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Triune Masonic Temple
Triune Temple is one of the few historic Masonic temples still remaining in the Twin Cities area. It is one of the earliest and best preserved buildings erected exclusively for the use of a single Masonic Lodge. The structure was built for Triune Lodge No. 190, AF & AM, by Henry C. Struchen (1871-1947), a member of Triune Lodge and a prominent builder in the city. Henry Struchen, although not an architect, was a contractor and designer.
Opening ceremonies for the building were held Thursday, March 2, 1911. Triune Temple was recognized for its historic and architectural significance by being placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.
Stylistically the temple is a good example of the Neo-Classical Revival of the opening decades of the twentieth century. The exterior is virtually unchanged while the interior retains its classic integrity and remains substantially intact. The front facade features four Doric columns, pedimented windows and a decorative cornice, while the lodge room itself is adorned with stately pillars representing the five classical orders of architecture. The front of the building gives a hint of the grandeur inside. The interior cherry and maple woodwork and many of the original furnishings remain. The building is notable because it incorporates elements of Masonic ritual into its architectural design.
The
pictures show the exterior of the building and the main lodge room as they
appear today. The 1910 watercolor rendering is unusual because such “image
studies” (drawing prepared by an architect’s office to ‘sell’ his design to a
prospective client) rarely survive. Such drawings are often conceptual and do
not depict the building as it is eventually built.
Triune Temple currently serves as the home of Saint Paul Masonic Lodge, Braden Masonic Lodge, Flour City Odd Fellows Lodge, the Minnesota Living History Society, and Sanctuary of the Heart, a Unity church. There are many other organizations using the building and we welcome inquiries from individuals or groups that might be interested in renting.
Triune Temple is located at the corner of Iglehart and Howell in the Merriam Park section of Saint Paul.
