Masonic Temple
Why it's listed
Built in 1909 on North Main Street in Mechanicsburg's central business district, this three-story lodge was constructed for Clinton Lodge No. 113 of the Free and Accepted Masons, chartered in 1843. The lodge had earlier met in a Methodist Protestant church and then on the upper floor of the Taylor Building. The building is faced in buff brick, with red brick elsewhere, and has a central entrance, smooth stone window and door surrounds, beveled glass transoms and Craftsman-style knee-brace brackets. Its interior is largely intact. Fraternal groups, including the Masons, Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias, Red Men and Woodmen, were central to social life in the village. The Odd Fellows and Knights of Pythias buildings were lost to fire, leaving this as the only structure in town built for a fraternal organization. It also stands among the few major buildings erected in Mechanicsburg after 1900. Its architect and builder are not known.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is the only surviving building in Mechanicsburg designed specifically for a fraternal organization, reflecting the social and cultural importance of lodges in the village. It is also a good example of early 20th century architecture in a town where little was built after 1900. It remains virtually intact.
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 85001887, listed August 29, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | N. Main St., Mechanicsburg |
|---|---|
| County | Champaign County |
| Listed | August 29, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85001887 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Craftsman-influenced early 20th century lodge design |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a lodge; condition listed as excellent on the exterior and good on the interior. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.07269, -83.55632 (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 85001887.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6783739
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.