Masonic Temple Fire Ruled Arson
http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2010/05/masonic_temple_fire_on_east...
CLEVELAND, Ohio - Firefighters slowly sifted through the rubble
Thursday of the Prince Hall Masonic Temple searching for valuables that
might have survived the blaze that ripped through the landmark East
55th Street building the previous night. "We're trying to preserve anything we can," said Fire Department spokesman Larry Gray. "There is a lot of sentimental value to that
building." The 103-year-old red brick structure was destroyed when a Wednesday
night fire engulfed its four stories. The fire has been ruled arson. Word of the blaze came as a shock to Prince Hall members. "My heart was broken when I heard the news," said George Trumbo, a retired Cleveland municipal court judge, a member since the '40s. "I felt dismayed," said Melvin Russell, deputy grand lecturer of the seventh Masonic District. He was in a meeting when he heard of the fire. Prince Hall Masons add gathered in the building, deemed a Cleveland landmark in 1995, for more than 50 years. Russell said Masons moved their meetings to another location about six years ago after the building was deemed unsafe. According to city records, a section of the roof and wall in the rear
of the property were collapsing in 2006. Russell said the group was in the midst of deciding whether to repair or replace the structure. "The historical significance was a major factor in our discussions," Russell said. The building contained lots of internal architecture unique to fraternal organizations, he said, but restoration can be costly. The building was used more recently to store documents, historic artifacts and paintings, Russell said. Some portraits dated to the early 1900s when the building was owned by other fraternal groups, he said. Prince Hall, an black fraternal order, bought the building for $75,000 in 1954 and invested an additional $25,000 for interior remodeling, according to Plain Dealer reports. Four years later, the group paid off its mortgage. At that time, member Charles Casterman said each of the 1,200 members of the Prince Hall lodges was asked to contribute $100 for the building fund. The structure was first a Pythian Castle when it was built in 1907. It was acquired by the B'nai B'rith Lodge in 1912. Bob Keiser, secretary of the Cleveland Landmarks Commission, said the building was considered significant because of its Flemish Revival style and was designed by well-known Cleveland architect Frederic Striebinger. Gray said the city has lost "some very serious landmarks as of late" including the Euclid Avenue Congregational Church earlier this year. Investigators do not believe there is a connection between the fires, he said. Russell said it's too soon to say whether the Masons will rebuild.
CLEVELAND, Ohio - Firefighters slowly sifted through the rubble
Thursday of the Prince Hall Masonic Temple searching for valuables that
might have survived the blaze that ripped through the landmark East
55th Street building the previous night. "We're trying to preserve anything we can," said Fire Department spokesman Larry Gray. "There is a lot of sentimental value to that
building." The 103-year-old red brick structure was destroyed when a Wednesday
night fire engulfed its four stories. The fire has been ruled arson. Word of the blaze came as a shock to Prince Hall members. "My heart was broken when I heard the news," said George Trumbo, a retired Cleveland municipal court judge, a member since the '40s. "I felt dismayed," said Melvin Russell, deputy grand lecturer of the seventh Masonic District. He was in a meeting when he heard of the fire. Prince Hall Masons add gathered in the building, deemed a Cleveland landmark in 1995, for more than 50 years. Russell said Masons moved their meetings to another location about six years ago after the building was deemed unsafe. According to city records, a section of the roof and wall in the rear
of the property were collapsing in 2006. Russell said the group was in the midst of deciding whether to repair or replace the structure. "The historical significance was a major factor in our discussions," Russell said. The building contained lots of internal architecture unique to fraternal organizations, he said, but restoration can be costly. The building was used more recently to store documents, historic artifacts and paintings, Russell said. Some portraits dated to the early 1900s when the building was owned by other fraternal groups, he said. Prince Hall, an black fraternal order, bought the building for $75,000 in 1954 and invested an additional $25,000 for interior remodeling, according to Plain Dealer reports. Four years later, the group paid off its mortgage. At that time, member Charles Casterman said each of the 1,200 members of the Prince Hall lodges was asked to contribute $100 for the building fund. The structure was first a Pythian Castle when it was built in 1907. It was acquired by the B'nai B'rith Lodge in 1912. Bob Keiser, secretary of the Cleveland Landmarks Commission, said the building was considered significant because of its Flemish Revival style and was designed by well-known Cleveland architect Frederic Striebinger. Gray said the city has lost "some very serious landmarks as of late" including the Euclid Avenue Congregational Church earlier this year. Investigators do not believe there is a connection between the fires, he said. Russell said it's too soon to say whether the Masons will rebuild.
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