Grand Prairie lodge rich with black history, structural trouble

Once a community hub, lodge now among state's endangered sites

Tuesday, February 26, 2008 - By Jon Nielsen / The Dallas Morning News

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In a decrepit building where the wind seeps through sunlit cracks and a cold rain falls through an open roof, Lawrence Oliver preaches.

He recites passages from the dog-eared pages of a book that chronicles the history of Grand Prairie's Livestone Lodge. But his most powerful speeches aren't scripted.

"If walls could speak, I'm sure they'd tell some stories," he said, glancing at the lodge's turquoise-tinted interior that can't hide its decay. "This building will never lose its value as history."

Once a meeting place for Grand Prairie's black community, Livestone Lodge has fallen into disuse and disrepair. In one spot, the hardwood floor arches like a speed bump. On the second floor, once hallowed ground for Masonic meetings, part of the roof has collapsed.

This month, Preservation Texas named the lodge one of three endangered structures in North Texas. Mr. Oliver, the worshipful master of the Grand Prairie Masonic Lodge, is working with the group to revive the building on Southwest 18th Street.

"Everything that looks dead isn't dead," he said.

Built by the descendents of freed slaves in the 1900s, the building was the community schoolhouse, courthouse and dance hall. It symbolized freedom and was home to Juneteenth festivities.

"When you talk about the new beginning of black people in Grand Prairie, this was it," Mr. Oliver said. "This was the spawning place."

Even after it was moved across town to the predominantly black Dalworth district in the 1940s, the lodge was where the community gathered to discuss politics and current events.

"It was kind of like a town hall," said James Newman, a former Mason who lives in Dalworth.

The Masons held their last meeting in the building in the mid-1980s. For the last seven years, Mr. Oliver has mowed the lawn around the structure, venturing inside to pick up empty beer bottles left by vagrants.

"At least the building is still serving a purpose," he said.

Because of a shortage of funds, the Masons have struggled to keep up with repairs. Aside from a coat of paint, little has been done to the historic structure.

"When you think of masonry, you think of a rich society," said Mr. Oliver, correcting the misconception. "But when we [repair] it ourselves, we put a Band-Aid here, a Band-Aid here. Meanwhile there's a hemorrhage."

According to the Dallas Central Appraisal District, the property is worth $7,900.

Mr. Oliver estimates it would cost between $75,000 and $100,000 to restore the building's original luster.

Preservation Texas will help Mr. Oliver and the Masons find an architect, an engineer or grants that could help with possible renovation.

The group recognized the Grand Prairie structure along with dozens of others across the state.

"This year, the sites showcase some of the more vernacular buildings in Texas," said Preservation Texas executive director Krista Gebbia. "The smaller, lesser known sites are just as important as our courthouses."

Elderly Masons and city historians applauded Mr. Oliver's efforts.

"The building itself is probably the oldest building in this area," said Mr. Newman, 78. "For historical value, [restoration] would be a good idea."

Longtime City Council member Ruthe Jackson helped research the Livestone Lodge throughout the years. She said she's excited that someone is making the preservation effort.

"If Lawrence can get with it, I know he can find people in Grand Prairie, especially in the Dalworth community, who would like to support that," she said.

Mr. Oliver has sights on engineering a bridge honoring his predecessors and educating the future. He envisions a computer lab on the bottom floor to show children that there is a world beyond Dalworth and Grand Prairie.

As he turns to lock the lodge door, he points to a bullet hole and shakes his head. The structure's nostalgia has been lost on someone. But it gives Mr. Oliver another opportunity to preach – this time about young people and history.

"This is unnecessary destruction of property. ... The reason is they're not getting an account of the struggles that their grandparents faced before them."