Saint John Masonic Temple
| Saint John Masonic Temple | |
|---|---|
 Saint John Masonic Temple, c. 1900 | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| Location | Saint John, New Brunswick |
| Address | 92 Germain Street |
| Country | Canada |
| Coordinates | 45°16′21″N 66°03′37″W / 45.2724309°N 66.0603445°W |
| Construction started | 1877 |
| Completed | 1881 |
| Cost | CA$80,000 |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 4 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect(s) | McKean & Fairweather |
| Main contractor | Alexander Christie & Co. William L. Prince, Esq. |
| Website | |
| sjmt | |
| Type | Municipal Heritage Preservation Act |
| Designated | March 18, 1982 |
| Reference no. | 284 |
The Saint John Masonic Temple is a historic masonic temple in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada. One of Atlantic Canada's oldest lodges,[1] the masonic temple is located on 92 Germain Street in Uptown Saint John. The brick building features an Italianate architectural style. It is four-storeys tall, with the street floor being used for commercial purposes.[2] It is part of the Grand Lodge of New Brunswick.[3] It is within the boundaries of the Trinity Royal Heritage Conservation Area.[4]
History
[edit]The Freemasonry community previously operated a masonic temple in Saint John until its destruction by the Great Fire of Saint John in 1877.[5] Construction on a new masonic temple began following the fire,[2] worked on by architects McKean & Fairweather, and contracted by Alexander Christie & Co. as well as William L. Prince, Esq.[6] The building was completed in 1881,[1] totaling CA$80,000 (equivalent to $2,903,680 in 2023).[6]
Historically, the building was used to host Masonic Grand Lodge of New Brunswick meetings annually, including once in 1934 which included John Babington Macaulay Baxter, a former Premier of New Brunswick who served as the province's Grand Master at the time.[7][8]
On the morning of January 26, 1929, the masonic temple was destroyed by fire, with damages estimating to be at $100,000 at the time.[9] $55,000 of which was insured.[10] Discussions on rebuilding the temple were made the following month,[11] and efforts to rebuild it began being made starting in late May 1929 until being finished by November 26, 1930.[5] On July 11, 1929, during the rebuilding process, Saint John Masonic Temple, Limited. was established under The Royal Gazette.[12]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b Wright, Julia (December 14, 2017). "Saint John 'secret society' opens doors for rare glimpse". CBC News. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
- ^ a b "Masonic Temple". www.historicplaces.ca. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
- ^ "Lodges". The Grand Lodge of New Brunswick. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
- ^ "Trinity Royal Heritage Conservation Area Map". saintjohn.maps.arcgis.com. Retrieved April 11, 2024.
- ^ a b "Saint John Masonic Temple – 92 Germain Street, Saint John, NB, Canada". sjmt.ca. November 1, 2013. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
- ^ a b "St. John Masonic Temple". St. John Daily News. August 28, 1879. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
- ^ "MASONIC GRAND LODGE MEETING IN SAINT JOHN". The Daily Mail. Fredericton, New Brunswick. August 23, 1934. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
- ^ "JUDGE BAXTER AGAIN CHOSEN GRAND MASTER". The Daily Mail. Fredericton, New Brunswick. August 25, 1933. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
- ^ "MASONIC TEMPLE AT SAINT JOHN BURNS". The Canadian Press. The Montreal Star. January 26, 1929. p. 1. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
- ^ "MASONIC TEMPLE AT SAINT JOHN IS GUTTEN BY FIRE". Waterloo Region Record. January 26, 1929. p. 1. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
- ^ "May Rebuild Temple". The Canadian Press. The Montreal Star. March 22, 1929. p. 21. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
- ^ "SAINT JOHN MASONIC TEMPLE, LIMITED". The Royal Gazette. Fredericton, New Brunswick. July 17, 1929. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
Bibliography
[edit]- Bunting, William Franklin (1895). History of St. John's Lodge, F. & A. M. of Saint John, New Brunswick, Together with Sketches of All Masonic Bodies in New Brunswick, from A. D. 1784 to A. D. 1894. Saint John, N.B.: J. & A. McMillan.