tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2521156856913693008.post5382173748408284159..comments2012-01-08T11:27:46.038-06:00Nick Johnsonhttps://profiles.google.com/103085110398952602043noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2521156856913693008.post-48892916014265634222012-01-08T11:27:46.038-06:002012-01-08T11:27:46.038-06:00This has come about for the same reason the United States is in the economic situation it is in. Ulternitive motives of elected officials.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2521156856913693008.post-40876164261283702992010-05-16T00:10:36.607-05:002010-05-16T00:10:36.607-05:00What a sad, sad situation there. WHat is the world coming to, when it actually &quot;Makes sense&quot; to sell/lose such an absolute treasure.<br /><br />Something must be done.<br />shibboleth brothers &amp; SistersAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2521156856913693008.post-62284845871144492772009-12-09T19:50:52.404-06:002009-12-09T19:50:52.404-06:00Ted,<br /><br />Seems really sad to see these buildings sold. I guess there are really two schools of thought about Masonic buildings: 1. the group &quot;Save our History&quot; or 2. Happy Gilmore&#39;s grandma, &quot;a house is just a house.&quot;<br /><br />NickThe Millennial Freemasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10365269439441609340noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2521156856913693008.post-1576354204623589772009-12-09T16:10:06.559-06:002009-12-09T16:10:06.559-06:00Not surprised.<br />Sherburne Lodge 95 in Elk River is up For SALE. Asking price $395,000.Ted Nelsonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2521156856913693008.post-36385247267278112462009-11-29T09:21:56.991-06:002009-11-29T09:21:56.991-06:00Can somebody explain to me again just why we need to tax the members to save old buildings that need to be upgraded for energy efficiency, wiring, plumbing, handicapped access, and things which I&#39;m probably overlooking? <br /><br />There are thousands of nice buildings all over the US that have &quot;character&quot; simply because labor 100 years ago was cheap. My own lodge has a lot of character.It also has a stone foundation that&#39;s been mortared over, wiring that was installed by Thomas Edison, and plumbing that has been patchworked over the last 30 years. I love it, but if the place burned to the ground tomorrow, I would be just as happy rebuilding something more modern on the same spot.Tom Accuostihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07005315193581153959noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2521156856913693008.post-21069993082595955702009-11-28T14:33:02.286-06:002009-11-28T14:33:02.286-06:00I disagree, although it would have been nice if more of our brethren had set up foundations and long-term investments back in the 1960s and 70s to plan for the future, instead of letting them deteriorate. Nevertheless, in order for our temples and other buildings to be saved, we need to assess members, make pleas to them as churches do, get remembered in wills, drop the absurd anti-alcohol rules so many jurisdictions are saddled with, and get to work renting out spaces and making these buildings the centers of our communities again. It takes pros who are dedicated to the task, not part-timers who think maintenance is just throwing a little tar on the roof every ten years. It takes solid, coimmitted business plans. It might even take partnerships with caterers, event planners, etc. <br /><br />The majority of these places were built at the dawn of the Great Depression, when we didn&#39;t have the massive number of members we had in the 1950s and 60s. The brethren who built them lavished their hard-earned money on them because they believed in the fraternity. If we can&#39;t build better than they did, why can&#39;t we at least maintain what they built for us?Chris Hodapphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04201859873755654395noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2521156856913693008.post-23752462971857097402009-11-26T10:43:28.180-06:002009-11-26T10:43:28.180-06:00It&#39;s a shame but, realistically, these buildings have to be sold. Masonic organisations don&#39;t have the numbers of old, meaning a lack of income to deal with spiralling, far-above-the rate-of-inflation costs of property ownership in metropolitan areas. Masons either haven&#39;t got the money, or won&#39;t spend the money, to make up the difference, especially those who wax on that coffee should still cost ten cents a cup like in 1962.<br />Half of the Masonic Halls in Vancouver have been sold in the last 35 years and are mere memories. Another is still owned by a Masonic building society but is leased to a church and a private school.<br /><br /><a href="http://justamason.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">Justa</a>Justa Masonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18251151452545005294noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2521156856913693008.post-6502141626391496662009-11-26T03:11:48.343-06:002009-11-26T03:11:48.343-06:00Maybe Lodge 19 will buy Harrington Mansion?RedTemplarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08662434686893696906noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2521156856913693008.post-32810435807971545412009-11-25T21:27:50.342-06:002009-11-25T21:27:50.342-06:00They did, and put in many hours of work to boot. Still not sure what Lodge #19 can expect as a return on the investment. I was clued in a few days ago, but I was hoping they would try to save the &quot;house.&quot; This is really a blow to Minnesota Masonry.<br /><br />NickThe Millennial Freemasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10365269439441609340noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2521156856913693008.post-48281854442722028652009-11-25T20:03:58.459-06:002009-11-25T20:03:58.459-06:00Wow. I thought Minneapolis Lodge just spent a bunch of money refurbishing the lodge room. Was this a surprise?Chris Hodapphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04201859873755654395noreply@blogger.com