South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-02-10
DISCUSSES MASONIC TEMPLE

sue before the Masonic fraternity at
this time and calls for very care
ful consid eration. As 1 am inform
ed, the committee on location has
options on three different pieces OF.
property. either one Of which has
points Of advantage. They have
options on the northwest corner Of
Main 81. and Colfax av.. the north
east corner Of Lafayette and JEFF
ferson blvds.. and the southwest
corner OF Main and Wayne SITS.
The northwest corner Of Main
and COlfax av., known as the Oliver
Flat row, consists OF three full lots.
This tract has many advantages.
also number of disadvantages. as
IL appears 20 me. First, II would be
A pity TO destroy this row OF fiat
buildings in view of great necessity
that now exists in the city for resi-
dences The street car line on the
east, and the city building would be
detrimental TO the property on ac-
count of the noise OF the street cars
and the Clang and clatter Of the po-
lice patrol. Also II would be sur
rounded by business buildings on
the south and east side, which would
not present a very attractive land
scaLe. on the west side il would
he bounded by the beautiful Elks'
temple. Parking space for automo-
biles will be very necessary part
in the desirability OF the location.
The large membership now attend
ing the Elks' temple uses every
available spot in parking their ma
chimes on COlfax av., and with the
addition OF the Masonic temple in
that vicinity would make il impos-
sible to find parking space for the
machines. This property Is located
only one square west of Michigan
St, which would be a great advan-
tage.
Personally. am in favor of build
Ing "A temple entirely for Masonic
purposes. with the exceItion OF
using the large auditorium. possibly
for thea,er or moving picture pur-
poses when not in use by any branch
of the order. 1 would be opposed
10 having our building used for COM
mercial purposes.
The next location that I would
take up is known as the Carlisle
property. situated at the northeast
corner of Jefferson and Lafayette
SITS. Personally, / would be more
interested in having the building To-
Gated on this site than any other.
because what property I have in the
city has all Lafayette ct. frontage
This is very desirable location for
the temple. but some OF the same
objections are applicable TO this site
that / have enumerated regarding
the site at the northeast corner of
Main and Colfax av. 1t would be
surrounded almost entirely by bust
ness buildings and II would be one
square further away from Michigan
/ St, which is now and always will
be the principal north and south
street in South Bend. 1 think IL
desirable to locate this building as
near Michigan ST. as possible, IN
view OF the fact that II being used
for theater purposes, an advertise
ment can be easily arranged 20 show
over to Michigan st. from the Main
ST. location.
The two tracts described have the
same amount of space, three full
lots believe this is more ground
than IS necessary for the use OF the
temple, and I am informed the op-
ton on both tracts is $4,000
Taking up the tract at the south
west corner OF Main and Wayne SITS.
known as the Bugbee tract, we find
this consists OF two full city lots.
1872 feet on Main st. and los on
Wayne St
I would like every Mason in the
city 20 go 20 this corner and stand
ing facing east YOU will observe the
beautiful public library with its am
pie ground. On the right you Will
observe the First Christian church;
looking northeast you viii observe
the Y. NJ. c. A. building, one OF the
very finest in the United States
Turning 70 the north, you Will OBJ
serve the First Baptist church. a
beautiful structure. These buildings
are permanent and will form a set
ting for our temple that cannot be
pXCelled. The word temple" i'm
lilies something beautiful. and we
can imagine a beautiful building To-
Gated at this Toint. surrounded as
Il Will be. BY the surroundings just
enum rated. and certainly the set
ting is perfect. You may build a
beautiful building. but If you do not
have corresponding beautiful sur
roundings you have forever marred
the building I believe that the
tract just described is amply large
for the purpose.
Here we have the ideal parking
conditions for machines no street
cars and no business houses TO in
terfere with the parking privileges,
which can extend up and down
north and south on Main 81. and
east and west on Wayne st. Elec-
trical signs can be readily seen up
and down Main ST. and east TO Mich
igan St, advertising the building.
There can be no question but what
the business center OF South Bend
will gradually drift TO the south and
west Another significant fact is
that within one square OF this loCa-
ton is now the center OF popult-
ton or South Bend.
I am compelled 20 believe that
this is the ideal location for the fu-
ture welfare Of our order and also