122 E WALNUT ST

122 E WALNUT ST

Pierce

River Falls

1928

1990,2014

social recreational/fraternal hall

Neoclassical/Beaux Arts

Brick

Roy E. Spriggs

No

Plans were drawn by Ag. Mechanics professor, Roy E. Spriggs, who taught at UW-River Falls; builder was Frank Luberg & Son.

This one-story plus raised basement, Neoclassical Revival-style fraternal hall is sheathed with brick and topped with a flat roof. Eight fluted and engaged pilasters rise from a stone water table and delineate the building’s primary (north) elevation into seven bays, the central bay of which includes the entrance and is further set off by a set of fluted corner pilasters. Set within a brick and concrete-trimmed archway, a pair of modern metal doors rest beneath a round-arched, replacement window. A stone lintel inscribed with “MASONIC TEMPLE,” “LODGE 109 F/AM” and “1928 A.D.” is located below a full pediment that terminates the center bay. A single, square window is set within each of the two interior bay divisions to either side of the entry, while each of the outermost bays features the Masonic symbol set within stone and further outlined by brick trim. Four bays of the basement level carry paired, one-over-one-light, double-hung sash, while the outermost bays include a decorative stone inset. The east elevation of the building is divided into three bays and finished with fluted pilasters, while the west and south (rear) walls are devoid of bay divisions. Windows throughout the building are replacements. Following an interior inspection, it was observed that the interior remains largely as it was built, with a club room (which includes a fireplace), dining area and kitchen on the lower level and a lodge room on the main floor. The entrance, which retains original light fixtures, has been slightly altered with a drop ceiling and bathrooms have been modernized.

This building was erected between 1928 and 1929 for the River Falls Lodge No. 109, F. & A.M., the organization of which continues to utilize the building today. Lodge No. 109 was chartered in 1859 with eleven charter members and the first meetings were held in what was called the Benjamin Wilcox Hall. After two moves, a fire in 1879 destroyed most of the lodge records. Following a few more relocations, in circa 1909, the group met in the Boxrud Building (109-111 N. Main Street), where they remained until moving into their new building in 1929.

The building, which was to cost no more than $17,000, was designed by lodge brother Roy E. Spriggs, who had a degree in Agricultural Mechanics from Kansas State Agricultural College and was on the faculty at UW-River Falls. The contractor was Frank Luberg & Son. Ground breaking occurred on 5 August 1928 and the cornerstone was laid on 15 September 1928. The lodge was opened with a housewarming in April 1929 but dedication services were not held until 30 September 1929. The lodge, which was shared by the Masons, Chapter No. 45 Royal Arch Masons and Chapter No. 80 Order of the Eastern Star, ultimately cost $17,500 and the mortgage was paid off in 1943. Today, Lodge No. 109 includes approximately seventy members and they continue to serve the community through scholarship awards, roadside clean-up and volunteering at the local nursing home, among other activities.

Historic name, designer: River Falls Journal, 9 August 1928 Date of construction: River Falls Journal, 16 August 1928 Steve and Paula Schwartz, “Poised for Continued Growth, River Falls Lodge Turns 150: Royal Arch Masons & Order of Eastern Star Play Key Roles,” in Wisconsin Masonic Journal (June 2009), 5. The 2009 history indicates that the Masons were in the Boxrud Building starting in 1912; however, a newspaper article from 1923, cites that the organization had been in the Boxrud Building (noted as the Jenson Building in the article) “for the past fourteen years” which would put them in the building as of 1909, “River Falls Chapter Buys Jenson Building,” RFJ, 12 April 1923, 1/4. The 1912 Sanborn map identifies the second floor of the 109-11 N. Main Street building as of 1912. Schwartz, “Poised for Continued Growth, River Falls Lodge Turns 150,” 5; “Masonic Lodge Buys Property for Temple,” RFJ, 18 March 1926, 1/4; “New Masonic Temple Construction Begun,” RFJ, 9 August 1928, 1/3; “Work Is Begun on Basement of New Masonic Temple,” RFJ, 16 August 1928, 1/4; “Corner Stone is Laid for Masonic Temple at Saturday Ceremony,” RFJ, 20 September 1928, 1/1; “New Masonic Temple Opened Here Monday With a Housewarming,” RFJ, 4 April 1929, 1/2; “New Masonic Temple Will Be Dedicated,” RFJ, 26 September 1929; 1/1; “Masons Here Dedicate the New Temple,” RFJ, 3 October 1929, 1/3; “River Falls Masonic Lodge To Mark 100th Birthday Saturday,” RFJ, 1 October 1959, 1/1-3; Dan Toland, Lodge Brother and current mayor of River Falls, Conversation and site visit with Traci E. Schnell, 29 April 2015.

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