May 2025.
Circleville’s Masonic Temple is likely the most exquisite Italianate structure across the entire town. Its height and rich ornamentation set it apart from its lower, simpler neighbors. If I had to pick, this would probably be my favorite building in Circleville.
The Masonic Temple is located at 113 South Court Street in downtown Circleville, Ohio. It is bordered by Peck’s Hall to the north, smaller commercial buildings and City Hall to the south, Court Street and the H&H Building to the east, and a parking lot to the west.
History
Circleville’s chapter of Freemasons, Pickaway Lodge No. 23, was chartered in January 1815. Its earliest members included natives of the 13 original states, such as Connecticut, Vermont, Rhode Island, and Virginia. The lodge’s establishment dated only three years after Pickaway County was formed and preceded Circleville’s incorporation by two. Its first meetings were held within a log cabin, the first structure ever built in Circleville, which also served as the courthouse.
When the courthouse moved to the center of Circleville’s “circle plan,” so did the Freemasons. However, the lodge voted to construct its own building, which would include a school, in 1824. It was completed the following year and occupied for the next two decades. In February 1845, Lodge No. 23 purchased the third floor of a store building owned by Edson Olds, which was renovated for usage as a meeting hall. That building still stands northeast of the current lodge today.
The present Masonic Temple was designed by Columbus architect J. T. Harris in the Italianate style. It was built from 1875-1876, with its cornerstone being laid in July 1875. The Freemasons moved into the newly constructed building on July 3, 1877. The first two floors are used by businesses, while the remainder is occupied by the Masonic Temple’s space.
A small annex was built to the south about a century later, but the Masonic Temple remains largely intact today, minus the installation of new windows and doors.
Photos
The principal facade is incredibly busy and striking:
Rising four stories high, unlike its two- to three-story neighbors, the Masonic Temple punctures the orthogonal streetscape of Court Street.
The building abounds in rich detail, which will make up the remaining shots of this post. First is the pedimented central entrance:
The cast-iron ornament here seems to be rusting as it ages. Certain areas look to be carved from wood, but the paint makes everything appear homogeneous.
Second floor fenestration:
The keystone has some incomprehensible Masonic message on it, but the Star of David is a typical inclusion. Becoming a Freemason requires belief in a higher power, though none in particular.
I like how the hood molds and windows second from left and right are slightly larger than the others:
Their segmentally arched shape is typical for Italianate architecture, as is the exaggerated keystone. A border of egg-and-dart adds texture to the face. The same pattern continues on the third floor, this time with semicircular hood molds:
Again, the middle of the third floor has a similar design with a large central window and broken pediment, but the detailing is different:
The “IHS” and cross are typical Christian motifs, but I’m unsure what the added “V” refers to.
The fourth floor has smaller oxeye windows, which are fully circular. These are an interesting and uncommon addition.
The square and compasses are Freemasonry’s best-known symbol, representing the fraternity’s origin among stoneworkers.
The massive cornice is crowned by an eagle spreading its wings:
One of the bordering urns seems to have gone missing. The depth of ornamentation here is astounding--massive brackets rise from the piers below, while the space between is spanned by denticulation, smaller brackets, and a molded pattern below. The massive pediment features similar motifs, while the eagle stands on two pilasters.
I do wish it had been sunnier at the time, as I’m sure these details would have popped even more with the addition of direct sunlight.
Sources:
https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/electronic-records/rg-079/NPS_OH/78002171.pdf
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