Building of the Day: 1054 Bushwick Avenue

Brooklyn, one building at a time.

Name: Ridgewood Masonic Temple
Address: 1054 Bushwick Avenue
Cross Streets: Corner of Bushwick and Gates
Neighborhood: Bushwick
Year Built: 1920
Architectural Style: Simplified Beaux-Arts
Architect: Koch & Wagner
Other Buildings by Architects: Ralph Bunche house – Kew Gardens, Queens. East Brooklyn Savings Bank- Bedford and DeKalb Ave. Bed Stuy.
Landmarked: No, but part of a proposed Bushwick HD.

The story: This building once held one of Bushwick’s many social organizations. The Masons were and still are one of the largest fraternal organizations in Brooklyn, and their fine buildings are among some of our most beautiful and important buildings. This one was built in 1920, at a time when Bushwick was expanding from being a predominantly German-American neighborhood, into a neighborhood with a more diverse population, with different kinds of social societies.

The building, the only Beaux-Arts building on Bushwick Avenue, was designed for the 710 Masonic Lodge by the firm of Koch & Wagner. They are a familiar name in 20th century Brooklyn architecture, best known for banks and commercial buildings. Arthur R. Koch and Charles Wagner were both Brooklynites, and both graduated from Pratt Institute. They became partners in 1910, and remained in business together until 1951, the year before Arthur Koch died. That in itself is pretty amazing, most architectural partnerships don’t last that long. Over the years, both men also became president of the Brooklyn chapter of the American Institute of Architects. (AIA).

Most of their commercial buildings are in this neo-classic, Beaux-Arts style. One exception is the neo-Tudor house that they designed for Nobel Peace prize diplomat Ralph Bunche, in Kew Garden, Queens. The building was a perfect new home for Lodge number 710, being the combination of three smaller lodges. The Masons used this building until they relocated to the Astoria Masonic Temple in Queens in the 1970’s. It’s got a classic Beaux-Arts limestone first story, with classical columns and arched windows. Most of it is still in good shape, and would be great for some inventive kind of adaptive re-use. Until recently, the building was used as an event space, hosting rock concerts and film shoots. Hopefully, someone will invest in this great space, and bring it back to life, and to good use. The longer it sits abandoned, the less likely that will be. GMAP

Kudos to Professor Ward Dennis’ Historic Preservation class, of Columbia University, for the excellent research, found on their website. http://bushwick-studio.wikispaces.com/