Coldwater in Branch County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
H.C. Lewis Art Gallery ⎯⎯⎯ Masonic Temple
Photographed by Joel Seewald, May 14, 2017
1. H.C. Lewis Art Gallery / Masonic Temple Marker
Inscription.
H.C. Lewis Art Gallery, also, Masonic Temple. .
H.C. Lewis Art Gallery. Businessman Henry Clay Lewis and his wife, Alma, built the original part of this structure in 1869 to house their extensive art collection and make it available to the public. The Italianate building complimented the Lewises' adjacent home. Upon Alma's death on 1895, most of the art was donated to the University of Michigan in accordance with Henry's will. The building served as a Y.M.C.A. from 1896 until 1913, when it became the Masonic Temple.
Masonic Temple. The Tyre Lodge #18 Free and Accepted Masons of Coldwater organized in 1847. In 1867, Coldwater Masons and their female relatives formed the Order of the Eastern Star Chapter that became the oldest continuous Eastern Star chapter in the world. In 1913, Coldwater Masons and Eastern Stars bought the Y.M.C.A. building that had been the H.C. Lewis Art Gallery. Architect Maurice Carney redesigned the Italianate-style structure into a Mission-style building.
H.C. Lewis Art Gallery
Businessman Henry Clay Lewis and his wife, Alma, built the original part of this structure in 1869 to house their extensive art collection and make it available to the public. The Italianate building complimented the Lewises' adjacent home. Upon Alma's death on 1895, most of the art was donated to the University of Michigan in accordance with Henry's will. The building served as a Y.M.C.A. from 1896 until 1913, when it became the Masonic Temple.
Masonic Temple
The Tyre Lodge #18 Free and Accepted Masons of Coldwater organized in 1847. In 1867, Coldwater Masons and their female relatives formed the Order of the Eastern Star Chapter that became the oldest continuous Eastern Star chapter in the world. In 1913, Coldwater Masons and Eastern Stars bought the Y.M.C.A. building that had been the H.C. Lewis Art Gallery. Architect Maurice Carney redesigned the Italianate-style structure into a Mission-style building.
Erected 2014 by Michigan Historical Commission - Michigan Historical Center. (Marker Number L2258.)
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Location. 41° 56.431′ N, 84° 59.931′ W. Marker is in Coldwater, Michigan, in Branch County. It is at the intersection of East Chicago Street (U.S. 12) and North Hudson Street, on the right when traveling west on East Chicago Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 45 East Chicago Street, Coldwater MI 49036, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Southwest Michigan. It is also in the American Midwest and on the Great Lakes. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Northwest Territory.
Credits. This page was last revised on May 13, 2022. It was originally submitted on May 18, 2017, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan. This page has been viewed 715 times since then and 38 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on May 18, 2017, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan. 4. submitted on May 13, 2022, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio.
Editor’s want-list for this marker. Looking for a picture of "the Lewises' adjacent home". • Can you help?
