We visited this Masonic lodge, AF & AM Corinthian Lodge, Number 78, in 2006 in Calvin, North Dakota, and got photos with no idea that it would soon be gone. Mariah Masilko took these photos in 2012.
Sometime between our visit in 2006, and Mariah’s shots in 2012, the upper floor had collapsed.
See this lodge when it was still standing.
While the rest of the lodge had collapsed, the piano would not yield.
The ruins of this lodge stood for several years in Calvin.
In May of 2014, the property owner burned the remaining ruins of this lodge in Calvin.
Photos by Mariah Masilko
Original content copyright Sonic Tremor Media LLC
Ghosts of North Dakota 
Have you ever checked out the old Masonic Temple in Jamestown? At least, I’m reasonably sure it’s Masonic — the painters weren’t sure. I had no clue about any of the organization’s symbolism or history, but a quick glance around gave me the best kind of chills. It’s an incredible space.
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My sister owns the amazing masonic lodge in Jamestown. It truly is a sight to see inside and out. From huge brick fireplaces, an old drop door and huge dome in the ceiling.
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Aw. How Sad. My Great Grandparents were from Calvin. I believe my Great Grandmother died in a house fire after they moved off the farm into town. My Grandmother, Mom and all their siblings were born and raised there. We would go visit my Gr. Aunt and Gr. Uncle until they finally moved off the farm in the late 70s. It was a ghost town even then. I did not appreciate the quiet little community until I was an adult. It has been a decade or more since I went and looked at Calvin. Most of my families homes were gone then, but the Lodge was still standing guard to the little empty town.
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The circles next to the Mason symbol appear to be part of the Odd Fellows logo – so it could have been used by them as well?
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They are not actually circles, but the first part of the lodge name, “Corinthian.” They do look a bit like the circles in the Odd Fellows logo, now that you point it out though!
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Where is the house located, in the pics below.
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The Masons used to put on a formal supper for the high school juniors and seniors every year. It was the only time I was ever in the building. When I went through in 1992, it was the only building still standing on main street. There were two house trailers, one where the school superintendent’s house used to be and one serving as the post office.
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Would love to see a photo of “the school superintendent’s house” — because I think my grandfather was the school superintendent in Calvin in the 1920s and I have a photo of the house in which they lived while in Calvin (with my grandma standing in front of the house).
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I joined the Corinthian Lodge in 1971 when I was 21 years of age. Sponsored by my uncle Austin Lewis and also taught the memory portions by him. His father, Samuel is buried in the Corinthian cemetery just north of town. The cemetery was begun and owned by the lodge and is now more or less a community cemetery. My headstone is there awaiting my return.
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