Masonic Temple Historical Site Move Rebuffed

Masonic Temple
Historical Site
Move Rebuffed

The federal General Services Adminis-
tration has informed the Michigan His-
torical Society that it will not recom-
mend that the Masonic Temple be placed
on the National Register of Historic
Sites.

The decision clears one of the last
remaining hurdles for construction of a
new federal building in the 300 block of
S. Fourth Avenue, where the temple and
several other buildings stand.

The city's Historic District Commis-
sion had requested the sis ' lesigna-
tion for the 49-year old st There
is some local sentiment that the building
should be preserved because it is an ex-
cellent example of its type of, architec-
ture.

An architectural survey of older build-
ings in Ann Arbor last year classified the
temple as one of 28 structures in the
downtown area with "Outstanding irre-
placeable architectural value."

A design for the federal building is ex-
pected to be completed next fall with
bids for construction going out in Janu-
ary. Construction is expected to be comp-
leted in the summer of 1976.