New-York tribune., 1905-07-16
Ian DMARK MUST GO.
Brooklyn Mansion to GiUe WGy to
Neto Masonic Temple.


Preparations for building a handsome ms
sonic temple for Brooklyn have reached such
stage that already the demolition OF tne
old Thomas Vernon mansion, which stands on
the ground at Lafayette and Clermont aves
bought by the Brooklyn Masonic Guild for the
temple. is rapidly approaching. Lord & Hew-
lett who have been chosen as the architects
are engaged IN making some alterations In the
plans they submitted. When these are ac-
cepted by the committee and the necessary
working drawings have been prepared the con-
tract will be let to tear down the Vernon man
sion, which has been one OF the LANDMARKS
Of that section of the borough. and in the years
Eone by has sheltered family most prominent
IN the business and social world OF Brooklyn
The temple will be the realisation Of dream
that has been IN the minds Of the Masons or
the Third Masonic District for many years.
MANY unsuccessful attempts 20 raise funds for
q masonic temple for Brooklyn had been made
prior to 1901, when the present movement was
started. At that time general convention
of the lodges Of the district placed tho task
in the hands OF the following COMMITTEES: VIII
mon Whilldin, Theodore A. Taylor, Abel Crook.
Robert ]. Kenworthy, Charles A Tonsor'
Thomas W. Franklin Benjamin V. W. Owens
John E Sparrow, William H. Cochran, George
FriefeId and James A. Doyle The first report
of the committee stated that the previous fall
ures had been because the attempts had not
appealed to the general public, nor even to the
fraternity itself, because OF their mercenary
character. having been undertaken more with
a view to personal financial gain than or any
particular good to the fraternity or to the pub
lilo at large"
So a plan based on charity and fraternal prin-
ciples was evolved by Abel Crook. AS the first
stem in the undertaking, the Brooklyn Masonic
Guild was incorporated in 1902. 1t is a purely
charitable and fraternal organization has no
stock, pays no dividends. and it's officers are de-
voting sheir time and energy TO its work with
out compensation OF any kind. The work OF
raising money for a temple was started at once
Since then two big fairs have been held both
of which were exceedingly profitable. 1t is esti-
mated that the temple and its furnishings will
cost between 100000 and 100000. No an
nouncement was made as to what was paid for
the site which is OF the choicest in the
Hill section. Among the large contributions to
the fund was one of $4,000 made in the will
of William A. Stuart. 1t will be remembered
that there was some dispute this will, as
Mr. Stuart left only small legacies to his wife
and children.
The idea of the guild was to construct build
ing which would contain lodge rooms in suffi-
cient numbers to accommodate not only the
Masonic lodges, the Communicates and the
shrine, but also the lodges OF other fraternal
orders The rooms were to be large and to
contain all the modern conveniences. There were
to be a large banquet hall and an assembly
room to seat over /, 500 persons. These were to
be rented for public entertainments of various
kinds. Two floors were to be devoted to lodge
rooms. and the top story to conmandery, shrine
and chapter rooms. 1t estimated that the
revenue from the proposed temple. if free from
debt would be about $4,000 a year. In keep
ing with the announcement that 1t is entirely
a charitable and fraternal enterprise, it was
stated that the revenue would be devoted to the
cause Of charity in Brooklyn. especially caring
for the poor, the widow and orphan, and the
sick.
The ideas of the committee carried out
in the plans of Lord & Hewlett. the successful
architects whose plans won in competition with
fourteen other firms. 1t is thought that the
work on the building itself will be started early
in the fall.
The site upon which this temple will be built
is just half Of the Vernon property which takes
in the entire block In Iafayette-ave.. between
Clermont-aye. and Vanderbilt-ave In the CEN
tre Of the property stands the big mansion, or
rather Siamese twin houses. for in reality there
are two houses Joined together. exactly similar
in every detail so far the e xterior goes, and
originally the same inside. They have COM
front porch and from distance would be
taken for one large house. The Masonic Guild
owns the Clermont-ave. half OF the prop
erty which includes the house of Thomas Yer
non. The destruction of this part OF the twin
houses will undoubtedly be as fatal TO the other
half the death of one OF the Siamese twins
was to his brother. 1t could, of course, be
moved over onto the other half OF the property.
but it would be out of proportion and it would
be impossible to rent to advantage. 1t is not
unlikely that the other half of the property
will be sold as site for an apartment house,
or perhaps family hotel. The entire frontage
Of the property is 200 feet, and the depth is the
IS 100 by 200.
With the exception of a few OF the Clinton
ave- houses the Vernon mansion, or mansions.
were the first big houses on the hill They were
built in 1857. AT that time there was an unin-
terrupted view right down to the navy yard.
The only buildings near by Were the house of
Mrs. Joseph Brick at the southeast corner OF
Vanderbilt and Lafayette ayes, and just be-
yond 1t the Clinton Avenue Congregational
Church
Samuel and Thomas Vernen came from Dor
setshire. England. in the early forties They set
t.ed In a house in Schermerhorn-st.. which Is
stiu standing opposite the Quaker meeting house
there. Becoming prosperous In the paper bust