Clocks at downtown Masonic Lodge working again as city OKs more
renovation funding
The clocks are ticking again
– literally – on the renovation of the iconic Masonic Lodge
building at the corner of Fourth and San Benito streets in downtown
Hollister.
Clocks at downtown Masonic Lodge working again as city OKs more renovation funding
The clocks are ticking again – literally – on the renovation of the iconic Masonic Lodge building at the corner of Fourth and San Benito streets in downtown Hollister.
Within the past week, the famed clocks above the busy intersection began keeping time again around the same time that city officials approved additional Redevelopment Agency funding for the renovation of the building, which dates back to 1907.
“The clocks are fixed,” announced Francis “Junior” Bishop, assistant secretary for the lodge. “We replaced the motors last week and right now we’re working on the inside, trying to moisture-proof it and seal it.”
Getting the clocks working again is just part of a renovation project designed to bring the building back to its former glory, including more of a brick facade, new awnings and a fresh coat of paint.
“It’s an important thing for us and the city,” Bishop said, noting that the lodge plans to re-dedicate the temple in 2011, when William Bray III – a member of the local lodge – will become the highest ranking Mason in the state at the start of that year.
“We’ve already done quite a bit of work, as most of our lodge brothers are working on the inside,” Bishop said. “We’re going to do a whole lot more by the time it’s completed in 2011.”
The Masonic Lodge, with nearly 70 members, was chartered in San Benito County back in 1871. The Order of the Eastern Star, with approximately 85 members, also meets in the downtown building.
Renovation work is being funded by member donations and rent from the businesses on the lower level of the building.
William Avera, Hollister’s Development Services director, recommended to the City Council, in its role as the Redevelopment Agency Board, that the city increase its loan to the Masons from $30,000 to $55,000 as part of the downtown facade improvement program.
“It’s a bigger building that needs pretty extensive facade improvements,” Avera said. “The most important factor is the clock tower. The city and the HDA [Hollister Downtown Association] use that as their emblem. I think it’s important that it looks good. We’re trying to get it back to how it used to be.”
Bishop said stonework will be removed on a portion of the facade and resurfaced with bricks, to replicate the building’s original look. A local glass shop was scheduled to replace the upstairs windows of the building this week.
“It’s going to take some time” to complete the renovation, Bishop said. “But you’ll see a very steady change. It’s something we’ve really wanted to do. Over the years, we never had the money to do [the renovation], but we did save up quite a bit of money and when we found out one of our lodge brothers was going to be the grandmaster, that spurred us on. I think it’s going to be a showplace when we get through.”
Avera said renovating such a visible downtown building may encourage other building owners to do the same.
“We have a few real nice buildings downtown but the northern part of San Benito Street is struggling,” he said. “This could be a key piece in encouraging other businesses to come downtown. Everybody knows this building; it’s a pride thing for me and the community.”
The RDA’s loan to the Masons is recorded as an easement agreement, meaning that if the building is sold within seven years, the city will recoup the outstanding principle, plus 7 percent.
A sale of the building is highly unlikely, Avera said, so after seven years the loan becomes “null and void,” and the Masons will not have to repay it.
