Keep The Faith

The iconic Masonic (I'm a poet and I didn't know it) Temple is up for sale.

See Nighttime Neighbours and Ha! for some eariler musings.

Many local dignitaries have recently had their photo taken in front of it as a show of support.

And some other big shots, too.

Bell Media are selling the building and the Masons are hoping to, if not buy it, at least convince the new owners to restore it to its former glory.

Constructed in 1917, at its peak, the Masonic Temple was home to 38 different Masonic bodies: 27 Craft Lodges, six Chapters (York Rite), two Preceptories (Knights Templar), two Scottish Rite Bodies and Adoniram Council.   Oh I'm sure there must have been a few conspiracies going on there.....

Of course, it also has a great rock and roll history.

In the years before its sale to Bell Media, it had been known as The Concert Hall, and earlier, in the late 1960s, The Rockpile, a sitting-on-the-floor style concert venue which featured not only top local talent,  but also Toronto's first Led Zeppelin concert on February 2, 1969, during the band's inaugural North American Tour.

So good luck coming to an agreement  with the new purchasers.  But if not, it would make a great spot for....uhhhhh.....condos!