German American Society moving into iconic Friendship Masonic ...

The iconic Friendship Masonic Lodge in Northeast Portland's Rose City Park neighborhood is getting a new tenant -- the German American Society.

The 200-member nonprofit, which has begun demolition, plans to use the building as a headquarters and social club much in the way the Masons did, according to Building Committee Chairwoman Hella Betts.

The Masons were headquartered at the facility from 1921 until November of 2011 when the group moved its headquarters to Kenton. Now the German American Society is renovating the historic building at the intersection of Sandy Boulevard, Alameda Street and 57th Avenue, with the hope of making it the group's new home.

Sister organizations and clubs also plan to use the site, including the Germania Choir, Skat Players and Ladies Aid, and a Saturday immersion language program. The nonprofit remodel plans include administrative offices, board meetings, concerts, movies, cooking classes, crafts, dances and the annual ?Heritage Ball," according to zoning documents.

The facility may also be rented to outside groups such as dance and theater groups, wedding parties, dancing groups and cultural groups, the way the Masons did.

"We hope to be a good neighbor and to be able to offer some things to the neighborhood," Betts said.

The German American Society two years ago had its headquarters at the intersection of S.E. Division Street and 79th Avenue condemned. The city's actions proved to be a "blessing in disguise," Betts said.

The Masonic Lodge is actually three buildings, she explained, and the oldest dates back to 1914. The dining room was added in 1933 and the red bricked section in the 1950s. Bringing the buildings up to city codes and handicapped requirements will be a big part of the $2 million makeover.

The remodel will add an elevator and new stairs, a new entry, new windows and skylights, bathroom upgrades, new hardwood floors throughout, and new paint and furnishing, air conditioning and other features.

The German American Society hopes to be settled in its new home by February.

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-- Larry Bingham

Source: http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2012/10/german_society_moving_into_ico.html

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