Masonic Temple Building

The Masonic Temple Building was a six-story structure made of brick and stone, displaying Second Renaissance Revival features on its exterior. Its interior was designed with Egyptian elements, including paired Doric columns, stone porticoes, and detailed carved Egyptian motifs throughout the spaces.

The building was designed and constructed between 1902 and 1903 by Chicago-based architect Oscar Cobb & Son. It stood on North Fourth Street until its destruction by fire in 2022, serving as the primary Masonic gathering place in the city for over a century.

The temple served as a gathering place for Freemasons, with interior spaces decorated in Egyptian style that gave the rooms symbolic meaning. Visitors could observe the craft and thoughtfulness put into designing these special areas.

The building was located at a central spot in Zanesville and housed various businesses over its history, including banks and insurance firms, while maintaining its role as a Masonic meeting place. Visitors should know that the structure no longer exists, as it was destroyed by fire in 2022.

A time capsule discovered in the cornerstone contained newspapers, photographs, and artifacts from 1902, including a boiler system built by Henry Roekel. The discovery revealed personal details about the craftspeople involved in the project.