Fort Worth Developer Enters Contract for Masonic Home and School Property

The Grand Lodge of Texas and the Mallick Group announced July 10th that they have entered into a sales and purchase contract for the Masonic Home and School property, 200-plus acres located at 3600 Wichita Street in Fort Worth, TX.

In a press release dated July 17th, Michael Mallick, principal of the Group, said the property will be divided into four sections, including more than 500 single-family residential lots with homes ranging from $130,000 to $200,000.

The campus opened in 1899 as the Masonic Widows and Orphans Home and has more than 22 buildings.

Last summer the Grand Lodge of Texas closed the campus and began the search for a developer to purchase the property. The school had operated for more than 100 years.

The Group plans residential and commercial use but will keep some buildings such as those built before 1960, they said. The number of historic buildings totals 12 including a spectacular cut-stone chapel built by the masons in 1954. Facilities also include residence halls, gyms, cafeteria, and an auditorium. Mallick said he hopes to sell the buildings to an organization or group that could use the campus. About 63 acres of land is earmarked for retail and commercial space.

“We’ve worked diligently to ensure the future development of the property will be something the masons can be proud of,” said Mike Gower, board president for the Masonic Home and School of Texas said in a statement.

The purchase includes a large number of buildings, said Steve Brown.

Located on the city’s southeast side, 500 houses and some shopping centers will be built on the land.

The property, bounded by Wichita and East Berry Streets and Mitchell Boulevard is one of the largest contiguous land tracts in the inner city, said Sandra Baker.

“My plan calls for preserving the 19 acres that hold most of the historic Masonic structures, building houses on 107 acres behind those buildings, and setting aside about 63 acres along Berry Street for commercial use,” said Mallick.

Councilwoman Kathleen Hicks, whose district includes the site, said that the contract is “creating a renewed sense of hope and opportunity among residents.”

In Dec. 2004 the Masonic Grand Lodge of Texas voted to close the 107-year-old campus because it became too expensive to keep open.

The home opened to care for widows and orphans of masons but evolved into a school to benefit economically disadvantaged children.