The mural, the window, and a plaque have surrounded the front entrance of Doric Lodge No. 92 for decades, but if you walked past in the last month, you might notice something off.
The nearly 58 year-old bronze plaque that commemorated the Masonic lodge’s 75th anniversary was stolen in early April and an unpainted cement footprint was left in its place.
Frank Burk, a Doric Lodge Past Master and the building’s manager, said fellow building manager Curtis Johnson was the first to notice it was gone and they subsequently filed a police report.
The theft also left behind a small mystery. After the plaque was stolen, lodge members noticed what appears to be a shallow cavity in the wall. It raises the question of whether a time capsule was placed there during the 75th anniversary commemoration.
“We’re, like, 50-50,” Burk said. “Should we pop it open and see what’s in there? Or should we just patch it up and put another plaque over it?”
Replacing the plaque in bronze could cost around $2,000, Burk said. The lodge is weighing its options.
Bronze theft has become a persistent problem across Seattle. A Seattle Times investigation last fall found that 14 pieces from the city’s Civic Art Collection have been stolen in the past 15 years, with 12 of those thefts occurring in the last five. According to the Seattle Times, thieves typically sell the metal for scrap at roughly $2.50 per pound, a fraction of an artwork’s actual value.
According to their website, Doric Lodge No. 92 was first organized by 13 Brother Masons in Fremont in 1892. The current temple at 619 N 36th St was completed in 1909 and has hosted other fraternal organizations and community events over the years.
Neighbors interested in learning more about Doric Lodge can attend the lodge’s First Tuesday Dinner, held monthly starting at 6:30 p.m. More information is available at doric92.org.
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