by Scott Schaefer

Sunday (Mar. 7th) was the final day of the Poverty Bay Wine Festival, a fundraiser for the Des Moines Rotary Club at the historic Landmark Event Center in Des Moines.

There are dozens of reasons to come down this afternoon, from the 25 local wineries, various food vendors, local beer samplings, live music, MINI Coopers parked out front, great crowds as well as the fantastic causes this event supports for the community.

Another huge reason to venture down today is that it is being held in a grand, historic building that once served as the Masonic Retirement Center of Washington. Built in 1926, this majestic, six-story, castle-like building is so cool that you can get lost just walking around admiring it.

And, it may be haunted, according to the company’s website, which mentions that a ghost named “George” allegedly haunts the 5th floor.

To make things even more interesting, if you know anything about the Freemasons, you know that these guys (which include many of our founding fathers) were really into symbolism, and are known to have a myriad of secrets and rituals (check out the Wikipedia entry for Freemasons). There are Masonic symbols scattered throughout this building, despite the fact that it’s no longer a working retirement home. We recommend that all visitors venture up the ramps and explore around the third floor ballroom, paying special attention to the long-dead Grand Master Masons whose pictures line the wall (see if you can find Selucius Garfielde), as well as some of the detailed touches, such as a marble plaque dated Feb. 12, 1913 near the entrance and the classic Masonic symbols built into some of the furnishings (see photo at right).

One of the more interesting Masonic artifacts we found while at the festival is a time capsule that’s buried near the fountain at the center of the exterior front gardens. To us, at least at this moment in time, this time capsule is a mystery. As it is to Jane Ipsen, CEO and President of the Landmark Event Center.

“I have no information on that time capsule,” Ipsen said Saturday when asked about the Masonic mystery. “There’s no paperwork or records here in the building, so it’s a big mystery to us what’s in there as well. It’s owned by the Masonic Retirement Center of Washington, and it’ll stay there, at least until it’s opened in 2030.”

The cryptic-looking time capsule was sealed in place in a Masonic ceremony at 9pm on Aug. 25, 1980, and is scheduled to be opened again at 9pm on Aug. 25, 2030, some 20 years from now (so mark your calendars – we have, and we’ll see you here then!).

Here’s a closeup pic of the time capsule’s plaque:

Here’s the exact text inscribed on the time capsule plaque:

9 P.M.
Aug. 25, 1980
A. Dep. 2980

Records beneath to be restored to the craft 9 p.m. Aug. 25 A.D. 2030. The 150th anniversary of the General Grand Council Cryptic Masons International. Deposted by the most illustrious Grand Council Royal and Select Masters of Washington.

Most illustrious Grand Master…Elgan W. Cox

Deputy Grand Master……Morris J. Bean

Principal Conductor of Work…Norman F. Camp

Most Puissant General Grand Master.John Harris Watts

One interesting element on the plaque is the use of the date “A. Dep. 2980,” which, according to our research, indicates the Masonic dating terminology “Anno Depositionis,” which means (according to this website) “the year in which Solomon’s Temple was completed.” This appears to be a common dating method used by “Royal and Select Masters,” and indicates that they add 1,000 years to the common era.

So…interesting history, mysteries, a possible ghost, Masonic symbols, excellent wine and beer tastings, food, live music, great people having a great time for a good cause…all at the Landmark Event Center until 5pm today.

Oh, and we’re here as well, blogging live from a table near the main floor ballroom, that is, until our time runs out…

by Bart Bryan and Mark Neuman

The Landmark On the Sound, host to this weekend’s Poverty Bay Wine Festival, has quite the Masonic history.

In 1926, the Masons decided to build a retirement home for themselves on a ridge with a commanding view of Puget Sound in the then-town of Zenith, which is now part of Des Moines. Constructed of slate and copper, Terra Cotta and Terrazzo, marble and stained glass, this majestic “castle on the hill” played host to the Des Moines Poverty Bay Wine Festival this weekend. This impressive 27-acre campus, as well as the historic Landmark building, is undergoing a complete renovation and expansion into a new senior living community.

In between manning our table, we had a chance to wander around, and on one such wandering, found our way to the top of a ramp near the second floor auditorium tasting room and performance stage, where we found some classic photos of previous Masonic Grand Masters.

Yes, that’s right – photos beginning with, as the caption on the picture says, “Our first Grand Master, Thornton F. McElroy,” [term beginning Dec. 8, 1858].

If you ever have a chance to visit this building, be sure to wander up the ramp and enjoy the mugs of such brethren Masonic luminaries as:

• Selucius Garfielde [1860]
• Yancey Crawford Blalock
• Platt Preston
• Asa Herbert Hankerson [1913]
• Elwood Evans
• Loomis Baldrey [1934]
• Audley F. Mahaffey [1967]

and, of course,

• Fred Winkels [1953]

We recommend re-reading the above names…ALOUD…to anyone in the room at home with you right now.

Particularly: Fred Winkels…and…Audley Mahaffey.

While our Waterland Blog Reporters were upstairs capturing the Grand Masters’ names and the Masonic spirit of the era, they happened to bump into a Wine Festival visitor today, one Phyllis Askren, daughter-in-law of Grand Master Thomas M. Askren, who served his term when Herbert Hoover was in the White House.

From left, Julian Lopez, Betty Askren-Lopez (granddaughter of Grand Master Thomas M. Askren) and Betty’s mother (Thomas’ daughter-in-law) Phyllis Askren.

Living history and enjoying great wine, one unique name at a time!