The History of Minerva Lodge and its Temple

In the beginning

Minerva Lodge No. 98 F. & A.M. was first organized in 1827, but its original charter was surrendered in 1838 due to conditions unfriendly to Freemasonry existing throughout the United States at that time. In 1843, the Lodge was reorganized, and a new charter was granted on October 23, 1843, under which the Lodge still operates. From the date of the charter until 1904, the Lodge met in various locations. Some of the known places include rooms in the building at the corner of Main & Central Avenue, and the Hoff (now known as the Odd Fellows) Building. Minerva Lodge now occupies what was once the Methodist Episcopal Church.
The first Methodist Church was built on the northeast corner of Market and Front Streets (now W. Central and Miami). In 1859, the Trustees paid $600 to Dr. John Treon for the land the situated on Locust Street (now called Second Street). Though Dr. Treon was not a member of the Church; he made several monetary donations to assist the congregation. From the information we can gather, the construction began in 1859, when the corner stone for the church was laid. Work was halted for several years due to financial difficulties. In 1867, necessary funds were finally obtained and the debt was completely paid off. Rev. A. T. Thompson moved his flock into the building's basement and held services there until the Church was completed in 1869. Rev. A. U. Beall was the minister at the dedication.
The building was a square, red brick, two-story structure with a cupola on top. The inside was the impressive part. The frescoing was done by Pedritti of Cincinnati and according to one quote was, "without a doubt, the finest specimen of artistic taste and skill in the city."