Washington Masonic Home Brochure: 1938

As a follow up to my April 2020 article The Three Masonic Homes of Washington, here is another recent acquisition to my collection of ephemera related to the third Masonic Home of Washington at Zenith (Des Moines), Washington, which was designed by the architectural firm of Heath, Gove and Bell and dedicated on June 21, 1927. This is an advertising brochure for the Masonic Home of Washington at Zenith from 1938.

Cover of a brochure for The Washington Masonic Home, Zenith, Washington, 1938. Author’s collection.

Page gallery of the brochure for The Washington Masonic Home, Zenith, Washington, 1938. Author’s collection.

New Masonic Home of Washington, Located at Zenith

As a follow up to my April 2020 article The Three Masonic Homes of Washington, here is a recent acquisition to my collection of ephemera related to the third Masonic Home of Washington at Zenith (Des Moines), Washington, which was designed by the architectural firm of Heath, Gove and Bell and dedicated on June 21, 1927. This is an advertising postcard for the Masonic Home of Washington at Zenith:

Transcription of the text on the reverse side of the postcard:

NEW MASONIC HOME OF WASHINGTON

Ground broken August 8th, 1925 – Cornerstone laid May 1st, 1926 – Dedicated June 21st, 1927 – Cost approximately $800,000 [just over $12,000,000 in 2021 dollars (!!!)]

Fireproof construction: buff exterior, brick and terra cotta trim, red tile roof; is 175 feet above sea level and contains five stories and basement. Front gable is 75 feet high; 350 feet across front. Contains 108,600 square feet floor space. Solariums on all floors at each end of north and south wings. Elevator and ramps from basement to fifth floor, also three stairways. Building contains 226 sleeping rooms.

Basement – Contains hot water heating and ventilating plant, refrigeration plant, laundry and numerous store rooms, also a supper room 35x80 feet, a smoking room and a billiard room.

Main Floor – Contains social hall 30x45 feet, offices, library, dining room 44x64 feet, kitchen, superintendent’s living quarters, Grand Master’s room, Grand Matron’s room, and living rooms for members.

Second Floor – Contains chapel 44x64 feet, with stage and balcony, also infirmary and living rooms for members.

Third, Fourth, and Fifth Floors – Contain living quarters for members.

A History of the University District Masonic Building

Bro. Adam S. Alsobrook, AIA, member of University Lodge No. 141, F. & A. M. in Seattle, Washington, just completed a research project on the history of the University District Masonic Building, which was constructed in 1909. The paper also explores the early history of the University District and the founding of University Lodge No. 141, Free and Accepted Masons.

The paper also highlights the work of architects such as Bro. Francis W. Grant and Bro. Austin Grant of Grant (no relation), Copeland and Chervenak, Architects.

Come explore 111 years of Masonic history in Seattle below:

An Outline Biography of the Life and Professional Career of Ulysses Grant Fay, Architect

This document is an overview of the life and career of the architect Ulysses Grant Fay, who was born in Rochester, New York in 1865 and moved to Seattle in 1906, where he died in 1918. Relatively little was known about Fay until my research on the design and construction of the Masonic Building at the 1909 Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition. This document is a compilation of information on Fay that I found in vital statistics records, censuses, newspapers, trade publications, periodicals, directories, and other sources. It is intended as a study guide and reference work for others interested in the life of this relatively obscure figure in the architectural history of the Pacific Northwest.     

Early Masonic Meeting Places in Seattle: 1860-1915

Bro. Adam S. Alsobrook, AIA, member of University Lodge No. 141, F. & A. M. in Seattle, Washington, just completed a research report entitled: "Early Masonic Meeting Places in Seattle: 1860-1915." This paper explores buildings in Seattle that were constructed specifically for Masonic Lodges, and also sheds light on existing buildings that were adapted for Masonic uses. Many of these early Masonic buildings were lost to the wrecking ball long ago, and only a handful of these buildings survive to this day.

This report is intended to serve as a high-level overview of these buildings. Some of these buildings will be the subject of forthcoming research papers over the coming months.

A Forgotten Building by a Forgotten Architect at Seattle's Forgotten World's Fair: The Masonic Building at the 1909 Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition

Bro. Adam S. Alsobrook, AIA, member of University Lodge No. 141, F. & A. M. in Seattle, Washington, just completed a third research paper entitled: "A Forgotten Building by a Forgotten Architect at Seattle's Forgotten World's Fair: The Masonic Building at the 1909 Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition." This paper explores the planning, development, design, and construction of the Masonic Building at the 1909 Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition in Seattle. It also delves into the adaptive reuse of the building after the conclusion of the exposition and its demolition in 1922. The paper also presents additional biographical information about the architect Ulysses Grant Fay that was discovered in the course of Bro. Alsobrook's research into the Masonic Building.

Come explore this long-lost building and discover the role that it played during the 1909 Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition, which has become known as Seattle’s Forgotten World’s Fair.

The Three Masonic Homes of Washington State

Bro. Adam S. Alsobrook, AIA, member of University Lodge No. 141, F. & A. M. in Seattle, Washington, just completed just completed a research project on the history of the Masonic Homes in Washington State. This research paper explores the establishment of the first and second Masonic Homes at Puyallup, Washington during the first two decades of the 20th century and also documents the history of the third Masonic Home at Zenith (Des Moines) Washington which was constructed in the mid 1920s.

The paper also highlights the work of noted Washington architects such as the Tacoma architectural firm of Heath & Gove, which later became Heath, Gove & Bell, and the work of Seattle architect Andrew Willatzen (later spelled as Willatsen).

Come explore 130 years of Masonic history in Washington State below: