Copyright © 2020 by Wendy Waszut-Barrett
In 1924 Thomas G. Moses wrote, “On my way to Fort Leavenworth very soon, where I closed a small Masonic job of $2,000.00… I started home by way of Omaha. On arriving home, I started to work on Fort Leavenworth drops…Megan on the road most of the time makes the studio work so much harder for me, especially when I want to paint more.”
Moses’ $2,000 scenery project was for Boughton Memorial, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. The Masonic Temple was dedicated during the summer of 1922. On June 23, 1922, the “Leavenworth Times” reported, “Hundred Witnessed Dedication at Fort. Impressive Ceremonies Held Last Night at Boughton Memorial, Masonic Temple.” The article continued, “One of the most impressive and interesting ceremonies ever held by Masons at Fort Leavenworth was held last night when Boughton Memorial, the Fort Leavenworth Masonic Temple, was dedicated. There was an unusually interesting program and hundreds of Masons, including two thirty-third Degree Masons, Col. E. B. Fuller and W. L. Burdick.” (page 1).
On June 12, 1924, the “Plainville Times” announced, “Army Lodges Confer Scottish Rite Degrees” (page 6). The article reported, “Fort Leavenworth, Kans. – During the great war the Scottish Rite Bodies of this city were of necessity somewhat disorganized but the bodies are now re-established and are comfortably housed in their new temple. Considerable equipment has been provided and the work is being conducted with efficiency and enthusiasm.”
The “considerable equipment” was the new scenery and properties painted by Moses for the stage. This “small Masonic job” both referred to the number and the size of the drops. The drops are approximately 12-feet high by 18-feet wide.
To be continued…
