Masonic Temple

Masonic Temple

Masonic Temple West Virginia Collection within the Carol M. Highsmith Archive, Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division
1917, Albert Breternitz. Southeast side of Main Ave. between 3rd and 4th sts.

A monumental, four-story fraternal temple, among the largest of its type in the state, is another of Weston's architectural surprises. Architect Breternitz had a bit of trouble with some of the details (the juncture of the ground-story arcade with the wall of the building is awkward), but the overall impression is—in a word—impressive. Above the arcade, a monumental portico has giant-order, fluted Doric columns that support a fully detailed entablature and pediment. Acroteria that originally enlivened the silhouette have disappeared.

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