Masons in Astoria work to save their historic temple

Published 5:00 pm Thursday, August 8, 2013

Coastal high winds and rain have taken a toll on the Astoria Masonic Centers façade.

Built after the 1922 fire that destroyed downtown Astoria, the building, located at 16th and Franklin Avenue, is in need of immediate repair that could cost Seaport Lodge No. 7 upward of $50,000.

For nearly 90 years, Freemasons have convened at the building to learn the value of ancient moral principles, discuss local news and hold fundraisers for the community.

The organization also opens up the building for high school dances, blood drives, wedding receptions and a meeting location for the local Boy Scout troop.

On Sep. 7, the lodge is holding a fundraiser at the center to raise money for restoration. Members of the Columbia River Symphony are scheduled to perform and Fort George Brewery is producing a special brew for the lodge to be poured at the occasion.

We usually split events with more than half going to charity, but the building is rotting away and thats why our primary (goal) is to have a benefit dinner for the building itself, said Steve Simpier, the senior warden at the lodge.

Temple Lodge No. 7 was the first to pop up in Astoria and received its charter in 1854 from the Grand Lodge of Oregon. Masonic lodges exist throughout the world and spread predominantly in Scotland and England in the early 1700s.

Though much has been written of mysterious practices and symbols of Masonry, members are quick to dismiss them and instead purport a code of ethics associated with the symbolism. The commonly recognized compass and square, tools of actual stonemasons, are considered symbols for how to live a moral life.

Its symbolism to try and make men better, said Simpier, because thats a big thing about Masonry is to try and make good men better.

In the early days, the local group met at a mansion in downtown Astoria, at one point moving it on logs to an adjacent tax lot before it was destroyed. Early prominent Masons in Astoria included Adam Van Dusen and Capt. Hiram Brown. A delicate family Bible with their signatures, which survived the fire in 1922, is kept at the center.

On the first floor of Masonic center, walls are adorned with framed black-and-white photographs of Masonic gatherings on the front lawn in the early and mid-20th century.

Things were really hopping during the war and after the war, and a lot of military were involved in Masonry, said Bill Fuzia, master of the lodge. Gradually, over the years in the 20th century, it started to decline.

With membership declining in the lower Columbia River region, Harbor Lodge No. 183 joined with Temple No.7 in 1993 to form Seaport 7.

The Masonic center is home to many pieces of local history, whether dues cards from early members or an artillery sword from 1812.

This has been here as long as any member can remember, said Milo Haskell, junior warden with the lodge.  This might very well be one of the original swords here in Astoria.

Maintaining the building has been difficult because it has slowly been deteriorating in recent years. The organization spent $20,000 to replace the roof last year and got a new heating system up in running for the downstairs at a cost of $8,000 this year.

We spent half of our savings on the roof and heating system, Haskell said. We have nowhere near enough to repair what needs to be repaired in the front.

Water damage is present in the corners of the upstairs lodge room, but the front of the building and columns are the predominant concern. Pigeons have made themselves at home in the roof while weather has rusted rebar and sheet metal around the top of the building.

Rust has become the enemy. Its pushing the plaster away from the building, said Haskell.

That has not been well painted or maintained and the weather here gets to it eventually, said Stephen Berk, the tyler, who teaches history at Clatsop Community College. The facade really needs some work.

If the facade itself comes down it could very well condemn the building, because there is stuff thats falling, said Haskell. A construction outfit would have to tear into the building and start over fresh because of rotted materials, he said. In order to get the job done right, they would have to start at the corners and work up and around the building.

Leaders of the the Historic Preservation program at Clatsop Community College have shown interest in restoring the front columns. Lucien Swerdloff, program coordinator, has examined the structure and said that he and other instructors are considering a preservation workshop for the columns.

Its a good example of a neoclassical building, he said about the historic significance. The woodwork and plasterwork is certainly outstanding.

Swerdloff said the columns restoration would be to return them to their former aesthetic. Structurally, I think theyre fine, he said, its just superficial work to repair the damage.

Haskell said the building is available to the community at the the very lowest possible price. Were nonprofit, so everything we do either goes into the building or back out into the community, he said. We want to keep the doors open.

The lodge has two scholarship programs for the nurses program at Clatsop Community College and members started a third scholarship this year for a student pursuing a career in law enforcement, Haskell said.

The American Red Cross would use the downstairs every 45 days to do its blood drive, but organizers stopped because of the lack of an adequate heating system. With the new heating system, Haskell said the lodge hopes theyll return.

The fundraiser is scheduled for the first Saturday of September and is being presented by Seaport 7 and Washington Lodge No. 46. The event starts at 4 p.m. and is $40 per person at the door. It will feature a four-course meal with entrees of prime rib, salmon or a vegetarian option, Haskell said.