By 1921, the planning for a new building was started as they Masons were outgrowing their current hall.  On 7 October 1921 an organizational meeting was held at Masonic Hall on the corner of Main and Curtiss streets. In the previous week $20,000 were pledged to the construction of the building. In December committee assignments were made for managing the construction project. Burr Cullen Downes was the President of the building association. Fred E Dowe was made Secretary of the building association. Build and Grounds were chaired by John W Nash, Finance was chaired B. E. Balezynski, Membership was chaired by E H. Huntington, Special Membership was chaired by  John W. Graves, Social Committee was Theodore Dreuttel, Publicity was chaired by H. P. Jones, and M. K. Bush chaired the Audit Committee.

The architects for this building were Fugard and Knapp. The builders were John Soller and Son Contractors, who soon after were awarded contracts for the Village Hall and St. Joseph school building based on satisfaction with the Masonic Hall.

Site selection was completed by the Temple Association in April 1922. The site chosen was on the southwest side of Washington and Curtiss Streets. It was described as the Foster property.

The cornerstone for this building was laid on July 24, 1924. Grove Lodge held their first meeting in their new temple on February 16, 1925. Charles C. McCann, Master in 1937, bought it for taxes and sold it back to the lodge for $1.00. That check was never cashed but was framed on the wall of the room when he died.

This building is home to Grove Lodge No. 824, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. The Lodge was charted October 4, 1893. Charter members included E. E. Downer, G. E. Downer, M. B. Downer, T. S. Rogers, Charles Mochel, W. S. Carpenter, and William Repine, who served as first Worshipful Master.

At least five new churches called the building home. During WWII the building was used as a Civil Defense Shelter and military motor pool training center. It also served as a temporary hospital during the 1947 Zephyr train crash.

As with all Masonic Buildings this one is dedicated to Freemasonry, Virtue, and Universal Benevolence.

Sources

• “Masons Meet Tonight to Discuss Temple Project,” Downers Grove Reporter, 7 October 1921, p. 1.
• ”Committees for Masonic Building Assn Announced,” Downers Grove Reporter, 2 December  1921, p. 1.
• “Pick Site For Masonic Temple at Assn. Meeting,” Downers Grove Reporter, 22 April 1922, p. 1.
• “Soller Given Contract For Mason Temple,” Quad-City Times, 15 April 1924. p. 15
• “John Soller and and Son Contractors [advertisement],” Quad-City Times, 17 June 1926. p.
• “New Downers Grove Church Call Pastor,” Chicago Tribune, 21 November 1948, p. 17
• “Laying of the Downers Grove Masonic Temple Cornerstone From The Downers Grove Reporter July 18, 1924,” Grove Masonic Lodge # 824 AF and AM website