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Building History

John K. Dow, who practiced architecture in Spokane for about 47 years (1889-1936), designed this landmark Georgian Revival Style Masonic Temple. According to Historic Spokane, Dow designed it in collaboration with his former partner, Loren Leighton Rand (1851-1935): "...the Temple was the collaborative effort of two prominent Spokane architects, John K. Dow and Loren L. Rand." (See "Historic Properties of Spokane: Masonic Center,"Accessed 08/06/2014.) Rand and Dow formed a partnership that lasted between 1889 and 1892, but, apparently, they remained friendly. Over the years, the facility had been occupied by the Scottish Rite and York Rite affiliate groups, but due to dwindling membership, the non-profit Masonic Temple Association put it up for sale in 10/2012 for $1.75 million. In 11/2013, an Australian businessman, Greg Newell, President of the Spokane-based equipment manufacturer, Power Handling, Incorporated, and his family purchased the Masonic Center for about $1.1 million and indicated that it would require another million dollars to upgrade it into a conference center. Newell hoped to make it the centerpiece of an historic section of Spokane that could attract tourism. (See Tom Sowa, "Spokane’s Masonic Center sells for $1.1 million," Spokane Spokesman-Review,Accessed 08/06/2014.)

Building Notes

The interior of the Masonic Temple's auditorium had a Georgian Revival flavor. A second-floor balcony ringed a lower floor seating area on four sides. Both balcony and floor were equipped with stadium seating of approximately 6 rows. The front facade's arched windows and grand Corinthian colonnade, trimmed by balustrades at the pedestrian and parapet levels, followed late 18th century-early 19th century British architecture closely. The building formed a component of the Riverside Avenue Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It also was included on the inventory of Historic Properties of Spokane. Elements of the Riverside Avenue Historic District, including the Masonic Center and the Civic Building, were sold in 2013 and 2012 respectively. In 2012, the building had the following features: a sizable ballroom, banquet rooms, two-story auditoria, a large-scale, commercial kitchen, club rooms, fraternal organization meeting and reception rooms and restrooms, and newly updated elevators. Containing 109,094 square feet, it occupied a 25,660-square-foot lot.

Alteration

Spokane's Masonic building was greatly enlarged in 1925.