Downtown Princeton lost a significant piece of its history with the collapse of the Princeton One Hour Cleaners building that housed the former Masonic Lodge on West Court Square Thursday morning.
The two-story building was constructed in 1899 as the home of the Clinton #82 Lodge for Free and Accepted Masons (F&AM) and was known for its striking architecture and ornamental qualities.
Caldwell County historian Linda Ward said four faces appeared across the top of the building that demonstrated the virtues of a mason.
click to download audioOfficials at the scene of the building’s clean-up said two of the four ornamental faces were saved intact.
Because the lodge and its members met upstairs, Ward said they were able to rent out the bottom part to local businesses through the years. She said the Princeton Post Office was also located there at one time.
click to download audioWard said several other businesses called the first floor of the building home until a local resident just out of the military returned home from the Vietnam War to begin a business.
click to download audioRichard Jones was discharged from the U.S. Air Force in 1967 following service to his country in Vietnam that included receiving two Bronze Stars. He returned home to Princeton with his wife and opened Princeton One Hour Cleaners on the first floor.
The Masonic lodge moved to its current location on Masonic Drive in 1988. However, Jones maintained the appearance of the building through the years to include the ornamental faces on the front.
Princeton Fire Chief Brent Francis said the age of the building which included a metal fire escape on one side likely contributed to the collapse.
