Montana Historical and Architectural Inventory (Site # 060)

Address:	322 West Broadway
Ownership Name:	Lewistown Lodge #37, A.F. & A.M.
Historic Name:	Masonic Temple
Common Name:	Masonic Temple
Date of Construction:	1908
Architect:	Wasmansdorff & Eastman
Builder:	Peter Tuss (Stone)
Original Owner:	Lewistown Lodge No. 37 A.F. & A.M.
Original Use:	Lodge/Land Office/Power Company
Present Use:	Lodge/Job Service/Golden Mt. Cable

Physical Description:

This building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

This blocky three story cut stone structure is located one block north of the Central business district and was built to serve fraternal orders on the upper two floors with commercial space below. A substantial parapet and entablature is visually supported by giant order two-story dressed stone ionic pilasters that begin at the second floor line. The first floor has a freestanding arched entryway centered on the main façade with display windows recessed behind to form a backdrop for this architectural feature. The top of the stone parapet above the flat roof has a hint of crenels with wide shallow articulations around the structure. The entablature is comprised of a simple linear cornice supported by widely spaced dentils (or more nearly akin to renaissance "beams ends") and the frieze is cut stone. The words "Masonic Temple" are inscribed in the frieze. A corbel table below the friezes serves to unite the capital of the pilasters. All third floor windows have round arched heads with an exaggerated dressed scroll keystone. The arched portions of the windows in the southwest elevation are stained glass; the patterns being symbolic of the masonic order. Second floor windows are narrow rectangular double hung 1/1 units that occur in pairs; the pair being the same width as the arched third floor penetration above. The central first floor "arcaded" arch is supported by two foreshortened cubic corinthian columns. The arch itself is dressed stone with a corbeled projecting molding at the extrados and an exaggerated foliated keystone in the profile of a console (sometimes called ancones). The Masonic emblem is carved on the face of this decoration. First floor display windows have been remodeled with masonite siding installed over transom areas, and large pane glazing has been installed in existing frames. Wooden doors, frames, and paneled sills below the windows still remain. The foundation for the basement is concrete.

Classification: eclectic, numerous influences are present including Romanesque, Renaissance, and revival details.

Historical Significance:

The Masonic Temple in Lewistown is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is associated with events that reflect significant settlement patterns in the growth of Montana and in the development of Lewistown. Fraternalism was already well established in Lewistown in 1889 with Masonry leading the way. The opening years of the Twentieth Century witnessed an increased growth in the number of fraternal organizations (as many as 14) which were "not only prominent in the spiritual and moral life of Lewistown, but also aided in its material growth".

The Masonic Temple was designed by Otto F. Wasmansdorff and George D. Eastman.

Wasmansdorff was educated at St. John’s Military Academy, Delafield, Wisconsin, and the University of Wisconsin, graduating from the civil engineering department in 1900. He served as Lewistown’s City Engineer from 1908 to 1911. In 1908 he was elected Worshipful Master of Lewistown’s Lodge #37 AF and AM and, no doubt, was largely responsible for seeing the design of the building conformed to the teachings and tenets of the Lodge.

A significant portion of Lewistown’s architecture is native sandstone, due to a nearby abundance of quality building stone and, because it had to be freighted, lumbar was scarce and expensive. Many of Lewistown’s stone structures were built by Croatian stonemasons who immigrated from Bribir, located just off the coast of the Adriatic Sea in present day Yugoslavia. On hearing of the "boom" and the availability of good stone, a few "bribirci" set out for Lewistown as early is 1897 and quickly found work. Other Croatian stonemasons, hearing of their success, began coming to Lewistown in increasing numbers. By 1915, the Croatian population had swelled to an estimated 100 in Lewistown and 373 in Fergus County (1910 census)

The population of Lewistown more than tripled between 1900 and 1908 and the streets were rapidly lined with stone buildings to meet the needs of the fast growing community. Many of the early structures were simply functional built with neither architect’s plans nor adornment, but were visible signs of permanence and prosperity.

The Croatians’ skill in stone cutting is most apparent on Lewistown’s Masonic Temple. The most intricate part of this building façade was ornamental stone cutting done by six experienced men, including the contractor, Peter Tuss: Pete Drezick, George Drezick, George Ligatich, Vincent Kalfatic and John Plovanic. The Masonic Temple remains a symbol of the brilliant craft technique of the Croatian workers and of the growth of Lewistown.

In addition to Lodge facilities, the new Temple housed the Cook-Reynolds Co., Lewistown Coal and Gas Light Co., City Council chambers and the U.S. Land Office.