april 3, 2023
Dear Friends of the Masonic,
We hope this note finds you well.
You may notice some changes and activity around the Masonic in the coming days and weeks, so we thought we’d touch base to give you an update on where we are and what you can expect in the near future as we continue the work to plan and prepare for the renovation.
Firstly, we want to recognize Kathie Hicks, Peter Halley, and the entire Spirit of Newfoundland cast and crew who called the Masonic home for 15 years. We thank them for everything they’ve done to ensure the space is one that the community associates with arts, culture, and good times. The Masonic remains a St. John’s icon because of them. We wish them the best in their new home att 99 Queen’s Road and we look forward to seeing Spirit’s continued success.
Given the extent and nature of the work required in the Masonic renewal project, we wanted to let you know that as of April 1, 2023, the building will be closed to the public. Right now, in phase 1 of the project, we are working through consultative and permitting processes, which we anticipate will take until the end of year. During this time, there may be a small amount of construction for structural assessment purposes. We will be sure to keep you updated as we move through phase 1.
We are working on a new website and social media presence that will be the main hub of information and communication. Once live, we plan to post regular updates on not only the progress of the project but the stories we will inevitably uncover. We plan to launch these channels in the next couple of months. As we await the completion of the official website, we do have a live temporary landing page where you can sign up for our newsletter to be the first to know about the website launch, community updates and more – www.themasonic.ca. Please note that our newsletter/email distribution, and eventual website and social channels, will be our main source of communication moving forward.
For those of you who are not aware, the pipe organ that was stored on the Masonic’s second floor has been moved into its new home at Trinity Hall in Winterton, owned by Greg Wells. Greg is a Grammy-award winning music producer, musician and audio engineer who is based in Los Angeles but has deep roots in Trinity Bay with connections to the Green family of Winterton. We thank him and the community of Winterton for giving the organ the attention and appreciation it deserves.
As always, thank you for your support and interest in the project so far. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us at info@themasonic.ca.
Morgan and Duncan MacRae
