Copyright © 2020 by Wendy Waszut-Barrett
In 1918, Thomas G. Moses wrote, “2nd of January, I had to go to Akron to see about the Masonic work, where I spent one day… Made more models for Akron. It seems we make fifty percent more sketches and models than we did twenty years ago.”
Moses was referring to the Akron Masonic Temple that opened during the fall of 1918. Located at 103 S. High St., the new 66,000 sq. ft. building was designed by Harpster & Bliss; built at a cost $500,000. The seven-story building had an exterior of sandstone and terra cotta and a grand interior. There were double marble staircases leading to a third-floor balcony, lodge rooms on the fourth floor, and an auditorium on the sixth and seventh floors, and a grand ballroom. The building was reported to be “one of the finest temples in the state” (News Journal, Mansfield, Ohio, 10 Sept. 1918, page 5). Initially, dedication ceremonies were scheduled for Nov. 16, with the Grand Lodge of Ohio Masons dedicating the Blue Lodge room under the direction of Grand Master Henry M. Hagelbarger and the Grand Commandery of Ohio dedicating the Asylum Theatre the direction of Grand Commander William B. Baldwin. The “News Journal” reported, “The ceremonies will not be elaborate as planned when the temple was started because of war conditions. The preparations are along conservative lines” (Mansfield, Ohio, 10 Sept. 1918, page 5). The ceremonies became a little more elaborate and were delayed.
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The dedication of the new Masonic Temple in Akron, Ohio, actually occurred on Nov. 21, 1918. It coincided with the seventy-sixth annual state conclave for the Grand Commandery, Knights Templar of Ohio (Akron Beacon Journal, 20 Nov. 1918, page 1). Hundred of Masons from all over the state attended the ceremony. A parade headed by the new Akron Masonic band preceded the dedication ceremonies, with the Mayor making the opening address and tendering the keys of the city to the Grand Commandery. Then Oliver D. Everhard made the address of welcome on behalf of the Akron Commandery, No. 25, of the Knights Templars. The dedication of the Blue Lodge and Asylum Auditorium continued as originally planned.
The Asylum Theater, located on the sixth and seventh floors, had a seating capacity of 450. I have yet to uncover any information about the stage house or original scenery delivered by Sosman & Landis in 1918.
The building went up for sale in 1999, with a price tag of 1.3 million. “The Akron Beacon Journal” reported “The Akron Masonic Temple is used by five different lodges, and their membership, about 2,500 at last count – is a post-World War II low…Once flush with members and money, these groups built magnificent halls that in recent years have become too costly to maintain. Some of these buildings get torn down; others are saved” (1 July 1999, page 37).
The Akron Masons sold their building for less than asking price to developer Jeffrey O’Neil. O’Neil was from California and the son of former General Tire chairman Jerry O’Neil. He planned to use it as a special event/entertainment center and office building. The Masons were to still occupy the fourth floors, with the rest of the building being used for social and artistic events. This seems to be the key in purchasing a Masonic Temple; you can pay less than the asking price, if you continue to rent a portion of the building to the organization; a win-win for the buyer. O’Neil’s involvement with the endeavor did not last long. After starting an extensive restoration of the building, he ran into unanticipated expenses and had a cash flow problem. Fortunately for O’Neil, the city bailed him out less than two years after his purchase in 2001 (Akron Beacon Journal. 8 Feb., 2001, page 40). In the end, the city paid 2.6 million dollars to buy the building from O’Neil and leased it back to him for 15 years, after which time the property was to revert to O’Neil. The city’s purchase of the Masonic Temple amounted to a 30-year loan at the federal discount rate – then at 5 percent – with a balloon payment after 15 years; that’s when the building would revert back to O’Neil. The city’s ownership was intended to be temporary, with O’Neil leasing the building back with the intent to buy it. However, by 2009, O’Neil severed his ties to the property, citing the weak economy. There is much more to the story, but it echoes strains of what has happened all over the country as the Fraternity slowly collapses.
The building is now known as Greyston Hall. Here is the link to the rental webpage: https://www.greystonehall.org/
To be continued…
