In 1912, Thomas G. Moses wrote, “More Masonic work for Portland, Maine.” There are two Portland Scottish Rites – one in Oregon and one in Maine. In 1902, Sosman & Landis delivered scenery and stage machinery to Portland, Oregon. A decade later, they delivered scenery and stage machinery to Portland, Maine.
The Scottish Rite auditorium in Portland, Maine, is located on the corner of Congress and Chestnut Streets. The theater, located on the third and fourth floors of the building, has a seating capacity of approximately 400.
As with other Scottish Rite Valleys, Portland suffered from declining membership and increased building expenses by the end of the twentieth century. When faced with difficult choices, they tried something unique in 1989, selling the front half of the building; the portion containing retail and office space. This proved to be an unwise move, as the stream of revenue generated from the front half of the building needed to operate the back half of the building was lost. The money received from the sales was not a long-term solution. Without the much-needed monthly revenue, it became a struggle to address deferred maintenance and repair the building’s infrastructure. The Portland Scottish Rite then put the back half of the building on the market, but no one was interested in purchasing their portion of the historic venue. They decided to contract with Saco-based catering company Blue Elephant, allowing the firm to book events in the Temple’s first floor rooms.
About this same time, the Portland Scottish Rite Masons allowed Sarah Bouchard to assume the role of “artist in residence,” giving her space on the fifth floor. Previously, the fifth-floor space housed the Order of the Eastern Star Hall and a ladies’ sitting room. Bouchard became the Temple’s first-ever artistic director, working in tandem with the Masonic Temple Foundation – a separated non-profit formed to raise funds for the building’s restoration. Although no longer with the organization, she had the right vision to save the building for future generations. Bouchard was quoted in a 2015 article posted at the Bollard, saying, “I’ve done my research. The Masonic temples that fail are the ones that don’t engage the public.” Bingo.
Where there is a will there is a way, and Bouchard advocated to open the temple up for artistic and cultural programming. Bouchard noted that this move was “in alignment with the phenomenal grandeur and integrity of the space. She stated, “I wanted to establish a dialogue between contemporary visual and performing arts and the ideals of Freemasonry and the history of the space.” What a great idea; this is really a model for struggling Masonic buildings. Embracing the public and hosting events is nothing new to Scottish Rite Masons, and now it is their only way to survive. Even when the Masons don’t figure this out, the new owners of a Masonic building often do.
Bouchard’s vision took hold, and the space is now advertised as “The Portland Masonic, Event and Wedding Venue.” Portlandmasonic.com is a pretty remarkable web site, linking the Fraternity with the community, but it took hiring a person with vision.
Here is one paragraph from Portlandmasonic.com:
“Built in 1911 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, The Portland Masonic has been reimagined and reborn as one of the premiere event spaces in New England. Featuring some of the most visually alluring and exquisite spaces on the East Coast, and located in the heart of historic downtown Portland, you’ll find The Portland Masonic to appeal to the most discerning of guests. The Portland Masonic is still home to several active Masonic organizations, dating back to the 18th Century, and some of Maine’s famous Masons include Governors, Naval Commanders, Attorney Generals, Supreme Court Justices, and International Diplomats. Built with the purpose of community involvement, we’ve reinvented our space as one filled with every kind of event – corporate, social, weddings, theatre, nonprofit and so much more – with our community at the heart of what we do. We invite you to step into one of the most distinctive and architecturally interesting spaces, and feast your eyes on the years of craftsmanship, details and texture that surround you inside our magnificent building.”
To be continued…
