“Texarkana was once home to numerous fraternities and lodges, and their meeting sites were important to the downtown scene.”
The large Masonic Temple located at 215-219 W. 7th Street was constructed in 1923 to house five entities: Border Lodge No. 672, A.F. & A.M.; B.T. Estes Chapter No. 263, R.A.M.; B.T. Estes Council No. 198, R. & S.M.; Texarkana Commandery No. 64, K.T.; and Border Chapter No. 211, O.E.S. It is a beautiful two-story building that presents the image of strength and permanence in its Greek Revival architecture. Its tan bricks have been laid in patterns to suggest Greek columns with broad capitols, and the roof eaves mimic temple pediments. Flanking the entrance are two fluted marble columns and above the door is a carved stone announcing that this building is the “Masonic Temple.” Green hedges cut in square forms march along the front and sides of the Temple.
The Masonic Temple was a relative “late-comer” for our downtown area, but Texarkana had numerous meeting halls for lodges and fraternities throughout its history. From 1899 through 1920, Texarkana’s city directories don’t list anything on the block where the Temple would be built. These resources show that our early lodges and fraternities met in the Ancient Order of United Workmen’s Hall (on the second floor of the building at 221-223 E. Broad Street); the Elks Hall on Vine Street (later renamed Olive Street); the Independent Order of Odd Fellows Hall at 211 1/2 E. Elm Street; Castle Hall at 216 W. Broad Street; Masonic Hall at 110-112 E. Broad Street (the O’Dwyer & Ahern building); and the Knights of Pythias Hall.
Texarkana’s active lodges in 1899-1900 included the Twin Cities Lodge No. 53, the Degree of Honor Frontier Lodge No. 6, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks Lodge No. 399, the Improved Order of Red Men Tishomingo Tribe No. 8, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows Border Encampment No. 21, Gate City Encampment No. 25, and Texarkana Rebekah Lodge No. 34. The Knights of Honor Lodge No. 3397, the Knights of the Maccabees Interstate Tent No. 1, the Knights of Pythias Texarkana Lodge No. 60, the Uniform Rank Twin Cities Company No. 39, Texarkana Masonic Lodge No. 340, Royal Arch Masons Chapter No. 78, Coeur De Leon Commandery K.T. No. 6, the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers Division No. 496, the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen Lodge No. 243, the Order of Railway Conductors Alamo Lodge No. 59, and the Order of Railway Trainmen Interstate Lodge No. 248. were also active in Texarkana in 1900.
By 1910 a few new meeting places had opened and welcomed lodgemen of all types. One of these was Foreman Hall located in the Foreman Building on State Line Avenue. Shuptrine Hall at 822-823 State Line Avenue, Woodmen of the World Hall at 204 and 1/2 W. Broad Street, the Masonic Temple at 322 Walnut Street, and the second floor of the building at 219 Vine Street were other new sites for Texarkana’s fraternal organizations in 1910.
In 1920 lodge meeting places included the Elks Hall at 218 Vine Street, Maccabees Hall at 212 1/2 E. Broad Street, the I.O.O.F. Hall at 211 1/2 E. Elm Street, the Masonic Halls at 112 1/2 E. Broad Street and 314 1/2 State Street (later Main Street), and the Woodmen of the World Hall at 314 1/2 State Street. African-American Mosaic Templar Lodges met at Weatherford’s Hall at 916 1/2 W. 5th Street.
During the Depression years a few new lodges appeared. They included the Royal Shepherd Lodge No. 35, the Tribe of Ben Hur – Texarkana Court No. 34, and United Commercial Travelers Texarkana Lodge No. 228.
Texarkana’s lodges continued to be listed in our city directories through the late 1970s, but the number of individual lodges diminished. Over the years lodge membership dwindled, or younger men lost interest in belonging to lodges and fraternities. While a number of these original lodges have survived, the need for large hall space to house meetings lessened. Thus, by the 1980s the beautiful Greek Revival Masonic Temple on W. 7th Street had become surplus.
Texarkana’s lodges continued to be listed in our city directories through the late 1970s, but the number of individual lodges diminished. Over the years lodge membership dwindled, or younger men lost interest in belonging to lodges and fraternities. While a number of these original lodges have survived, the need for large hall space to house meetings lessened. Thus, by the 1980s the beautiful Greek Revival Masonic Temple on W. 7th Street had become surplus.
The building has stood vacant for a number of years now and is deteriorating in place. It seems a shame to allow the Temple space to go to waste when the building itself has such a rich history and lots of square footage. Perhaps there is someone, or a group of people, who could restore this Texarkana treasure to a full and useful life in the 21st Century. Additionally, as we consider what kind of streetscape downtown will have, it would be fitting for all the lodge meeting halls in Downtown Texarkana to be marked, in some way. Doing so will enrich our historic offerings for tourists, and will remind us of our rich heritage.
