| Historic Name: |
Greenwood Masonic Lodge #253 |
Common Name: |
Greenwood Masonic Lodge #253 |
| Style: |
Commercial |
Neighborhood: |
Greenwood/Phinney |
| Built By: |
Stephen, Stephen & Brust |
Year Built: |
1924 |
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| Significance |
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In the opinion of the survey, this property appears to meet the criteria of the Seattle Landmarks Preservation Ordinance. |
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The Greenwood Masonic Temple was built in 1924 early in a period of heavy development in Seattle neighborhoods. Greenwood Avenue was a particularly important arterial, with the streetcar extending to the city limits a few blocks north of this building; a substantial business district and surrounding residences grew in the area. Masonic organizations were typically important contributors to these growing commercial districts. Greenwood Lodge #253 has served as the local meeting place for numerous Masonic groups over the years, including Job's Daughters and the Order of the Eastern Star. It still serves as the local Masonic headquarters and is also available for rental to other groups.
James Stephen is best know for his extensive and pioneering work in the design of Seattle's schools. He arrived in Seattle after the fire of 1889 and practiced for three years with Timotheus Josenhans. In 1899 the school district hired him to prepare plans for new schools and additions. He held the position of Official School Architect until 1909, designing and supervising more than fifty school building projects during this period of great expansion. He developed a model for a school that could be easily expanded as needs changed. He also designed schools for surrounding districts, and residential, ecclesiastical and commercial buildings as well. His son Frederick joined the firm in 1908, after graduating from the University of Pennsylvania. His classmate, William G. Brust, became a partner in 1917. The elder Stephen retired in 1928, so this building was designed toward the end of his career.
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| Appearance |
| This two-story red brick building has two storefronts with the main entry to the upstairs lodge hall at the south end of the main (west) façade. The building has a cast stone cornice with a wave pattern, and the words "Greenwood Temple," flanked by Masonic symbols, all in cast stone. The main entry is ornate, with wood double-leaf doors beneath a wrought iron balconette with decorative corbels, flanked by wrought iron fixtures with light globes. Near the entry is a cornerstone with the date 1924. The storefronts have original recessed doorways and stucco bulkheads, but with newer steel doors and window frames. The north elevation is stucco, with a large painted sign saying "Greenwood Masonic Center" with the telephone number. The roof is covered with numerous antennas, with a barely-visible low gabled roof that most likely allows additional ceiling height for the main meeting room in the rear half of the building. Windows on the second floor are newer 1/1 single-hung white vinyl sash. |
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| Status: |
Yes - Inventory |
| Classication: |
Building |
District Status: |
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| Cladding(s): |
Brick |
Foundation(s): |
Concrete - Poured |
| Roof Type(s): |
Gable |
Roof Material(s): |
Asphalt/Composition |
| Building Type: |
Social - Meeting Hall |
Plan: |
Rectangular |
| Structural System: |
Masonry - Unreinforced |
No. of Stories: |
two |
| Unit Theme(s): |
Social Movements & Organizations |
| Integrity |
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Changes to Plan: |
Intact |
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Changes to Windows: |
Slight |
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Changes to Original Cladding: |
Intact |
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| Major Bibliographic References |
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King County Property Record Card (c. 1938-1972), Washington State Archives.
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Polk's Seattle Directories, 1890-1996.
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Ochsner, Jeffrey Karl, ed. Shaping Seattle Architecture, A Historical Guide to the Architects. Seattle: University of Washington Press, 1994.
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