Ancient Egypt in downtown Warren

Early 20th century Masonic murals need restoration

By Ted Hayes
Posted 5/6/16

Walk up to the second floor of the Washington Masonic Lodge on Baker Street and it’s like stepping back in time — way back.

Though the Masonic Lodge was built in 1798, gigantic murals that …

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Ancient Egypt in downtown Warren

Early 20th century Masonic murals need restoration

Posted

Walk up to the second floor of the Washington Masonic Lodge on Baker Street and it’s like stepping back in time — way back.

Though the Masonic Lodge was built in 1798, gigantic murals that would have been at home in ancient Egypt line the walls of the second floor lodge room. There are paintings of Ra the Sun God, sphinxes and scarabs. Pyramids and peasants line the walls, where they have been for more than a century. They are remnants of the early 20th century Egyptian craze that swept America, and now the old murals need help.

Time has taken their toll on the paintings, and the lodge has been awarded a $3,000 grant o help study them in preparation for their ultimate repair and restoration. It will be a lot of work.

The Masonic Lodge is considered one of Warren’s most important buildings. But its construction in 1798 helped precipitate the murals’ deterioration. With no insulation in the walls, the rooms in which the murals are housed is susceptible not just to temperature swings, but to high humidity.

Lodge Master Bob St. Jean said an art restoration specialist will be coming in in a few weeks and will advise members on what to do about the murals. There are cracks, chipping and flaking paint, and fading. However, none of the murals have been lost, nor has the Egyptian-themed furniture that has also been there for a century.

“They’re beautiful,” he said.

“We’re not sure what we’re going to do exactly. I would like to preserve all of them.”

The murals were painted during the building’s last major restoration in 1915. Warren artist and lodge member Max Muller painted the Egyptian-themed fresco murals after the theme was selected by lodge members. Inspiration came from the “Book of the Dead” and the “Papyrus of Ani,” which were loaned to Mr. Muller by the Boston Public Library. The furnishings and fixtures of the Lodge room were chosen based upon the murals and remain in place today.

Working with the family of Mr. Muller and advice from the Rhode Island Historical Preservation and Heritage Commission, lodge members approached The Felicia Fund of Providence for funding for the restoration of the murals. The fund supports historic preservation, art and architecture projects on the northeast seaboard of the US.

Together with support from Mr. Muller’s, nephew, Kenneth Bosworth of Swansea, the fund grant will fund art conservator, Alexandra Allardt of Newport to complete a study of the murals, making recommendations to the Lodge for emergency repair and their long-term restoration.

While the unique interior decoration of the building is of great importance given its fragile state, the lodge is also actively involved in capital improvements to the building’s exterior.

Robert Major, president of the Preservation Cooperative in Warren, has completed an analysis and restoration pan for the building’s exterior. With funding from the Warren Heritage Foundation and the Warren Preservation Society the Lodge has begun work on Phase I of Mr. Major’s plan to seal and stabilize the building’s exterior to stop the continuing deterioration of the exterior and interior of this important building.

Want to see the murals? The lodge and Lodge Room are open to the public the second Tuesday of every month from 5 to 7 p.m. and upon request, for tours and special occasions. In addition, Mr. St. Jean said the lodge will soon be part of Bristol Warren Art Night, which will allow art lovers to tour the building.

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