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Exterior and interior views
of Masonic Temple and Scottish Rite Cathedral
Exterior photograph from
the National Register Collection, interior photograph
courtesy of the Scranton Cultural Center at the Masonic
Temple
Detail of Temple
Photograph
courtesy of the Scranton Cultural Center at the Masonic
Temple
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The Masonic Temple
and Scottish Rite Cathedral is significant as an example of
the work of Raymond M. Hood (1881-1934), a prominent architect
of the 1920s and early 1930s, and as a unique example of Neo-Gothic
architecture in Scranton. Raymond Hood's productive career spanned
from 1922, when he and a collaborator won the Chicago Tribune
design competition, to his untimely death at 53 in 1934. Hood
became a nationally prominent architect trained in the Beaux
Arts tradition and proficient with historic styles. During those
12 years, Hood was the principle designer or primary collaborator
in a number of high-profile progressive skyscraper designs,
mainly in New York City, where he designed the Daily News Building
and the McGraw-Hill Building in mid-town Manhattan, and was
part of the team that designed Rockefeller Center. The Masonic
Temple and Scottish Rite Cathedral is located on North Washington
Avenue in downtown Scranton. The 1930 temple-cathedral is a
highly stylized Neo-Gothic and Romanesque pastiche executed
by Hood. The design of the building was to be a monument to
Masonry. Masonic lodges in Scranton for years felt the need
for a suitable home or temple, and prior to the construction
of this building they used an old armory. Bids for construction
were taken in January, 1927. The Masonic Temple and Scottish
Rite Cathedral was inaugurated on January 2, 1930 when the first
meeting was held in the building. The rectangular plan building
is clad in coursed ashlar Indiana limestone supported by a structural
steel framework. The front (west) facade is divided into three
sections: the central and southern sections consist of five
stories and the northern section consists of three stories.
The temple-cathedral includes an auditorium and ballroom that
are available to the Scranton community for various functions.
The Center hosts a number of artists and programs, from local
to international, as well as Arts in Education courses for all
ages. Regular performances include The Broadway Theater of Northeast
PA, Scranton Community Concerts, the Northeast Philharmonic
and the resident theater company, TNT.
The Masonic Temple and Scottish Rite Cathedral is located
on 416-420 North Washington Ave. in Scranton. People interested
in touring the Masonic Temple can join "A Day at the Cultural
Center" which includes various activities and the tour. There
is a fee. Visit the Center's website
or call 570-346-7369 ext. 102 for further information. |