ROSWELL, Ga. — Roswell Masonic Hall, a building constructed around 1859 in the Roswell Historic District, may be coming down following the City Council’s vote to exercise eminent domain April 8.
The 5-1 vote also includes the adjacent property at 1056 Alpharetta St. and is intended to secure land for the city’s future public parking deck and connective walkways. Councilwoman Sarah Beeson cast the dissenting vote.
Eminent domain, generally, is the taking of a property for fair market value for redevelopment purposes toward public use.
Before the decision, Roswell Historical Society President Judy Meer pleaded with the council to reconsider.
“We need a parking deck — there’s no doubt about that,” Meer said. “But, that building should be saved as part of that project and could be really a jewel right there with all the new construction coming up around it.”
Appen Media could not confirm whether the Masonic Hall would be preserved as of press time.
Masonic Lodge history
Meer sent information about the Masonic Hall to councilmembers, informing them of its historic value in a document written by former Roswell Planner Julie Martin.
According to the document, the Greek Revival structure served as the first permanent building for the Methodist Church in Roswell, built on land donated by Barrington King. It was taken over by Masonic Lodge No. 165 in 1952 when the building was likely renovated to its current stucco appearance.
For more than 90 years, the property had been landmarked and designated as historically important by federal, regional and local authorities, the document says.
The building is not labeled as a “Landmark House” in the city’s “Historic District Master Plan” from 2019.
But, according to Martin’s document, it was included on a list of historic structures as part of a 1973 report, an effort led by…
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