Masonic Hall

As you head down Jordan street back toward town, turn right onto First Street. You will cross Jordan Creek and be on Morning Star Street. On your left will see the large Masonic Hall. Silver City’s Masonic Hall was originally built as the area’s timber planning mill in the early 1860s, turning out beautiful boards for all the town’s homes and businesses as well as timbers for the mines. The original woodwork on the inside of this building shows the workmanship that went into this large showpiece of the town, with hand painted wood grain, moldings, and other handiwork. The building also had a large social room and dancefloor for the community on the second floor that was used by the Masonic Fraternal Order starting around 1868. The town boasted two lodges at that time, Owyhee Number 5 and War Eagle Number 6, both chartered in 1868. The groups consolidated in 1881 to form Silver City Lodge Number 13 and many prominent Silver City men were members. 

The Masonic building was the focus of entertainment in Silver City, hosting dances, masked balls, concerts, weddings, and other social events throughout the hey days of the town. The building’s toilet emptied straight into Jordan Creek. Because the building spans the creek, residents liked to say they “passed over the Jordan” when they went in the building’s front door and exited the back door. At some point the building was privately purchased from the Masons and remains privately owned today.