Part 683: Scottish Rite Stages in Salina – 1896 and 1901
The first Masonic lodge in Salina, Kansas was organized during 1866. A small group met in what was known as the Goddard house located on the corner of Iron and Santa Fe. A second meeting location was on the second floor of J. F. Hanna’s store in the Probert building. By 1886, Salina Masons constructed their first Temple. Keep in mind that during this same year, Scottish Rite cathedrals with stages were already used in the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction cities of Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Cleveland and Fort Wayne.
The 1886 Masonic Temple in Salina cost $25,000, and by 1888 an addition was added to the south. In 1895, this Temple in caught fire and was severely damaged along with much of Salina’s business district. The Salina Masonic bodies immediately began to rebuild their home at South and Santa Fe Avenues (Salina Evening Journal, 30 Jan 1922, page 1). The Masonic losses at he time were recorded to be nearly $150,000. The Salina Daily Republic reported, “the Masonic Temple was ablaze, the flames leaping over the high south wall and making sad havoc with the substantial building and the elegant and costly paraphernalia of the different orders of Masons. The greedy flames devoured the draperies and curtains speedily and torn down the high cupola” (Salina Daily Republic, 4 March 1895, page 1). Note the mention of costly paraphernalia, draperies and curtains. This suggest the possibility of a stage, especially with differentiation between draperies and curtains. Theatre terminology of the time of differentiated between fabric draperies and painted curtains.
The next 1896 Masonic Temple in Salina definitely included a stage. After the fire, a larger temple was built on the old site. Five years after completion, plans were published in a local newspaper, describing the intended improvements that included a three-story addition to the alley. The 1901 extension included a larger stage across tat now covered the entire east end of the main lodge room. A horseshoe gallery also replaced the existing stage a gallery (Salina Daily Union, 28 May 1901, page 3). The “Salina Daily Republican” proclaimed, “The new edifice now being enlarged to the most handsome home of Masonic Bodies in the West —$11,000 Improvements, Making a total cost of $43,000” (17 July 1901, page 4). Of the new improvements, the article reported, “By the work now going on, the Masonic Temple will be remodeled throughout.” The article cited the attached illustrations, “By Fig. 1 it will be seen that a handsomely decorated horseshoe balcony will replace the present affair and that the stage space will be enlarged by the removal of the organ from the corned at the left to the position at the rear, as observed in Fig 2. The new stage is to be equipped with a complete set of new scenery, shifted by regular traps and flys to be put in…With the additions made to the stage and scenery the Scottish Rite ceremonies can now be given the same advantages as in the larger cities.”
That same year, the “Salina Herald” noted, “The Scottish Rite bodies in Salina are holding a reunion this week and ‘breaking in’ their new scenery. It is the silver anniversary of the institution of the Mackay lodge of Perfection in Salina and therefore of more than ordinary interest. A class is also being initiated into the mysteries of the different Scottish Rite degrees. This is the first reunion since the Masonic Temple was remodeled and several thousand dollars spent in fixing it specially for the Scottish Rite” (3 Oct 1901, page 3). “The Independent” reported, “The sets of scenery for the stage cost $2,400” (26 Sept. 1901, page 2). The “Salina Daily Union” described “The Temple is now supplied with finer scenery than in any opera house in Kansas and is equaled by no Masonic Temple in the state with the possible exception of Wichita, the scenery is simply superb while the electrical effects heighten the beauty of the stage settings is a hundred fold” (24 Sept. 1901. Page 3). By 1904, the “Salina Evening Journal” published that the Masonic Temple in Salina was one of the finest in the state, “owning a complete set of magnificent scenery painted from the latest designs.” (14 Nov. 1904, page 4). The article continues “The stage is fully equipped with a most complete arrangement of electric lights and the effect produced exceeds most of the large spectacular representations on the stages of the larger theaters in the country.”
As with the rest of the state, the scenery was provided by Sosman & Landis.
To be continued…
