Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1883-08-02
MERRY MAsONs.
DEDICATION OF THE HANDSOME
NEW MASONIC TEMPLE AT
P-ATTEyILLE.
Full Description Of the Structure, Which
After Two Years Toll is Now
Completed.
Sights and Scenes Of the Oecasion-A Brilliant
Assemblagc and Thoroughly Success.
full Gathering.

portance not alone in masonic circles
but in the history of the county. By
the erection of this handsome building
the order in Platteyille not only showed
to the world evidence of the lively public
spirit which animates the citizens of
that pleasant little city, but secured for
themselves one of the finest temples in
the state that is the property of the
lodge itself. Invitations had been ex-
tended to prominent citizens and others
throughout the county and southwestern
part of the state, and the responses in
person brought together very large
and brilliant throng of guests to assist
in the dedicatory ceremonies.
The building itself is very hand
some structure of red brick with grey
stone trimmings and galvanized iron
cornice, making it from the outside
nearly fire-proof. Its erection was first
commenced under contract, but this
not proving satisfactory change was
made and building committee, chosen
from the lodge, was elected to carry on
the work. This committee consisted of
j. H..Evans, chairman, and Messrs. A.
w. Bell, ID. McGregor, John Grindell
and Col. II. H. Virgin. Under their
earnest and active supervision the work
was pushed as rapidly as was consistent
with the best results, and to-day the
building stands monument to their
energy and careful supervision as well
as memorial to the self-sacrlficing
enterprise of Platteville masons.
The building stands on the southwest
corner of Main and First streets, front
ing on Main. 1t is forty-four by one
hundred feet on the ground floor with
a front elevation of nearly forty feet,
exclusive of basement. The basement
and first floor are divided into two store
rooms each, the rooms being twenty
two by one hundred feet. The base
ment is occupied by A. ID. Wonzor's
barber-shop and Mccormick & Beebe,
with agricultural machinery. The ele-
giant stores on the ground floor are
occupied by A. w. Kemler and Hendy
& Jennings, the former with dry goods
and the latter with BOOKS, stationary
and notions. The second floor is occu.
pied in its entirety by the lodge.
Across the front extends the lodge
parlor and banquet room. A fine airy
room thirty by forty-four feet and six
teen feet high in the clear, which last
is the heigth of all the rooms en- this
floor. Immediately back of this on the
First street side comes the lodge room
proper, thirty by fifty feet. Adjoining
this on the rear are the first and second
ante-rooms, the former twelve by six
teen feet, and the latter twelve feet
square. On the west side of the build
ing extending from the vestibule at the
head of the stairs to the lodge parlor is
a lofty corridor twelve by fifty feet.
The lodge-room is handsomely decor
ated with pictures and statuary and
when carpeted will present splendid
and striking appearance. Promin-
ent among the pictures is a life-like
half-size portrait of the present master
of the lodge, Prof. Duncan McGregor,
which hangs over the East. Above this
on the same side are full-sized busts OF
Washington, Lincoln and Garfield. On
the west side are similar busts of Shakes.
peare and Scott. On the south is a halt
sized figure of autumn, and on the west
is companion figure of summer.
Prominent on the west also is frame
containing leaves from the accacia,
hyssop, and misletoe, gathered by Miss
Mary Brayman while on visit to the
Holy Land, at Mt. Moriah, Jerusalem,
and by that lady given to the lodge
On the north among other engravings
is handsomely framed card containing
the portraits of the building committee.
The lodge parlor is also hung with
paintings and engravings, among the
latter being heads of Holmes, Bryant
and Lowell, together with finely exc
cuted steel engraving of Jean Dare
The cost of the building was fifteer
thousand dollars, to which was added
two thousand five hundred dollars fol
the lot, bringing the entire outlay up tc
seventeen thousand five hundred dollar:
all of which debt is placed in the hand,
of members of the fraternity.
From appearance of things Wednes
day afternoon it was easily observable
that the members and their lady friend:
had been actively at work, the room:
being very tastefully decorated, while
in the basement two long tables with
covers for nearly two hundred told OF
preparation iOi VIZ ltlicSuultHb vi TIT
inner man, and piles of ''soft tack anC
other palatable rations in adjoining
rooms told there was no danger Of
the ammunition giving out, which sur.
mise proved true afterwards when OF
the large asesmblage all had enough
and to spare.
The first of the invited guests to ar
rive, at least as solid delegation, was
the Boscobel De Molia Commentary Of
knight Templars, headed by the Bos
cobel Light Guard band. They arriv
ed about three o'clock ard marched al
once to the hall where they were made
at home. Guests from outside now
began to put in an appearance by train
and private conveyance until the streets
presented quite an animated sight
Acting Grand Master, ID. r. Pulford,
together with ex-Gov. Fairchlld arrived
on the evening train. They were me,
at the station by De Molia Command
airy which was joined by Sir Knights
from Platteville presenting twenty
swords in line. Headed by the band they
escorted the distinguished guests to the