Wikipedia

Masonic Hall (Manhattan)

Masonic Hall in New York City is the headquarters of the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the State of New York. It has been located at 23rd Street and 6th Avenue in the Flatiron district[1] since 1875. The current building, completed in two phases, dates from 1909 and 1913.

The first Masonic Hall was a Gothic style building located in lower Manhattan, constructed in 1826. The second Masonic Hall was built in 1875 and designed by Napoleon LeBrun and constructed in the Second French Empire Style. The current building was constructed in 1911 to replace the previous Masonic Hall located on the same site.

History edit

 
First Masonic Hall (1826-1856) located on Broadway between Reade and Pearl Streets, today the location of the Jacob K. Javits Federal Building.

First Masonic Hall (1826-1856) edit

Early masonic meetings and meetings of the Grand Lodge of New York were likely held at taverns as well as an early iteration of Tammany Hall. On June 24, 1826, St. John's Day, the cornerstone was laid for a Gothic style Masonic Hall on Broadway in lower Manhattan between Reade and Pearl Streets, directly across from the original site of the New York Hospital, and today the location of the Jacob K. Javits Federal Building.[2] The original cost of the building was $50,000 or approximately $1.5 million today. The main hall was designed to imitate the chapel of Henry VII at Westminister Abbey.[3] In addition, the building would hold, what was at the time, the largest bowling alley in the world.[4] This would serve as the home of the Grand Lodge until the building was demolished in 1856.[5]

After the demolition of the first Masonic Hall, Masons would meet in rented spaces and other Masonic lodge halls in Manhattan. One of these, at 115th East 13th Street, would be the site of the first meeting of the Shriners on September 26, 1872.[6] In addition, this Order of the True Fenians would meet at this Masonic hall.[7] In other years, like the grand lodge sessions of 1870, the grand lodge met at Apollo Hall on Clinton Street.[8]

Second Masonic Hall (1875-1911) edit

 
Second Masonic Hall (1875-1911) Photo taken from 23rd Street

Due to infighting in the Grand Lodge, the Panic of 1857, and the American Civil War, it would not be until the mid-1870s that the Grand Lodge would again have a permanent meeting location. On June 8, 1870,[9] the cornerstone was laid for a new Second French Empire Style building which served as the headquarters of the Grand Lodge from 1875 to 1909. This building was designed by Napoleon LeBrun and due to the Panic of 1873 would take four years to complete, at the staggering cost of $1.279 million dollars.[10] Construction was completed in late 1874, with the formal dedicated on June 2, 1875.[11][12]

Although intended to generate financial profit for the Grand Lodge, the building "did not meet financial expectations."[13] In fact, by 1905, some 30 years later, the building had only returned approximately 2 percent of the initial investment. In addition, by the turn of the 20th Century, the Second Empire style was already considered outdated and coupled with rising New York City real estate prices, the building was replaced with the current and more modern skyscraper.

Third Masonic Hall (1909-Present) edit

 
Masonic Hall from 24th Street

The current Grand Lodge building opened in 1909,[13] on the same block, but slightly north of the 1875 building. St. John's Lodge held the first meeting in the new building on September 8, 1909, using the George Washington Bible and presenting a Master Mason degree that evening.[14]

At the time, the building caused some controversy, and Past Grand Master James Ten Eyck resigned as a trustee of the Masonic Hall and Asylum Fund in an effort to convince the then sitting Grand Master Townsend Scudder that the construction of the new building would be unwise.[15]

This building was designed by Harry P. Knowles, one of the architects of the New York City Center. It actually consists of two interconnected buildings, one whose construction began in 1907 facing 24th Street, and the other, completed in 1913, on the corner of 23rd Street and 6th Avenue.

The construction proceeded in two phases. First the 24th Street building was built. When it opened in 1909, the older 1875 Masonic Hall was demolished and replaced by the current office building on 23rd Street that opened in 1913.[16] The 23rd Street building is the larger of the two and is primarily a commercial office building, with rents generating funds for the Grand Lodge's charitable activities and the upkeep of the 24th Street building. The 24th Street building is approximately one-half as large,[13] and consists primarily of lodge meeting rooms, including the 1200-seat Grand Lodge Room, all elaborately ornamented. The lodge rooms are decorated and named after a variety of architectural styles including Corinthian, Doric, Egyptian, Gothic, Ionic, Jacobean, and Renaissance.[17]

The Hall's interior was restored and underwent a $15 million dollar renovation[13] from 1986 to 1996 by Felix Chavez and his company Fine Art Decorating.[18][19]

The Livingston Library is housed on the 14th floor of the building and is one of relatively few large libraries of Freemasonry books and materials. It is named after Chancellor Robert R. Livingston (1746-1813), one of the earliest Grand Masters of the Grand Lodge of New York.

 
The Grand Lodge Room in the Masonic Hall

In popular culture edit

Due to its acoustical properties, tracking for Joe Jackson's 1984 album Body and Soul was completed in the building's Grand Lodge Room.

In 2017, comedian Jerrod Carmichael's second stand-up comedy special, 8, directed by Bo Burnham, was also filmed in the Grand Lodge Room.[20]

Other Masonic buildings in Manhattan edit

Today, Masonic Hall, where all Grand Lodge of New York lodges in Manhattan meet, and the Prince Hall Masonic Temple located at 155th Street,[21] are the only buildings in Manhattan used for Masonic purposes. However, this was not always the case and is likely a consequence of the high property taxes in New York City.

One former Masonic lodge building at 15th Street, home to a number of German-speaking Masonic lodges, is now in use by Friend's Seminary.[22] New York City Center, was built for the Mecca Shriners, and served as their home from 1924 to 1940, when it was sold.

There was also a Scottish Rite Temple on the site of today's James New York - Nomad from 1887 to 1901.

References edit

  1. ^ Olito, Frank. "A nondescript New York City building hides a secretive Freemason meeting space, complete with fake windows and elaborate architecture. Take a look inside". Business Insider. Retrieved 2024-01-27.
  2. ^ "Visualizing 19th-Century New York". visualizingnyc.org. Retrieved 2022-12-24.
  3. ^ "NEW-YORK CITY.; Gothic Hall. The American Bible Society. K. N.'s Mellowing. What is the Row at the Eastern Dispensary? Politics. Soft Soap Repudiated. Correction. Fires". The New York Times. Retrieved 2023-10-07.
  4. ^ "NEW-YORK CITY.; Gothic Hall. The American Bible Society. K. N.'s Mellowing. What is the Row at the Eastern Dispensary? Politics. Soft Soap Repudiated. Correction. Fires". The New York Times. Retrieved 2023-10-07.
  5. ^ "Grand Lodge of New York's Gothic Hall – Chancellor Robert R Livingston Masonic Library". 3 March 2022. Retrieved 2022-12-24.
  6. ^ "Temple History". Salaam Shriners. Retrieved 2023-10-07.
  7. ^ "THE FENIANS.; twenty-five Delegates to the Congress in Solemn Convocation--The Struggle for the Funds recommenced in the Courts. Fenian Funds in the Courts". The New York Times. Retrieved 2023-10-07.
  8. ^ "THE MASONIC FRATERNITY.; Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge. THE GRAND MASTER'S ADDRESS. Brilliant Display of Knights Templar. RECEPTION OF VISITING LODGES. Complete Programme of the Ceremonies Today. Grand Parade of Knights Templar. Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge. The Procession of Today--Formation of the Line and Order of March. The Ceremonics at the Laying of the Corner-Stone". The New York Times. Retrieved 2023-10-07.
  9. ^ "THE MASONIC FRATERNITY.; Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge. THE GRAND MASTER'S ADDRESS. Brilliant Display of Knights Templar. RECEPTION OF VISITING LODGES. Complete Programme of the Ceremonies Today. Grand Parade of Knights Templar. Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge. The Procession of Today--Formation of the Line and Order of March. The Ceremonics at the Laying of the Corner-Stone". The New York Times. Retrieved 2023-10-07.
  10. ^ Miller, Tom (2012-10-08). "Daytonian in Manhattan: The Lost 1875 Masonic Temple -- 23rd Street at 6th Avenue". Daytonian in Manhattan. Retrieved 2023-08-08.
  11. ^ "THE NEW MASONIC HALL". The New York Times. Retrieved 2023-10-07.
  12. ^ "THE MASONIC DEDICATION.; SKETCH OF THE DISPLAY TO-DAY". The New York Times. Retrieved 2023-10-07.
  13. ^ a b c d Holusha, John (1996-12-22). "A Secret Society Is Publicly Proud of Its Restoration". The New York Times. Retrieved 2023-10-13.
  14. ^ "CITY MASONIC UNIT NOTES 200TH YEAR; St. John's, State's Oldest Lodge, Holds Rites Today". The New York Times. December 1, 1957. Retrieved 2023-12-02.
  15. ^ "MASONIC TEMPLE TANGLE.; James Ten Eyck Resigns as Trustee -- Thinks Building Untimely". The New York Times. Retrieved 2023-05-18.
  16. ^ "MASON HERE TO-MORROW.; The State Grand Lodge's 128th Annual Convention". The New York Times. Retrieved 2023-10-07.
  17. ^ "Venues - Masonic Hall NYC". www.masonichallnyc.org. Retrieved 2024-01-27.
  18. ^ Mendelsohn, Joyce (1998), Touring the Flatiron: Walks in Four Historic Neighborhoods, New York: New York Landmarks Conservancy, ISBN 0-964-7061-2-1, OCLC 40227695, pp. 82-83
  19. ^ Dunlap, David W. (December 14, 1996). "No, It's Not the Handshakes, But a Gilded Hall, Grand and Gleaming". The New York Times. Retrieved 2023-12-02.
  20. ^ "Jerrod Carmichael & Bo Burnham's Friendship Made 2017's Best Special". UPROXX. 2017-03-10. Retrieved 2023-10-07.
  21. ^ "Prince Hall Masonic Temple - New York City". www.nycago.org. Retrieved 2022-12-24.
  22. ^ Miller, Tom (2022-06-15). "Daytonian in Manhattan: The German Masonic Temple (Friends Seminary) - 220 East 15th Street". Daytonian in Manhattan. Retrieved 2023-10-06.

External links edit

 
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40°44′34″N 73°59′32″W / 40.74287°N 73.99222°W / 40.74287; -73.99222

 

This article about a location in Manhattan, New York is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

Manhattan is the most popular city in New York City. This diverse city is made up of 64 Neighborhoods and 4 primary sections. Manhattan, originality named ‘Mannahatta’ was inhabited by the Lenape people. Later in 1664 the British took control of the colony and named it New York. The city is made ups of 4 primary sectors Downtown, Midtown, Uptown, and Harlem and The Heights. The areas south of 14th Street are considered part of Downtown. Midtown extends from 14th Street to the southern border of Central Park at 59th Street. Uptown is 60th to 116th Streets and north of 116th is considered Harlem.[1] In these 4 primary sections are 64 neighborhoods including; Alphabet City, Battery Park City, Bloomingdale District, Bowery, Carnegie Hill, Central Park, Chelsea, Chinatown, Civic Center, East Harlem, East Village, Financial District, Fort George, Garment District, Governors Island, Gramercy, Greenwich Village, Hamilton Heights, Harlem, Hell’s Kitchen (Clinton), The Highline, Hudson Heights, Hudson Square, Hudson Yards, Inwood, Kips Bay, Lenox Hill, Lincoln Square, Little Italy/Nolita, Lower East Side, Manhattan Valley, Manhattanville, Marble Hill, Meatpacking District, Metropolitan Hill, Midtown, Midtown East, Midtown South, Morningside heights, Murray Hill, Noho, Nomad, Randall’s Island, Roosevelt Island, Rose Hill, Soho, South Street Seaport, Spanish Harlem (El Barrio), Stuyvesant Town, Sugar Hill, Sutton Place, Theater District (Times Square), Tribeca, Tudor City, Turtle Bay, Two Bridges, Union Square, Upper East Side, Upper West Side, Washington Heights, West Village, World Trade Center, and Yorkville.[2]

Downtown Manhattan are known as the areas below 14th Street and commonly well known as the business hub of New York. This includes some well known areas like Wall Street, the Brooklyn Bride entrance, Financial District, World Trade Center cite, and historic Seaport District. This was the original start of the city back in 1624 and is the southern part of the island. This is the oldest part of the city with arrays of architecture, soaring skyscrapers, and historical areas.[3] The NYTimes has a walking tour of this area that can be found here: https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/ref/travel/TOUR-LM.html

Midtown Manhattan, the tourist hub of the city, is filled with everything that makes the city what it is. This section is known as the areas between 14th street and the south boarder of Central Park on 59th street. In 1807 the city planners of the city began to create a grid system and was finalized 4 years later for the plans to create Midtown Manhattan. Some famous landmarks/areas in Midtown include; Museum of Modern Art (MOMA), Empire State Building, Bryant Park, Times Square, Madison Square Garden, and Carnegie Hall.[4] The NYTimes has a walking tour of this area that can be found here: https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/ref/travel/TOUR-MID.html?scp=1&sq=Magnificent%2520Tree&st=cse

Uptown Manhattan is located from the south end of Central Park to to not most point of it spanning across 60th street to 116th street. This specific area of Manhattan is one of the most sought after places to reside in with neighborhoods such as the Upper East Side and the Upper West Side. Along the east side of the island is also a small island, Roosevelt Island, commonly used in the 19th century for prisons, institutions, and rehabilitation.[5] The NYTimes has a walking tour of the Upper West Side that can be found here: https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/ref/travel/TOUR-WS.html?ref=untapped-new-york.ghost.io

Harlem and The Heights are all of the neighborhoods in Manhattan above 116th street. Harlem is known internationally as the Black Mecca of the world, but has been home to the Dutch, Irish, German, Italian, and Jewish. This was originally farmland when it was first settled back in 1658 and undeveloped for about 200 years. The IRT subway line was finished in 1904 and people assumed this would make Harlem desirable to relocate to. With such easy access to the city, many developers built apartments and home anticipating the move from lower to upper Manhattan. Unfortunately, this was an over speculations and most places were left unsold. A real estate agent, Philip A. Payton, approach many of the landlords with proposition to have black families move into these home, eventually creating ‘Black Harlem’ in the early 1900’s. During this time the Harlem boomed with culture and artistic expression also known as the ‘Harlem Renaissance’ in the 1920’s.[6] Here is a short walk through of Harlem from the NYTimes: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/20/arts/design/harlem-virtual-tour.html

Overall, Manhattan is a very large city spanning over 13 miles long[7] of city, history, and opportunity. Spanning through 4 primary sections, this city offers thousands of places to visit and discover.

  1. ^ https://www.gobeyondthesquare.com/post/manhattan-uptown-downtown-and-the-places-in-between-2
  2. ^ https://www.cityneighborhoods.nyc/manhattan-neighborhoods
  3. ^ https://infographicworld.com/downtown-manhattan-the-little-known-history-of-downtown-manhattan/
  4. ^ https://thedisabilityguys.com/the-history-of-midtown-manhattan/
  5. ^ https://rioc.ny.gov/161/Island-History
  6. ^ https://www.vagelos.columbia.edu/education/residencies-fellowships-and-training/harlem-hospital-center/about-harlem-hospital-center/our-history/harlem-and-new-york-city#:~:text=Harlem%20is%20known%20internationally%20as,territory%20for%20approximately%20200%20years.
  7. ^ https://www.nyctourism.com/visitor-info/#:~:text=Manhattan%20Island%20is%20roughly%2013.4,across%20at%20its%20widest%20point.
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