Very cool. Good link, subby.

The building was leased as a dorm to Dominican College, a local liberal arts college.

That would have been a cool dorm.

Pocket Ninja: Very cool. Good link, subby.

Indeed!

One more thing to add to my list of, "When I win PowerBall..."

I used to love to explore old abandoned buildings like that. Very cool find subbs. +1

Could swear I've seen that place before...

/obscure?

Awesome. I love the stained glass work.

Also; GHOSTS

Awesome link, subby.

Love the glass panel doors and the general architecture. The double suicide story would make a great movie...

I'm glad that the stained glass has survived.

gopher321: [mojoimage.com image 590x443]


Could swear I've seen that place before...

/obscure?

Definitely one of the scariest levels I've ever played.
Great article about it, here. (pdf)

Anything of value, like those stained glass windows, needs to be removed before vandals get to them.

Tax-free entities can afford to neglect their assets.

vudukungfu: thanks for looking.

Thanks for sharing. I'm going to share this link with my uncle, who researches Masonic places like this. He may be able to provide some information, and may be able to assist you in preserving your great grandfather's stained glass window.

wildcardjack: Why did this fail? Public socialization of risks and retirement vs private socialization of risks and retirement. Yes, FDR's regime helped topple the Masons and other fraternal orders.

Oh, and TV. TV did a number on the "what the hell am I going to do tonight" aspect of joining clubs.

They fail because no one really wants to join anymore.  When I joined the Masons, I was the youngest member of my lodge by a solid 15-20 years.  I still send in my dues check, and make a donation every year, but I can't remember the last time I actually DID anything with them.  It's the same as organizations like the VFW, Marine Corps League, AMVETS, Elks Lodges, ect...  The meetings are long winded and boring, and the guys who care about doing that stuff are old.  The VFWs near where I live tend to have lots of members, but only the older guys participate in anything.  The younger members just use the cheap bar, or are junior enlisted who take advantage of the fact that the bar doesn't card members.

Although the Masons still have some very nice retirement homes, that are very inexpensive to members, or at least have fees based on your income levels.  A fairly well off mason is expected to kick in way more to live there than one who only has a Social Security check as income.  Still very nice.  They really do still try hard to take care of their own.

devildog123: till send in my dues check, and make a donation every year, but I can't remember the last time I actually DID anything with them.  It's the same as organizations like the VFW, Marine Corps League, AMVETS, Elks Lodges, ect...  The meetings are long winded and boring, and the guys who care about doing that stuff are old.  The VFWs near where I live tend to have lots of members, but only the older guys participate in anything.  The younger members just use the cheap bar, or are junior enlisted who take advantage of the fact that the bar doesn't card members.

They're a fascinating group. I don't get them at all though. Dad's a member. I think he wishes nothing more than for me to ask to join, but as an athiest/borderline-agnostic, I have a hard time with the religiousness of it all, and the ritualization.

MadSkillz: devildog123: till send in my dues check, and make a donation every year, but I can't remember the last time I actually DID anything with them.  It's the same as organizations like the VFW, Marine Corps League, AMVETS, Elks Lodges, ect...  The meetings are long winded and boring, and the guys who care about doing that stuff are old.  The VFWs near where I live tend to have lots of members, but only the older guys participate in anything.  The younger members just use the cheap bar, or are junior enlisted who take advantage of the fact that the bar doesn't card members.

They're a fascinating group. I don't get them at all though. Dad's a member. I think he wishes nothing more than for me to ask to join, but as an athiest/borderline-agnostic, I have a hard time with the religiousness of it all, and the ritualization.

What religousness?  Yeah, there's some mysticism bs, but it really isn't that big of a deal.  I certainly barely paid attention to it.  It's mostly stupid oaths and crap.  I haven't actually gone to an official meeting in years.  I sometimes help out with pancake breakfasts, or fundraisers or something, but honestly, no one is going to bother you about religion or faith or anything, and if you don't believe in any of that stuff, why should it bother you?  Unless you're planning on being a dick about it, just go in, mumble the crap, and make your old man happy.

devildog123: What religousness?

The requirement to "believe in an higher power", for one.

/I know I'm not the one to whom you directed your question, but I have the same reservation with joining The Masons.

Vengeful Walnut: devildog123: They fail because no one really wants to join anymore.  When I joined the Masons, I was the youngest member of my lodge by a solid 15-20 years.  I still send in my dues check, and make a donation every year, but I can't remember the last time I actually DID anything with them.

Now, I know for my home blue lodge, the same really can't be said.  In fact, in recent years, we've seen an uptick in membership, which is great!  But there are a lot of younger folks around my age (mid-30s) that are showing a lot of interest in the fraternity.

At 26 I'm definitely the youngest in my lodge. I was 25 when I joined. But I agree, there seems to be a sparking interest in people in the mid 20s-30s range again; they're the majority of new members. I think the thing that really makes it interesting is actual community work. Too  many lodges just don't do anything except ritual. Don't get me wrong the rituals are a major part, but there's the part still where you go out and do good. We get together with other lodges to have charity events. We had one of those winter ocean dives, we have an annual cancer walk team, and blood drives to name a few.