecoming crowds.
Eventually the space needs of Masonry necessitated the exploration of a larger home. This process was also expidited by the demise of Bro. Col. Fox in 1913. At his passing, management of the building passed to the Michigan Trust Co. which quickly doubled the yearly rent from $2,500 to $5,000. The Masonic Temple Association secured options on several tracts of land including: The M.L. Sweet site, located on the south side of Fulton Street between Jefferson and Lafayette Avenues; on the Fuller homestead and the Sinclair property (the site of the current temple), and on Ransom Street, extending from the St. Cecilia Building on the south to the Hoffman Flats on the north.
Though our time in the Bishop building was short lived compared to the time we have spent in our current home on Fulton Street, no one can deny the centralization of Masonry in one home was the moment that put Doric Lodge on the fast track. While no entity is truly defined by the size or quality of its home, Masonic buildings of the past and present are a reminder of the prominence and popularity of an organization whose presence in Grand Rapids dates back to 1849.
Doric Lodge East in Bishop Building (furniture still used today)
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Group photo 'in the South' of Bishop Building. Circa 1900.
John Meyer, Master of Doric 1900-1901 (Far left in Group Photo).
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Our Current Home
The Cornerstone of Doric's home on Fulton Street was laid on Thursday January 14th, 1915. The building was formally dedicated and occupied Thursday February 3, 1916. Our building has a rich history and we invite you to read about it further. We suggest visiting Our Current Home or perhaps browse a few Pictures of Our Building.
This was by no means a definitive story of Masonry in Grand Rapids. We invite you to check out other areas of our webpage. Your questions and comments about this website are always welcome. Please email them to secretary@grmason.org.
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