It was never a particularly beautiful building from the outside, this building that overlooked Wright Park. Dedicated in 1922, it only remained the Scottish Rite Masonic Cathedral until 1937 when it was sold to The Bible Presbyterian Church, a group that separated from the First Presbyterian church just across the alley. Like many large urban church buildings with dwindling congregations, it was sold.
In it's place a developer will build a 122 unit apartment building, one of several new urban infill apartment/condo projects in our neighborhood. With the cost of housing in Portland and Seattle becoming prohibitive for many, escapees are streaming into Tacoma. What will I miss most? Walking by the three huge old vibrant red rhododendron bushes covered with bloom each spring, their blaring exuberance a jarring contrast to the stark side wall of the church.
The increased density has benefits but it's still sad to see a big and not-so-old place like this torn down. While I wasn't particularly fond of this building, what takes it's place may or may not be an aesthetic improvement.
On the right is First Presbyterian Church.
These pictures were taken on a Sunday walk. It was sunny when we set out and again when we returned home but during the walk the wind whipped up, and we were pelted with hail and heavy rain. It felt right to see this demolition site in the rain. On the ground I found a soaking wet folded piece of printed paper & threw it in my bag. Upon inspection, it was a page from a 1948 newspaper which must have fallen from some hiding place in the building. Looks like leaves aren't the only things falling this autumn.
Here's an interesting article written in April about the possibility of this happening.
Here's an interesting article written in April about the possibility of this happening.
Wednesday Vignette is hosted by Anna at Flutter and Hum. Mosey on over there to join in the fun.