The 1920′s saw the rise of grand Masonic complexes across the United States. As part of the movement, the Rhode Island Freemasons planned an ambitious complex designed by Osgood & Osgood, one of the era’s noted architectural firms. Work began in 1927, and foundations and building frames were constructed before economic times changed drastically in 1929. Work was halted, and the project lay dormant until the 1940′s.
Construction began in the early 1920s by the FreeMasons in conjunction with what is now the VMA. They were built together with a tunnel, or small triangular structure linking the two at ground level. They were started after the current State House, and so, the Greek Revival style of both buildings were intended to complement it.
Well, when the Depression hit, money started to dry up. Soon, all the workers had to go off to fight in the war. Money for completing the structure was completely gone by the time they came back, and the buildings stayed empty and unfinished until the 80s. Finally, in the 80s, the city took the buildings over and rehabbed the one with (arguably) the most potential, or the least amount of work. This became the Veterans Memorial Auditorium. The structure that linked the two was decided to be too dangerous in the shape it was in, and so it was taken down. That is why the two buildings now operate as separate structures.Many plans for the remaining building have come and gone. It was going to be a hotel, government offices, mixed use residential/commercial, and all plans fell through either for lack of money or planning. One proposal would have changed too much of the structure, and the building is protected from these changes by being designated a historic site.
