Wiley G. Clarkson, Architect

Corsicana:  June 1908 to Dec. 1911

Fort Worth: Jan. 1912 to May 5, 1952

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The Masonic Organization and The Moslah Shrine

 The Masonic Temple

Fort Worth, Texas

located at 1100 Henderson Street Fort Worth, TX 76102, is situated on a hillside on the southwest end of Downtown Fort Worth facing the east.  It holds a prominent position making it standout among the other building surrounding it.  Designed in a classical modern phase of art deco, it also has a blend of several other architectural styles.  Clarkson used Indiana Limestone and a ziggurate style design to make it stand out like an ancient Greek temple. This building has Texas historical landmark status.  He was a member of Fort Worth Masonic Lodge 148

Later Jobs for the Temple:  #542, 646, & 646B

The first proposal for the Temple

The Moslah Shrine

"mosque for Moslah Temple, Fort Worth Shelf 5 Job 84"

Wiley Clarkson was an active member of Moslah Shrine but this was not generally known until a membership certificate was found in personal records 100 years after its issuance.  The photo was supplied to me by Moslah Shrine in Waco and the following answer to my email:  "That is very fascinating regarding your grandfather. He was obviously very talented.  Ground was broken on the first Moslah Shrine Center, or Mosque as it was then called, on Reynolds Point overlooking Lake Worth, on September 5, 1917. This building was destroyed by fire on January 10, 1927. Shortly thereafter, Moslah Shrine moved into the Masonic Temple at 1100 Henderson St., where it has resided ever since."  Of course, the Masonic Temple was also one of his most well known projects!

The Masonic Home for Children

was located in southeast Fort Worth a short distance from Hwy 287.  The campus included buildings designed by architect Wiley G. Clarkson of Fort Worth and it was listed in the National Register of Historic Places as a historic district in 1992.  In 2007, the property was sold to a developer who has donated it to ACH Child and Family Services.  The reproduced a scan from his records of buildings he either designed or altered.  Included are old photographs of four of the buildings that he used in his portfolio of work for the years of 1912 thru 1927.

Cleburne Masonic Temple

Eastland Masonic Lodge

Decatur Masonic Lodge