by Michael D. Wynne
One of the most overlooked masterpieces of building construction in central Louisiana is the Masonic building. Saved from probable destruction in 2003 by one of the greatest preservationists of the South, our own Mike Jenkins, the Masonic building is sometimes forgotten by local people in CenLa and not really even known by the youngest generation in town.
On the corner of 4th and Johnston Streets, and catty corner from the Rapides Foundation office entrance, the Masonic building is a masterpiece of design and function. The brickwork is truly a sight to behold and the finest in CenLa, rivaled only by the brickwork of the old Pineville City Hall. But inside othe Masonic building is even a greater treasure to find.
Alexandria, in its history, has had many Masonic Hall buildings dating back to 1819. In the great downtown fire of January 2, 1904, the handsome Masonic building on Third Street was burned and replaced in 1906 with a larger one on the corner of 4th and Desoto Streets, where the Hemingway building is now. But even that building became too small due to a rapidly growing Masonic fraternity, quickly surpassing then even the local Elks fraternal group.
In 1921, the CenLa Masons felt it was time to build a new and larger building. They wanted a building that was not only possibly the largest Masonic building in Louisiana, one that would still rival the quality of the eventually built 20-story New
Orleans Masonic building in 1926, but a local building that was multi-purpose. The multi-purpose portion was the ground floor with several store fronts facing 4th Street, as well as interior commercial property, all to generate revenue to maintain this luxurious facility.
Architects, Sam Stone, along with Alexandria , J. Duncan, were the building designers. (Duncan was the son of Rev. Herman C. Duncan, long-time rector of St. James Episcopal Church.) The building would be built officially with four-stories, but the interior ceiling height on the floors was raised by several feet, resulting in an overall
building height more closely resembling a five or even six-story structure.
Scott Laliberte, President and Chief Operating Officer of Jenkins Properties, recently invited me on a personal tour of this legendary structure. As impressive as the outside of the building was, featuring early Art Deco style designs, this writer knew that the building had been empty for many years and could be in a poor state of repair inside.
Once I entered the building, I felt that I had traveled back in a time machine to the roaring twenties. Some ceilings were 12 or more feet high and the halls were generously laced with magnificent old-time marble, woodwork, bronze and opaque glass. It was a living time capsule of elegance and grace hidden only by some layers of debris, so-called modern renovations (i. e. drop-down ceilings and such) and peeling paint. But among the many features that impressed me was that the majority of the rooms were designed with large stages and audience seating. There were at least 7 auditoriums of this kind, most larger that the public auditoriums that are all now around town! Behind one of the stages were the largest wooden doors that I have ever saw. Walking around these rooms reminded me of how the great buildings of America used to be built in the past, built with artisans, and also lots of cash.
This building was honorably designated with the National Register of Historic Places on January 16, 1986. The Jenkins Properties is hoping that the building’s future reuse will continue to honor the great history of Alexandria and Central Louisiana. I am thrilled just knowing it was saved by the good and safe hands of Mike Jenkins and Scott
Laliberte.