This post seeks to serve as a Requiem for the Cornucopia Lodge Masonic Temple which was razed this past Summer of 2018 with only a slight community whimper.  The now destroyed edifice stood on the corner of Northern Boulevard and Union Street in Flushing since the June 13, 1908 cornerstone was laid and dedicated. In 1864, under dispensation, Cornucopia Lodge #563 became the First Masonic Organization to be formed in the Village of Flushing. The Village of Flushing was not part of New York City and it became the first Lodge formed in the Queens Area.  The Lodge hosted many social events over its long historic tenure in Flushing, many also hosted next door over at the Armory [see below].


   Invitation to the Queens Masonic Charity Ball November 26, 1929

The Temple was the first multi-story brick building built in Flushing and it served as the home of Cornucopia Lodge until 1990.  Sadly, however, the Lodge was forced to sell the building due to the high real estate taxes imposed by the City of New York whence it became occupied by the Siloam Reformed Church up until recently.  The Landmarks Preservation Commission rejected protecting the site in 2014, finding that “it did not rise to the level of an Individual Landmark” according to spokeswoman Damaris Olivo and the trend of expansive development ultimately took its course upon the structure.  The owner of the site today, an LLC, will build 12 units in the planned eight-story structure, according to the real estate news website YIMBY. Retail, medical office and residential space is set to go there, and demolition permits were filed in 2017.  



The Cornucopia Lodge still exists in spirit despite the fact that its historic Flushing roots have now all but officially been severed.  

Cornucopia Lodge meets on the First and Third Tuesday of the month (except July and August) at 7:30pm. The first meeting in September can be cancelled by a vote of the members.
 
Meeting Location: Whitestone Masonic Temple
149-39 11th Avenue
Whitestone, NY  11357-1720