This file portion of www.watertownhistory.org website
Masonic
Temple
Original
Temple Building
1905
11 04 1905
The Masonic Temple is now enclosed
and the work of finishing the inside will be pushed vigorously by the
contractor and it is expected that it will be ready for occupancy early in the
new year.
A flag pole is to be placed upon the
Masonic Temple. It will be of iron, 27 feet above the battlement and carry a
sixteen foot “Old Glory.” Frank Eaton happened to think of it in time and his
patriotic impulses made it possible.
1906
Building was dedicated 06 01 1906
1906
Watertown
Daily Times, 06 23 1906
It was the work of an imaginative
mind and the prank of a practical joker that the rumor soon spread through the
city yesterday morning that the Masonic Temple had been sold by a smooth fakir
to a couple of farmers residing near the city.
The rumors started when a couple of
tillers of the soil were sitting in a dilapidated carriage in front of the new
“Pride of Watertown.” The general appearance of the farmers would lead one to
believe that such a story, which was in the effect that they were visited
Sunday by the smooth individual who made them easy victims and sold (?) the
temple getting $100 down as an evidence of good faith, with the understanding
that they were to come to the city yesterday morning and make a payment of
$400, which would close the deal and transfer the property.
The facts were that the two farmers
came to the city and remained in front of the Masonic Temple for about an hour.
They were waiting for the appearance of Attorney Kading on other matters of business,
however, and were not waiting to free themselves of their hard earned cash and
sitting admiring the new prize as the story ran.
The unsuspecting gentlemen from the
rural district must have felt somewhat curious as they sat in their rig the
object of curious eyes as they stopped and glanced at the claimed victims who
had been victimized into buying a $50,000 building for the trifling sum above
mentioned.
It was a story easily believed, essentially
in view of the fact that it was not long ago that the Chicago Masonic Temple
was sold by a fakir to a couple of unsuspecting farmers for the paltry sum of
$2,000, the fakirs securing a snug little sum down.
While the Leader enjoys a good piece
of news next to a square meal, it is nevertheless glad that the thing is a
fabrication of an imaginative mind and that the $500 of the alleged victims
still remains intact.
1907
Watertown
Daily Times, 09 10 2007
In 1902 the local Elks Lodge occupied quarters on the third floor
of the Daub Building, 10 E. Main St., and moved
in 1907 to the third floor of the Masonic Temple, which was inhabited by the
Fischer's Department Store for many decades.
Pre Fire Image
Portfolio
Click to enlarge
Temple on left, c1909 
Fire of 02 19 1916
1916 Fire
“This is the way the Masonic Temple looks now, since the
fire from Friday night. The 3rd floor is
in ruins and so is Ryans, Kadings and the
Elks rooms - also the hair dressing rooms (1).
The candy shop and dance hall (2) seem to be all right; most of the fire
was in the northeast corner to all of the 3rd floor. It began in the basement near Ryans
place. Sure was some fire. Did not know there was a fire until Sat. Elsa”
Postcard in the archives of St. Paul’s Church, postmarked 02
21 1916, two days after the inferno
_________________
(1) Might be the Masonic Temple Hair Dressing Parlors,
Masonic Temple, as noted in 1913-14
Watertown City Directory
(2) Might be associated with the Paul Thom Dancing Academy,
Masonic Temple, as noted in 1913-14
Watertown City Directory
Post Fire Image
Portfolio
Click to enlarge
Cross Reference:
Today’s Masonic Temple, different building
