Columbian Lodge No. 7 Free and Accepted Masons
Also known as: The Flowers Building
Why it's listed
Built in 1902 by Columbian Lodge No. 7, Free and Accepted Masons, this four-story building at 101 12th Street in Columbus served as a Masonic hall, with a two-story meeting auditorium on the third and fourth floors. Architect T. Firth Lockwood designed it in the Chicago Commercial style, with granite piers and Corinthian capitals on the first floor, rounded arches with keystones on the third, tall pilasters, and a terracotta architrave and cornice. Its vertical emphasis is described as Sullivanesque, with Romanesque touches suggesting the influence of John Wellborn Root. It is the only Chicago Commercial example in Columbus and is far larger than typical commercial buildings there. The Masons sold it in 1940 to Joe E. Flowers for $90,000. Flowers rented space to many local professionals and businessmen, making it a major office center downtown. The street-level entrance was remodeled around 1950 to 1960, and the building is in fair condition.
Significance in brief: It is significant locally as a turn-of-the-century Masonic Temple that later became a major commercial center in downtown Columbus, housing offices of leading professionals and businessmen. It is also the only example of the Chicago Commercial style in town and is notably large compared with the average commercial building in Columbus.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 80001156, listed September 29, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 101 12th St., Columbus |
|---|---|
| County | Muscogee County |
| Listed | September 29, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80001156 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | T. Firth Lockwood |
| Architectural style | Chicago Commercial |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in fair condition and used as commercial office property; windows were boarded over in 1979 to prevent water damage. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 32.46878, -84.99157 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 80001156.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5149940
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.