The transformation of the Humphrey Scottish Rite Masonic Center

Nestled in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the Wisconsin Consistory Building was built as a Romanesque-style Congregational church in 1889. This structure underwent a metamorphosis in 1937, transitioning to an Art Deco style. Today, it serves as a venue for weddings and banquets, and it contains a chapel, an auditorium, a reception hall, and a pub.

Judson Titsworth served as a pastor for the Plymouth Congregational Church, which aimed to be a "people's church" ministering to the community with social programs like the Third Ward Mission, a boy's club, adult education, a reading room, and the Milwaukee Rescue Mission. As the congregation decreased, the Scottish Rite Masons took the reins in 1912, making adjustments to mirror their requirements. By the 1930s, even they sought more space. The architect Herbert Tullgren was appointed to give the building a fashionable Art Deco makeover, re-cladding the old building with a new roof and styling.

Notably, the removal of the chimneys flanking the corner dome marked a significant change. Spanning an entire city block, with approximately 22,000 square feet (around 2,000 m2), the building houses its various facilities for both Masonic purposes and public rental. In October 2017, it was sold to a development company, officially marking 106 years of continuous Scottish Rite occupancy and ownership.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons