Urbana in Champaign County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Tiernan's Block / Masonic Temple
1871
Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, May 28, 2023
1. Tiernan's Block/Masonic Temple Marker
Historic Landmark
Designated 2000
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Fraternal or Sororal Organizations • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1871.
Location. 40° 6.74′ N, 88° 12.48′ W. Marker is in Urbana, Illinois, in Champaign County. Marker is on West Main Street (County Road 1600 N) east of South Race Street, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 115 W Main St, Urbana IL 61801, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Busey's Hall/Princess Theater (within shouting distance of this marker); Nat H. Cohen Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Lincoln & Photography (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Urbana's Lincoln (about 300 feet away); Abraham Lincoln - Eighth Judicial District (about 500 feet away); The Eli Halberstadt House (approx. 0.2 miles away); Lindley House (approx. 0.2 miles away); Unitarian Universalist Church (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Urbana.
Regarding Tiernan's Block / Masonic Temple. Excerpt from the application for landmark status:
Tiernan's Block is one of the originaldowntown blocks. Large buildings built around the time of the Masonic Temple were often called blocks. They usually housed a first floor shop, and the upper floors in this building contained offices and a large hall space. When built, it was known as Tiernan's Block after the original owner, Frank Tiernan, who ran a grocery store on the first floor. The third floor hall was one of the popular downtown opera houses in the late 1800's and is still intact. After the opera house closed, it housed the Urbana Masonic Lodge No 157 for almost one hundred years.
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Although little is known of the original architect, J. W. Royer, a prominent midwestern architect designed the current Classical Revival facade that resulted from a 1914 renovation. Royer is a graduate of the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, and designed many important buildings in Urbana, such as the County Courthouse, and Urbana High School. The architecture of this building is also important because of the construction materials of this historic facade. Terra cotta is not a common material in this region.
Also see . . . Tiernan's Block/Masonic Temple. Application for landmark status for the building. (City of Urbana) (Submitted on June 14, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)
Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, May 28, 2023
2. Tiernan's Block/Masonic Temple Marker
Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, May 28, 2023
3. Tiernan's Block/Masonic Temple
Credits. This page was last revised on June 19, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 14, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 49 times since then and 12 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 14, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
