Masonic Temple Building
Approximate location: the National Park Service places this pin arbitrarily within the property, not at a surveyed point (stated accuracy ±12 m).
Why it's listed
Built in 1907 at 427 South Blount Street in Raleigh, this three-story building was constructed by two Black Masonic lodges, Widow's Son Lodge No. 4 and Excelsior Lodge No. 21. It has a wood frame, brick veneer, flat roof and Italianate-inspired window details, with commercial space on the ground floor, offices on the second and an assembly hall on the third. Widow's Son Lodge was organized in 1867 by Bishop James W. Hood, and its members included Stewart Ellison, a Wake County legislator, and James H. Young, a newspaper publisher. The lodges rented the hall for dances and leased store space to a funeral parlor, barber shop, drug store and professional offices. Its location near Moore Square helped anchor a Black business and social district that grew around Hargett Street. As integration and economic decline drew businesses away in the 1960s, the building became partially occupied. It remains tied to the history of Black community life in Raleigh.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building represents the social and charitable structure of Raleigh's African American community after the Civil War. It housed the Widow's Son Lodge No. 4, the first Black fraternal association in Raleigh, and Excelsior Lodge No. 21, and was linked to leaders such as Bishop James W. Hood, Stewart Ellison and James H. Young. Its location helped draw Black businesses and residents to southeast Raleigh. It is also called a typical early 20th century commercial building.
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 84002533, listed May 3, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 427 S. Blount St., Raleigh |
|---|---|
| County | Wake County |
| Listed | May 3, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84002533 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900- |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Architectural style | Italianate details on a simple three-story brick commercial building |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Black, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as a partially occupied building; ground floor space holds a church and a school of hairdressing, and the brick exterior was recently sandblasted. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | East Raleigh-South Park Historic District |
| Coordinates | 35.77430, -78.63652 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Religious properties are listed for their architectural or historical significance, not their religious use. Listing is honorary and does not restrict the congregation's use of the building. The federal rehabilitation credit is generally unavailable unless part of the building is income-producing; some state programmes and preservation grants do cover religious buildings. Federal funding or permits trigger Section 106 review.
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 84002533.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6783773
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.