Nevadaville Masonic Temple

The Nevadaville Masonic Temple is the Masonic lodge building in the ghost town of Nevadaville, Colorado, just outside of Central City, Colorado.

Nevadaville Masonic Temple
Nevadaville Masonic Temple
General information
Architectural styleOld West, Neo-Classical
Address1043 Nevadaville Road
Town or cityNevadaville, Colorado
CountryUnited States
Coordinates39°47′45″N 105°32′4″W
Elevation9050 ft (2760 m) above mean sea level
Current tenantsNevada Lodge No. 4 A.F. & A.M.
Completed1861
Technical details
Structural systemLoad-bearing masonry, cast-iron storefront
Design and construction
Main contractorM. S. Burhans

History

The building has served and continues to serve one lodge of Freemasons, that of Nevada Lodge No. 4 A.F. & A.M. The lodge was founded by several Masons, with Andrew Mason, one of the early settlers of the American Midwest in search of gold, serving as the lodge's first Worshipful Master.[1] Nevada Lodge No. 4 was originally granted dispensation as Nevada Lodge U.D. (also called Nevada Lodge No. 36)[2] in the Kansas Territory by the Grand Lodge of Kansas on December 22, 1860. When the Kansas Territory became the Colorado Territory in 1861, the Grand Lodge of Colorado was formed, and chartered Nevada Lodge No. 4[3] by Rev. John Chivington, the first Grand Master of Colorado Masons.[4]

The lodge originally met in an upper room of the Ira H. Morton building in Nevadaville (then called Nevada City) until the town burned in September 1861.[5] Following this the lodge purchased two lots on Main Street (now Nevadaville Road) to build their new building.[6] The entire building cost $7,140,[7] and is credited to M. S. Burhans as the contractor. They also purchased the lot of the former lodge building, which then housed the Order of Red Men. The ground floor of the new Masonic Hall had rental space for shops (such as a meat market and a barbershop), and the upper story contains the 22 foot by 45 foot lodge room along with the Tiler's room and preparation room; the remainder of the second floor was for offices and sleeping quarters. The exterior is primarily load-bearing stone, with a cast-iron storefront.[8]

After the turn of the century the population of Nevadaville began to decline, owing to a gold boom in Leadville, Colorado and elsewhere. Nevadaville practically became a ghost town during World War II. The Nevada Lodge No. 4 ceased using the building, and began to meet in the Central City Masonic Hall,[9] which was final by July 1942. In June 1965 the brethren of Nevada Lodge No. 4 entertained the idea of holding regular lodge meetings once again in the building in Nevadaville, with the purpose of raising funds for restoring the building.[10] The Nevadaville Masonic Temple is still actively used by the lodge members, who continue to restore the building.

The lodge room of the Nevadaville Masonic Temple.
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gollark: Well, that sounds... busy.
gollark: Wouldn't that be an AS-level?

References
  1. Grand Lodge A.F. & A.M. of Colorado. Colorado Masonic Centennial 1861-1961. Colorado. 1961. Pg. 15.
  2. Stated as such in the proceeding of the Grand Lodge of Kansas, dated October 1, 1861. Ref: Nevada Lodge No. 4 A.F. & A.M. One Hundred Years of Masonry, Commemorating the 100th Anniversary of Nevada Lodge No. 4 A.F. & A.M.. Colorado. 1860. Pg. 37.
  3. Grand Lodge A.F. & A.M. of Colorado. Colorado Masonic Centennial 1861-1961. Colorado. 1961. Pg. 41.
  4. Brown, Robert L. Central City and Gilpin County: Then and Now. Caxton Printers. 1994. Pg. 113.
  5. Lodge History - Nevada Lodge No. 4: History.
  6. Nevada Lodge No. 4 A.F. & A.M. "From the Archives", One Hundred Years of Masonry, Commemorating the 100th Anniversary of Nevada Lodge No. 4 A.F. & A.M.. Colorado. 1860. Pg. 40.
  7. Lodge History - Nevada Lodge No. 4: History.
  8. Nevada Lodge No. 4 A.F. & A.M. "From the Archives", One Hundred Years of Masonry, Commemorating the 100th Anniversary of Nevada Lodge No. 4 A.F. & A.M.. Colorado. 1860. Pg. 42.
  9. Nevada Lodge No. 4 A.F. & A.M. One Hundred Years of Masonry, Commemorating the 100th Anniversary of Nevada Lodge No. 4 A.F. & A.M.. Colorado. 1860. Pg. 6.
  10. Lodge History - Nevada Lodge No. 4: History.
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