Masonic Temple to close June 30

YOUNGSTOWN

The Masonic Temple, located at 223 Wick Ave., will close come the end of June.

Tim Johnson, secretary of the board of directors for the temple and manager of the seven-floor building, explained the costs associated with the building are what led to the board’s decision to close.

Closing the temple has been an on-going discussion for about two years, Johnson said.

“This building is very expensive to maintain,” Johnson said.

The building was opened in 1910 as a meeting place for free masons. Funding for the building comes from the groups that gather there.

The number of groups that meet there has diminished and the number of people in the groups diminished, so the funding diminished.

The temple will officially close June 30.