National Register of Historic Places

Sparta Masonic Temple

Sparta, Monroe County, Wisconsin
Listed
September 24, 1987
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
87001734

About this property

The Monroe County Museum is a historic building located in Sparta, Wisconsin. It was constructed in 1923 as a meeting hall for a local Masonic Lodge, and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1987 under the historic name "Sparta Masonic Temple". An order of Masons was organized in Sparta in 1854. Meetings were held in homes until 1891, when a Masonic Temple was constructed at the corner of Main and Water Streets. By 1919 the various lodges that shared the building had outgrown it, so they bought land and constructed the new building, which is the subject of this article. "Entering the marble wainscoted vestibule you come to the main hallway at the end of which a pair of French doors open into the dining room. On the right, as you enter, is the ladies reception room; next is what the lodge boys call their living room, all richly and substantially furnished in big comfortable leather davenports and easy chairs with a generous fire place at one end, and French doors opening into the dining room at the other; the woodwork is all oak, stained dark. .....On the left of the entrance hall is a large cloak room for men; next, a door opens into a well-lighted, pleasant card and reception room with tables and chairs done in Indian gray, where members can smoke, play cards, and visit. The big dining room with its polished maple floor is designed for serving refreshments and banquets and for dancing parties and socials. A stage on one side is provided for musicians. The kitchen has ample cupboards, a pantry, and plenty of shelves and drawers to hold all dishes and supplies. It has a hotel range and an electric range, together with an electric percolator for coffee. The room is well lighted and pleasant." In 1987 the building was bought by the Monroe County Historical Society. The museum's exhibits include Monroe County people, pioneer history, agriculture, military history, industry, business, and the home.

Location

200 W. Main St.
Sparta, Monroe County, Wisconsin
43.94466, -90.81276

Categories

ARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Nearby Historic Sites

Water Street Commercial Historic District
Listed
0.1 mi
Sparta Free Library
Industrial
0.1 mi
Monroe County Courthouse
Industrial
0.1 mi
Sparta High School
Industrial
0.2 mi
Williams, William G. and Anne, House
Industrial
0.2 mi

Questions about this property

When was Sparta Masonic Temple listed on the National Register?

Sparta Masonic Temple was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on September 24, 1987.

What type of historic resource is Sparta Masonic Temple?

Sparta Masonic Temple is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Sparta Masonic Temple?

The period of significance for Sparta Masonic Temple is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Sparta Masonic Temple?

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