Masonic Cornerstone Grand Hall and Event Center is one step closer to a local historic status.
The Crawfordsville City Council’s Ordinances & Petitions Committee gave a favorable recommendation Monday to designating the downtown landmark, formerly known as the Masonic Temple, as a single-site local historic district. The request heads to the full council for final approval next week.
The status will protect the building’s exterior from changes deemed historically inappropriate by the city’s Historic Preservation Commission, which would have to approve the plans. It could also make it easier for the building’s owners to receive grants for ongoing renovations.
“Being locally designated shows their commitment to preserving the history of that building and could help them as they continue to rehabilitate that building,” said Brandy Allen, the city’s director of planning and community development.
The nonprofit Crawfordsville Masonic Temple Foundation acquired the building at the corner of South Washington Street and East Wabash Avenue from Montgomery Lodge #50 F&AM in 2019 and began raising money to restore it.
“The Masonic Cornerstone building is 120 years old and we want the cornerstone to be around for another 120, so we’re working to get it done,” said Judi Kleine, a foundation member.
Lodge members continue meeting in the building as the ground floor is rented out for events and fundraisers.
The process of designating a historic district is typically initiated by the city, but this is the first application submitted by a property owner, Allen said. The HPC voted last week to recommend the status.
Five other local historic districts have been designated by the city, including the Montgomery County Courthouse, City Hall, Post Office, Ben-Hur Building and the Pike-Washington Street area encompassing the block of downtown that burned in 2007.
The Masonic building is already listed on the National Register of Historic Places as part of the Crawfordsville Commercial Historic District.
Also on Monday, a $10,000 historic facade loan for the owner of one of the former LaRose on Main buildings at 124 W. Main St. received a favorable recommendation from the council’s Fiscal Affairs Committee.
Jennifer Cullings went to the HPC last week seeking money for emergency water damage repairs. The HPC voted to recommend awarding the loan, which has a seven-year annual repayment plan.
“She’s in the process of cleaning it out and trying to sell the contents and then she’ll reopen,” Allen said. “Jennifer had just purchased the building and immediately had this issue.”
