Masonic Temple decorated

Masonic Temple decorated

The Masonic Temple at the corner of Main and High Streets, Belfast, bunting clad for Old Home Week in 1903. THE MASONIC TEMPLE The partial destruction of Masonic Hall, by an accidental fire on the evening of May 24, 1875, induced a movement for more spacious accommodations, which resulted in the incorporation, by the Legislature of 1876, of the Masonic Temple Association of Belfast, for the purpose of procuring a lot and erecting a Masonic building thereon. Early the next year, sufficient subscriptions warranted the purchase of the lot at the corner of Main and High streets, for $7500, and in June, ground for the foundation of the present Masonic Temple was broken. The building was completed in 1878. It is 83½ feet long on High Street, and 54 feet wide on Main Street. It is three stories high, surmounted by a mansard roof, and has a tower at the northwest corner. The material is brick, with freestone trimmings. The whole structure is supplied with water, steam, and gas. There are three stores on High Street, first occupied by Charles Henry Mitchell, confectioner; Cyrus R. Davis, groceries, and Carle & Mansfield, dry goods dealers. The adjoining corner store, having entrances on both streets, was taken by Horace Eugene McDonald, jeweler; and that below on Main Street by Ferguson & Rackliff, milliners. The second story was devoted to offices and the third and fourth to the Masonic Fraternity, whose hall proper, at the south end, is 46½ by 40½ feet, and 21½ feet high. George M. Harding was the architect of the building, and Israel Wood Parker the builder. Occupying the corner first floor space of the Masonic Temple Building was the Peoples National Bank THE PEOPLE'S NATIONAL BANK This association was organized in Belfast, September 4, 1892, with a capital stock of $50,000. The corner store in Masonic Temple was fitted for banking rooms, and the bank commenced business there, February 15, 1893. The first directors were Lewis Allen Knowlton, Edgar Filmore Hanson, Robert Franklin Dun-ton, and James Pattee. Mr. Knowlton was the first president, and Frank Rudolph Wiggin, cashier. An interest department was established, February 1, 1894. Upon the death of Mr. Knowlton, in March, 1898, Hon. Robert Franklin Dunton was chosen president. At the close of 1900, the loans and discounts were $110,385; value of banking rooms and fixtures, $2000; money reserve, $24,767; surplus fund, $10,000; deposits, $198,626. The officers were Robert Franklin Dunton, Charles Prescott Hazeltine, Charles Edward Knowlton, James Pattee, directors; Robert Franklin Dunton, president; Frank Rudolph Wiggin, cashier; and Joseph Emery Thombs, bookkeeper. To the right of the bank one can see the storefront of Fred A. Johnson (business unknown)