Masonic Temple (Ames, Iowa)

The Masonic Temple, also known as the A.F. & A.M. Hall, Masonic Building, Greeley Building, and the Octagon Center for the Arts, is a historic building located in Ames, Iowa, United States. Built between 1916 and 1917, the three-story, brick, Neoclassical building was designed by the Des Moines architectural firm of Liebbe, Nourse & Rasmussen. It was commissioned by Wallace M. Greeley, an Ames banker and civic leader. The building was built at the high point of Progressive era construction in the central business district, and with several other noteworthy public and semi-public buildings, marked Ames' transition from a rural town to a modern city.^[2] Arcadia Lodge #249 occupied the third floor of the building from its completion in 1917 to 1997, when they built a new building on Alexander Avenue.

Masonic Temple
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. Historic district Contributing property
Show map of Iowa Show map of the United States
Location	413, 417, 427, 429 Douglas Ave., Ames, Iowa
Coordinates	42°01′32.8″N 93°36′44.3″W
Area	less than one acre
Built	1917
Built by	Ben J. Cole
Architect	Liebbe, Nourse, Rasmussen
Architectural style	Classical Revival
Part of	Ames Main Street Historic District (ID100002399)
NRHP reference No.	16000608[1]
Added to NRHP	September 12, 2016

The building features multi-colored brick, symmetrical facades, pilasters for storefronts, cast stone columns that flank the main entrance, and a projecting band of cast stone above the third-floor windows. The building was individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2016.^[1] It was included as a contributing property in the Ames Main Street Historic District in 2018.^[3]

References

1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
2. William C. Page. "Masonic Temple" (PDF). National Park Service. Retrieved 2017-11-25.
3. Robert J. Skalecki; William C. Page (March 19, 2018). National Register of Historic Places Registration: Ames Main Street Historic District. National Park Service. Retrieved January 16, 2023. Includes maps, historic photos, and nine photos from 2017-2018.