Just Exactly What is Inside that Masonic Temple?

Masonic Temple, Locust Street, Knoxville, October 2011

If you walk around downtown very much and certainly if your wandering ever takes you down Locust Street, you've probably noticed the large beige building with the words "Masonic Temple" standing guard across the front of the massive white columns. I've cast the odd surreptitious glance in that direction, just a little nervous about the whole affair. I've read The Da Vinci Code and I'm not sure how much is fact and how much is fiction. When they offered an open house recently, I steeled my courage, picked up my camera and knocked on the door.


Grandfather Clock just inside the entrance

  

Grand Stairwell in foyer

I was greeted by friendly men, though my anxiety lingered past the front door. Did I sense secrecy and half-answers to my questions or had I expected cloak-and-dagger goings on and so I remained suspicious? Larry Viles pretty quickly attached himself to me and seemed eager to talk about the history of the home and to offer some answers to my questions about the Masons. I didn't follow all the answers and the information quickly became overwhelming; words spinning around in my head like "Scottish Rites," "Free-Masonry" and "Crusades." Wait. What? Did he say "Crusades," as in THE Crusades? He did.

Larry Vines and Erick Tuck, Masonic Temple, Knoxville



Primary Meeting Room, Masonic Temple, Locust Street, Knoxville

 

Other end of the meeting room


The "he" by this time was Erick Tuck, who, I believe, was addressed as "Admiral," but I may have begun hallucinating by that time from a lack of oxygen as I held my breath. He was bedecked in a suit worth of the name if it wasn't, in fact, used. And he brought up the Knights Templar, seemingly with pride, as if Dan Brown had never written a book. He indicated that they held a prominent role in the Crusades and one branch of the Masons is somehow connected to them. I thought we'd all agreed that the Crusades were not such a good idea.

The home itself seemed to be quite a source of pride for each of them and, indeed, there are beautiful portions here and there: The large stairwell in the entrance, built in shelves and ornate fireplaces. An impressive grandfather clock stands beside the front door, though it may not date back to the original structure. The original house was built in 1872 by Charles McClung McGhee whose names everyone in Knoxville will recognize. He entertained Rutherford B. Hayes in the home and lived there until his death in 1907. In 1916, the same year Kendrick Place (formerly Masonic Court) was built next door, the Masons purchased the home for $25,000.


Assembly Hall for the Eastern Star, Masonic Temple, Knoxville



The tour inside the remainder of the structure revealed occasional older touches mixed with seventies decor: red tile in the foyer, cheap paneling and drop-tile ceilings one might expect in the fellowship hall of a rural church. The two, large meeting rooms were grand and bedecked with inscrutable symbols, books and chairs signifying rank of some sort. The women's meeting room is the largest and includes a balcony. They call themselves the "Eastern Star" and graciously allowed me to take pictures. They made it clear that had the Bible been open when I visited I should not have been allowed to take these photographs.

Central Hallway, Second Floor, Masonic Temple

So, I found friendly people, some elements of architectural beauty and others of architectural abomination. Still, I sensed an understated desperation. They openly acknowledged that the organization has dwindled, as I recall, from around 200,000 in Tennessee to around 40,000 with probably far fewer who are active. Their grand meeting halls, once full are now much less so. I think they fear something they value is nearing extinction and they keenly feel the loss.


One seemingly intact room (though graced with red tile)



Book Cases and Fireplace, Masonic Temple, Knoxville



 

Masonic Temple Today, Locust Street, Knoxville, October 2011

According to an article on WBIR from which I refreshed my memory on the facts and dates for this story, McClung Collection Director Steve Cotham says the original home is intact beneath the current building. I spoke to J.C. Wolfenbarger who is also quoted in that article and who joined the Masons at that lodge in 1949. He talked as if it had been altered very little, yet the sheer front of the building, only broken by the columns, resembles very little the 1915 newspaper photograph they have framed on the wall. It shows an elegant architectural structure with many multi-faceted lines.  



Charles McGhee Home, Knoxville, 1915

 I wish them well and appreciate their hospitality. It is a very interesting building and I would recommend a tour. Perhaps as it becomes too big to suit their needs they might consider selling it to Knox Heritage for $25,000. Maybe it isn't too late to liberate the lost home inside the towering lodge.

One final, fun note: Mr. Wolfenbarger also confirmed what I'd heard mentioned before, that Kendrick Place, when it was known as Masonic Court, was filled with women offering their services to men for a price. He said that was what he found when he arrived at the lodge in 1949. I asked him how long that had been the case and mentioned that Christopher Kendrick bought it in 1982. He said, "that sounds about right." I suggested that surely there would have been no Masonic customers, but he averred, "Masons are human, too."

City People Downtown Tour of Homes: Pembroke and Crown Court

Exquisite Modern Kitchen, Pembroke, Knoxville

The Pembroke has housed residential units since 1990, making it one of the older residential developments downtown. Originally called the Sprankle Building, it had previously housed TVA in its heyday. Its elegant lobby off Union Avenue across from the Daylight Building suggests the elegance one will find inside. The unit on display was decorated in a contemporary style and sat just inside the wall beside the only roof-top pool in Knoxville. It is for common use by residents.



View across the living area into the kitchen, Pembroke, Union Avenue, Knoxville

 

View from the kitchen, Pembroke, Union Avenue Knoxville

 

View from the window of the only rooftop pool in the city, Pembroke, Knoxville


My favorite parts of this unit were the lights in the kitchen/living area and the kitchen, in particular, which was beautiful. It seems that many of the units downtown place a heavy emphasis on updating the kitchens or simply making them beautiful. This condo featured brick walls and had some exposed duct-work.

Living area 508 Pembroke, Union Avenue, Knoxville

 

Office area, 508 Pembroke, Union Avenue, Knoxville

Another condo listed for sale held open house in hopes of attracting people who were thinking of moving downtown. I don't really understand why every unit for sale in the downtown area doesn't host an open house that day. Most people are curious, but others are thinking of making the leap to downtown living. The condo for sale (508) was striking only for its contents. If the unit was special, it was hidden by the extreme (think Hoarders) amount of contents. For a sale, half or more of the objects will likely need to disappear. On the other hand, if they have a estate sale, I'm there. The cost is $255K and the square footage is around 1100.

One other unit is for sale in the building for the same price. It has just under 900 square feet, which gives you an idea of how expensive the condos are per square foot. They aren't the cheapest downtown, but they tend to be beautiful and you are paying for the elegance and the pool, I suppose. They also have parking, which isn't insignificant downtown.


Entrance to unit in Crown Court, Locust Street, Knoxville

Crown Court is housed in the old YMCA building on Locust Street just around the corner from the public library and next to the Masonic Temple. One of the very cool features of these condos is that they are connected to the current YMCA offering a modern workout facility without walking outside. A membership is included, if I remember correctly. Urban Woman was particularly taken by this building on a previous incarnation of the Tour of Homes.


Bedroom at unit in Crown Court, Locust Street, Knoxville



Living Area, Crown Court Unit, Locust Street, Knoxville

The unit in question on this tour was small, but had a large amount of exposed brick and good views. The kitchen was long, elegantly appointed and efficient, but it was narrow and, I suspect, some people wouldn't care for its arrangement. I've gotten the impression that these units are often second homes, city homes or winter homes. I know some people live in the building full-time and year-round, but I think there is a mix. Probably best suited for couples or single folks because of their size, they do have great charm.

Kitchen in the unit at Crown Court



Shortwave Society Delivers a blog to My Doorstep

Shortwave Society Video, Locust Street, Knoxville, February 2011

Sometimes I go about begging the muse for a small tidbit, some simple morsel of an idea to write about in the middle of winter. The muse can be such a cruel taskmaster. Other times I'm doing just fine without Mr. Muse when a blog lands on my doorstep and practically writes itself.

Plaster Woman and Shortwave Society, Locust Street, Knoxville, February 2011

Action, Vocals, Plaster Woman! Shortwave Society Video, Knoxville, February 2011

I saw this collection of people from my window. Don't you just hate it when that happens . . . you look out your window and see a long-clawed, plaster-covered woman writhing about in a parking lot? Well, not me. I think: Blog Jackpot!

Shortwave Society Video Shoot, Locust Street, Knoxville, February 2011

Just keep singing - Don't Look Back!

I walked into the parking lot to meet some very nice people who turned out to be Shortwave Society whose most recent album Voyeur is currently on sale, as I learned, for less than eight dollars on Amazon (follow that link). The music is apparently a mix of electronic, pop and chamber sounds.

Look out buddy! Love and Compassion is behind you!

I also remembered that they are the band whose van got stolen last fall. I also recognized one of the members who I've mentioned on this blog before, Alexia Pantanizopoulos, who I discussed as she backed up Maggie Longmire and played with her other group, Norwegian Wood.

Large Claws are helpful if you talk with your hands.

Large claws make your fellow conversants more open to your views.

So, the band was on a site that I've described as urban blight. I guess one man's blight is another man's perfect set for a video. The concept of this video is a bit lost on me, but I did talk to the woman wearing the incredible plaster suit who danced behind the band for this segment of the video. She was very patient and sweet and accepted my business card into her claws. She is the wife of one of the band members (I know, a really good blogger would have gotten her name) and she explained to me that she was portraying the embodiment of love and compassion. Love and compassion which is rejected.

How does she look so sweet (and she was) with twelve-inch claws?

Scary, but nice. Loving, but potentially painful.

I can totally see that. I mean, I always pictured love and compassion as being a plaster dancing woman - who doesn't? I have to say I didn't imagine love and compassion having claws like that, but then I have heard that love hurts. I guess it's all falling into place, now.