Copyright © 2019 by Wendy Waszut-Barrett
Early in 1915 Thomas G. Moses wrote, “Started the Pittsburg Consistory job. One hundred drops – will keep us busy for a long time.” In addition to drops, the studio would have provided dozens of scenic pieces to accompany the scenes.
The Pittsburgh Masonic Temple was a nine-story building erected by the Masonic Fund Society at a cost of $150,000,000 between 1914 and 1915. This is the equivalent to approximately $38,199,207.92 today.
On May 6, 1915, the “Pittsburgh Post-Gazette” announced, “The handsome new Masonic Temple at Fifth, Lytton and Tennyson avenues, was the scene of a great housewarming last night, in which fully 6,000 Masons and their ladies and guests took part. The exercises were under the auspices of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, Valley of Pittsburgh…There were a number of high-class attractions for the house-warming. Perhaps the one that appealed to the greatest number was the concert in the theater on the fourth floor, a beautiful room which comfortably seats 1,300, and which is equipped with a pipe organ and a spacious stage” (page 1).
In 1916, the Masonic Temple was featured in the publication “Pittsburgh, How to See It. A Complete, Reliable Guide Book with Illustrations, the Latest Map and Complete Index” by George T. Fleming. Here is the entry in the book that describes the edifice:
“The Temple is 200 feet in length and 120 feet in depth. It stands on a plot with frontage of 240 feet on Fifth Avenue, 454 feet on Tennyson avenue, and 454 feet on Lytton avenue. It is 50 feet back of the building line on Fifth avenue, and in the rear there is land 284 feet in depth to provide for further growth. Its total cost was $1,500,000 to which the decorating will add considerably.
“The first floor is arranged for the social features inseparable from the workings of the Fraternity. Back of the stately foyer are the dining room, and two reception rooms. The offices of the Masonic Fun Society and of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite are also on this floor.
“On the second floor are Corinthian Hall and Gothic hall. Corinthian hall is the meeting place of four Chapters Royal Arch Masons, and the Council of Royal and Select Masters. Gothic Hall is the meeting place of the three Commanderies, Knight Templar.
“The third floor is the Blue Lodge home, and is subdivided into four halls, Ionic, Doric, Tudor and Egyptian. Fifteen Blue Lodges and the School of Instruction meet on this floor.
“The fourth floor is devoted entirely to the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, the four bodies comprising the Rite being the Lodge of Perfection, the Council of Princes of Jerusalem, the Chapter of Rose-Croix, and the Consistory. The larger apartment is built on the lines of a theatre. The lower floor will seat 648 persons and the balcony 548 persons. The stage has a width of 53 feet, and depth of 41 feet, and a height of 20 feet at the proscenium arch. It is as completely fitted up as the most modern theatre, and the electric lighting system designed to control the stage effects is in advance of anything ever before attempted in Pittsburgh. The Moeller organ built for the Rite at an expense of $12,500 is installed in this apartment. In the west end of this floor is a hall 50 by 62 feet, which will be used for the ordinary meetings of the Scottish Rite bodies.
“While the building is divided into four main floors, in fact it is an eight-storied structure with a modern basement. In the latter there are two billiard rooms, bowling alleys and a gymnasium, which in all probability will be placed in the care and charge of the Masonic club composed of those who hold member ship in the Masonic bodies meeting in the Temple. The kitchen with a capacity for serving 2,500 guest and the machinery rooms are also located there.
“On each of the floors is a mezzanine. That on the first floor entirely surrounds the dining room and refreshments are frequently served here. The Masonic library is on the mezzanine and apartments have been reserved for a Masonic museum. The second floor mezzanine is used for lockers in which the individual equipment of the Knights Templar are kept. The Blue Lodge mezzanine is used for hat and cloak room for members of the lodges. The Consistory mezzanine opens into a balcony of the Consistory theatre and makes an admirable upper foyer.”
What a phenomenal space.
In January 1916, “The New Age Magazine” reported, “The 104th annual meeting of the Supreme Council of the 33º Northern Jurisdiction of the United States of America was held in the city of Pittsburgh from September 16th to the 21st. The first exercises took place Saturday evening at 8 o’clock, September 16, when the Supreme Council consecrated and dedicated the apartments of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite in the new Masonic Temple recently erected by the brethren at Pittsburgh at a cost of a million and a half dollars, and it is one of the most beautiful Masonic Temples in the United States, the exterior being particularly noticeable” (January 1916, Vol. XXIV, No. I, page 417).
Unfortunately, this is just one more building no longer owned by the Fraternity. On December 23, 1993, the University of Pittsburgh purchased the Masonic Temple for $8.5 million dollars. It was renamed Fifth Avenue Alumni Hall in February 2002, becoming home to the undergraduate Office of Admissions, the Center for Instructional Development and Distance Education, and the Pitt Alumni Association. From 1998 to 2000, the University spent $16 million dollars on a renovation and adaptation of the building for use by University departments. Here is an article that gives some specifics about the renovated spaces: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alumni_Hall_(University_of_Pittsburgh)
To be continued…
