The Heart of Downtown Roseville,
The Masonic Lodge and Vernon Street
By Christina Richter
March 2021
Vernon Street and most especially, the Masonic Lodge building, is often thought of as the heart of downtown Roseville. When its cornerstone was laid in 1925 the town celebrated with parades and formal dedications. Today, it stands as the oldest structure on Vernon Street that still maintains its original configuration.
The beautiful four-story, white, gothic style building and its iconic neon red “Roseville” sign sits in the center of Vernon’s 200 block. On rare occasion the “ROS” in Roseville does not light leaving a playful neon “EVILLE” shining instead. The reason, explains lodge member and historian Kendall MacGregor, is that the sign is original and its maintenance is sometimes a challenge. But rest assured, the sign, along with the building, will always be cared for in the hands of the Masons.
In 1920, when the Masons purchased the two lots at the corner of Vernon and Washington Streets from pioneer Charles Keehner, the population of Roseville was just shy of 4,500 citizens. But the town was changing and its growth was imminent.
In the decades to follow Vernon Street would provide both citizens and travelers with dozens of shopping and service options. In the early years, car dealers started to replace livery stables and it was known that some dealers might even take a good horse as part of a trade-in.
Eventually all the livery stables, blacksmith shops and retail of a by-gone era, were replaced. In time these city blocks saw new car service stations, along with modernized offices, grocery, drug and hardware stores, bars and restaurants, banks and clothing stores. Until about 55 years ago, it was the area’s most popular place for shopping and entertainment.
Vernon Street saw an unfortunate decline once other areas of town began to house shopping options. Through the end of the 1960s, and the next several decades, this street and the area, was not considered a desirable destination.
City leaders eventually recognized the loss and through the next years a plan to revitalize the entire downtown area was discussed, studied, and finally adopted as the Downtown Roseville Specific Plan (2009). As a result, Vernon Street saw significant changes, especially in these past ten years.
Before the pandemic shutdowns Vernon Street was enjoying a revitalization that turned the downtown into a new hub of activity. There are new restaurants, retail and commercial businesses. Fortunately, the car dealerships and service stations moved on to more distant locations.
While sitting outside a (recently opened) café and writing about and admiring the Masonic Lodge, this writer overhead one side of what seemed to be a fun phone conversation: “I haven’t been to downtown Roseville in forever, and there’s a lot of cute shops and great restaurants now.”
When the pandemic is over, Vernon Street and downtown Roseville will hopefully become as lively as ever once again.
As you enjoy strolling downtown, be sure to notice the iconic 1925 Masonic Lodge that houses Mason Lodge 222 and the Roseville Theatre Arts Academy. When you do, please take a moment to remember and appreciate how the building and its keepers have stood the test of time in our community.