When DeLand's Freemasons built this lodge in 1926, the third floor had no windows — just slits for ventilation — to ensure that no outsiders could witness their secret rituals.
There, in the dark of the night, the Masons re-enacted the mystic initiations they've performed for centuries, guiding new members through symbolic death and rebirth. They even had a tomb built into the floor, like a grave they could open and close.
Sadly, the Masons lost their building to bankruptcy after just two years. The secret temple on the third floor has stood vacant ever since — but the psychic energy they generated in that space remains to this day.
Visitors report a haunting sense of magic and mystery that seems to emanate from the very walls, floors, and ceilings. Some people have heard voices and footsteps, along with the ominous sense that they're being watched. Some say they've seen their companions slip into a trance-like state.
The paranormal experiences they report could be residual energy, echoing through time — or it could be that the spirits of the old Masons themselves have returned to their former temple, to reunite and re-enact their sacred rites from the Great Beyond.
Next location: Let's cross Howry and walk a block south down Woodland Avenue, where we'll reach the Artisan Hotel.
