Masonic Temple (Providence)
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| Veterans Memorial Auditorium--Masonic Temple | |
|---|---|
| (U.S. National Register of Historic Places) | |
| Location: | Providence, Rhode Island |
| Coordinates: | |
| Built/Founded: | 1927 |
| Architect: | Multiple |
| Architectural style(s): | Classical Revival |
| Added to NRHP: | November 16, 1993 |
| Reference #: | 93001181 [1] |
| Governing body: | Private |
The Masonic Temple (known locally as the "Mason Building") is one of two monumental buildings in central Providence that remained unfinished and abandoned for decades. Originally planned as a meeting hall for the Freemasons, construction work was abandoned in 1929 as a result of financial difficulties caused by the Great Depression. With the outbreak of WW II construction was halted permanently.
The building, constructed in the Greek Revival style, is located prominently on Francis Street opposite the Rhode Island state capitol, Rhode Island State House. The opening of the Providence Place Mall next door across Hayes Street has made the site prime real estate. In 2004 building was purchased by Sage Hospitality Resources, and is being converted into a luxury hotel. The hotel is expected to open as the Renaissance Providence Hotel in May of 2007.
The adjoining building known as the Veterans Memorial Auditorium, located between the Mason Building and Interstate 95, was taken over by the city in the 1980s and reinhabited. It now houses the VMA Arts & Cultural Center.
[edit] References
- ^ National Register Information System. National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service (2006-03-15).
- Derelict for 75 years, Temple gets a new life at ArtInRuins (Originally published in the Providence Journal Friday, July 16, 2004)
- VMA Arts & Cultural Center
- Google Local
- "Article on Graffiti in the Mason Building"
