Masonic Temple (Ludington, Michigan)

 building, masonic building, mixed-used building, historical building, commercial building, 19th century construction, 1889_construction, 1880s construction, 1888_construction

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Building constructed in 1888-1889, the entrance to the Pere Marquette Masonic Lodge is located in the middle of the building (between Cedar Chest and The Evergreen). The Masonic Lodge was established on January 11, 1872 at the Bee Hive building (no longer exists) at 209 W Ludington Ave., it was then relocated to 302 W Ludington Ave. around late 1870's, and later to this building on May 4, 1889. The temple was remodeled into a three-story structure in 1923. A fire devastated this building on January 4, 1945, but it was rebuilt by owner Brother Karl Ashbaker for a few months.

Today, the first floor of the building currently houses a consignment shop and a natural food store.

The AM radio station WKLA (1450 AM), which went on air on October 8, 1944, was housed on the second floor of the Masonic Temple until 1951, when it was relocated to its present location at 5941 W US-10.

External links
www.newspapers.com/image/1227280/?terms=%22108+w+luding...
www.newspapers.com/image/1227339/?terms=%22108+w+luding...
news.google.com/newspapers?id=9WNOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=yjsDAAA... (about the fire that destroyed this building)