Masonic Lodge,

717 Hodges Street, Lake Charles, LA 70601

"All for the kids ..."

"Under construction from storm"

"Masonic Lodge, 717 Hodges Street — Construction began in the summer of 1920 but was delayed on account of the difficulty in getting stone. Knapp and East were the general contractors and the superintendent of construction was Mr. J. L. Wirth. Work was completed in November of that year. The architecture of the building is mostly Corinthian. Original features of the building include: steam heat, an underground boiler room, and an interior lobby finished in marble. The latter is also used for the stairs leading to the first landing and the next flight is finished in mahogany. This structure replaced the previous brick lodge that was destroyed in the 1918 hurricane. Mrs. J. A. Bel donated the organ as a memorial to her late father, Daniel J. Goos and her late son, Ernest Bel. The instrument arrived in two sections and was constructed with an open egress that conducts the tones through ducts from the organ to the organ chamber, the lodge room and banquet hall. There are three consoles, and when the melody is played in the lodge room the sound is not audible in any other part of the building, and it is the same when played in the banquet hall or organ chamber."

"I'm a master mason so, I'm biased."

"Not friendly or welcoming at all."