When Pittsburg was just beginning
its journey into becoming a city,
A.
J. Georgia and Charles W. Long organized a meeting
of men who were master Masons to discuss petitioning
for a charter to organize a Masonic Lodge in Pittsburg.
The date was 27 Jan 1879. The group was granted an official
charter on 16 Oct 1879 and given the name Pittsburg Lodge
No. 187 Ancient Free & Accepted Masons. After a few
years, the members wished to have higher degrees or Masonic
bodies. A charter was issued on 21 March 1881 for the
Pittsburg Royal Arch Masons. The Knights of Templar was
organized on 9 June 1888.
The three Masonic groups met in various buildings including the Globe building
at 4th and Broadway. They purchased a lot on the northeast corner of Sixth and
Pine with the
cornerstone for the new temple being laid on 21 June 1910. The 2-story building
was designed by O. A. Cook and built by Asa Messenger. It was dedicated on 23
May 1911 and included meeting rooms on the second floor and the first floor a
dining room. The building was shared by the three organization for about 10 years
until the Mirza built their own new temple just down the street at Fifth and
Pine, now Pittsburg Memorial Auditorium.The
building at the corner of Sixth
& Pine was torn down in January 1999 because of it
being in need of major repairs. The ornate arches were
left standing as reminders of the buildings footprint
and mark the entrance to a city parking lot that now is
on the location.
