The Detroit Masonic Temple is one of those wondrous, colossal edifices of
the 1920s, incorporating the equivalent of a movie palace, the public
spaces of a major hotel, a cathedral or three, and a dozen lodge halls,
all in one Gothic structure -- with but few remodelings or modifications
since 1926.

With 1037 rooms on 14 floors, twelve million cubic feet of space, it is
the largest Masonic Temple in the world.  It's located on Temple Street;
the telephone exchange for its neighborhood, where I lived in 1980-82 as a
law student, used to be called "TEmple" (now 831, 832, 833).

For more details about the building and its history, see:
  http://www.themasonic.com/history.html
  http://detroitmta.lodges.gl-mi.org/

Yesterday I received the following in email:

>      I have long enjoyed the Political Graveyard website and have, on
> occassion checked it, in some of my own research activities.  I thank you
> for what appears to be a "labor of love."  Recently, I wandered onto your
> homepage and was surprized to note the Masonic Temple of Detroit was one of
> your favorite buildings.  Have I got a deal for you!
>      I happen to be the President of the Masonic Temple Association of
> Detroit which owns and operates the largest Masonic Temple in the world.  I
> have been concerned over the ever decreasing public appreciation of
> architectural heritage and felt it vital to the survival of that building
> and the heritage it represents, to foster an appreciation of it.  To that
> end, I asked our "in house" museum to develop a course of instruction for
> docents to offer tours of the building to interested parties.  Dr. Thomas
> Brunk took that ball and ran with it.  I'm happy to report the first cadre'
> is graduating this November.  Further, as it was my idea, I also was a
> student therein.
>      I extend an invitation to you, and whom ever you choose to bring with
> you, to visit us on the afternoon of 9 November 2002 for a tour of this
> architectural wonder.  I will personally conduct your tour.

If any of y'all are going to be in the Detroit area on Saturday, November
9, and would like to join me in touring this architectural marvel, let me
know!

                                   Larry

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Lawrence Kestenbaum, [log in to unmask]
Washtenaw County Commissioner, 4th District
The Political Graveyard, http://politicalgraveyard.com
Mailing address: P.O. Box 2563, Ann Arbor MI 48106

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