The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1912-12-13
CHURCH ST. SITE
MASONIC TEMPLE
S0LDF0R $1O0.OO0
BuRk & co. WILL ERECT FINE
STRUCTURE ON THE
LOT.
FIRST BOUGHT FOR $500
A Skyscraper Is Promised by the
New oWners-Has Been the Prop
erty Of the Masonic Order for A.
most Century.

| NASHVILLE, Tenn, Dec. The
Masonic Temple property on Church
street, between Fourth and Fifth av-
enues, was sold last night to Burk
& Co. for 100000. 1t was owned
by the Cumberland Lodge. For sew
eral months Joseph Fensterwald.
manager OF Burk & Co., has been
trying to purchase the property ana
has made various offers, the final
proposition of 100000 was made
about two weeks ago to the board o.
trustees. A meeting of the member
ship of Cumberland lodge was called
by the board of trustees last night
to decide whether or not they would
accept the offer.
The lodge has been considering
selling the property for some time
and ericting another building for
their use. They have had offers from
different parties, but Burk & Co. was
the most persistent. It Is said that
the present building will be torn
down and handsome new struct-
ure erected in its place, which win
be used as clothing establishments
by Burk & Co The Masons will re-
tain possession until Oct. I, 1919.
The board of trustees that has had
the matter in charge Is composed Of
+. o. Morris, Chairman; Sol Sawyera.
G.. M. Morgan, Hamilton Parks ana
Lee Loventhal.
It is said that the site has been
the property Of the Masons for nine
ty-five years. and was purchased for
$500. The original Masonic Temple.
which stood on the site of the pres
ent edifice, was commenced in 1919,
and was added to and improved from
year to year. On wednesday, July 3.
1856, the furniture factory Of J. w.
McCombs, situated where the Mar
well House now stands, caught o.
fire and was totally destroyed. This
fire also destroyed the paint shop u
Beasely & Ruth, Sloan & MitchelfB
marble works. Mrs. Shaw's boarding
house, DR.. Kelley's Office, q residences
owned by DR.. Overton and occupied
as boarding house by Mr.. Wilkinr
son. residence owned by DR.. ]. q
Young and occupied by Esq. FerriA
| Drs. Hall and Atchison's Office, D1.
Gray's Office and the Masonic Temple.
In its report of the fire next morning
the Union and American said:
Among the buildings destroyed BY
fire was the Masonic Temple. We
are pleased to learn, however, that
all the records, paintings, ETC., be-
longing to the grand lodge and grand
chapter were saved. A few unimpor-
tant documents and perhaps few
pieces Of furniture may have Deen
lost In the confusion of moving The
only loss sustained, therefore, is uH-
on the building, $1,000, pretty large
sum-"
The total loss was $4,000, but
the lodge held policy Of $4,000 IN
{ the United Firemen's Company. The
: fact that the fire occurred in daylight
gave the members an opportunity to
save the property Of the lodge. Not
withstanding the statement of the
Union and American, the grand lodge
| did lose many Of its valuable records.
! Arrangements were at once made
for the rebuilding of the temple.
which was completed just before the
outbreak of the Civil war. The fol-
lowing were the board Of trustees at
the time: John s. Dashiell, Josiah
Ferriss, @. A. Fuller, w. Freeman. }.
M. Murrell, D. F. Wilkin and William
Porter. d. f. Willdn, now in his
seth year, is the only living member
| of that board of trustees.