On this day in 1946, a funeral was held in the Freemason Lodge downtown.
The group's history in the area stretched back nearly a century and a half. In 1882, the first Mason lodge in what is now Alberta was founded by 13 members living near Fort Edmonton. It would last about six years before dissolving due to low membership. Other lodges began to form in the 1890s as the region's population continued to grow.
In 1903, construction began on the original Edmonton Mason Hall, on 102 Street NW, south of Jasper Avenue. The upper floors of the building served as the location of the group's meetings and rites, while the first floor was rented out — Alberta College taught its first classes there, and it was later replaced by a cigar factory. A replica of the first Mason Hall still remains in Fort Edmonton Park.
Membership continued to grow through the first decade of the 20th century, and the group soon outgrew the original hall. In 1911, the group sought to fund the construction of an elaborate new hall by selling shares in the new building, but the response was underwhelming. It would take another 19 years before the new hall would begin construction.
When the cornerstone was placed in 1930, it was for a building that matched the Masons's craftsman roots. The new hall was designed by celebrated architect William Blakely, known for buildings that include the Christ Church Anglican Parish and Garneau Theatre (Blakely was a Freemason himself). The four-storey building was finished with brick and artificial stone. The Gothic design gives it a medieval feeling that sets it apart from the other buildings on 100 Avenue NW. Facing the street are two entrances — one for the public, the other for members. On the second storey, facing the street, there are six small alcoves above the windows, which were intended to display statues. The sculptures were ordered, but never actually arrived. To this day, no one — including the Freemasons themselves — knows what they were supposed to depict.
The main floor is dominated by a large auditorium with a sprung dance floor covered in oak. That space was not only for Masonic events, but also to bring rental income to the lodge by booking it for public events. Aside from the offices and meeting areas, the hall boasted the city's first lending library, as well as the first passenger elevator in the province.
Nearly a century after its construction, the Freemasons's Hall is still one of the most striking and intriguing buildings in Edmonton's core. It remains an active meeting place for the city's Masons, we well as a well-used performance and gathering space. Earlier this year, the hall's grand auditorium served as the spot for the first YEG Ballroom event, thought to be the first of its kind in the city.
This clipping was found on Vintage Edmonton, a daily look at Edmonton's history from armchair archivist @revRecluse of @VintageEdmonton.