The Prince Hall Masonic Temple, located at 1335 North Boulevard in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, is a historically significant site tied to the African American community and the civil rights movement. Constructed in 1924, the building initially served as a meeting hall for the Grand United Order of Odd Fellows and housed the Temple Theatre and the Temple Roof Garden, both integral to Baton Rouge’s Black cultural scene. In 1948, the Prince Hall Freemasons acquired the building, and in 1994, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Prince Hall Freemasonry, established in 1784, is the oldest African American Masonic order and has been instrumental in advocating for racial uplift, mutual aid, and social justice. Masonic lodges such as this one provided safe gathering spaces for Black leaders, including businesspeople, clergy, and politicians, particularly during eras of slavery and segregation.
The Prince Hall Masonic Temple played a pivotal role during the civil rights movement, notably in the Baton Rouge bus boycott of 1953. This protest was one of the first organized mass actions against segregation in public transportation and served as a model for the Montgomery Bus Boycott led by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The Baton Rouge boycott demonstrated the power of peaceful, organized protest and highlighted the role of religious leaders and community organizations in fighting for civil rights.
Another significant historical moment tied to the building occurred on January 10, 1972, when Baton Rouge experienced a violent confrontation between members of the Nation of Islam and local law enforcement on North Boulevard. The incident resulted in the deaths of two sheriff’s deputies and two civilians and underscored the deep racial divisions in the city at the time.
The Masonic Temple was also connected to the fight for recreational equality. During the segregation era, Baton Rouge had separate public facilities for white and Black residents. African Americans were denied access to the City Park swimming pool and had to swim in unsafe public waterways. In response, Reverend Willie K. Brooks formed the United Negro Recreation Association in 1945 to raise funds for a Black community swimming pool. The Prince Hall Masonic Temple hosted fundraising events for this initiative, and by 1947, Brooks Park Pool was established. It remains the only public pool in Baton Rouge to this day.
Today, the Prince Hall Masonic Temple is set to undergo renovations. The historic building will be repurposed into a multi-income apartment complex while preserving its iconic ballroom, which will continue to be used as an event space, ensuring that the structure remains a vital part of the Baton Rouge community.
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