The massive Victorian Romanesque building on the corner was built as two adjacent two story buildings before 1880. In 1902, it was remodeled to be used as the Masonic Temple under the leadership of former Confederate General Stephen D. Lee who headed the lodge. The first floor housed various businesses while the second and third floors were rooms for boarders and ceremonial Masonic Lodge chambers. The third floor consisted of the “Blue Lodge” and the “Red Lodge” and consisted of approximately 20,000 square feet of space and 15-foot pressed metal ceilings. The Masons met in this structure for over 80 years until the roof was damaged in a fire in 1982. The ghost sign on the side of the building represents Joseph and Selma Hanna’s general store which was located on the first floor of this building from 1917 until it closed in the early 1960’s. A wide range of merchandise from overalls and gingham cloth to hoop cheese, deli meats (bologna) and candy was sold here.
