Vandalia’s mysterious cupola building

 I like mysteries. One of the longest-running unanswered Vandalia mysteries for me has centered around the "Anthenaeum," a capitol-era theatre facing the public square from its location on Fourth Street.

It has been described as a large hall where lectures and meetings were held. In my mind’s eye, I picture an immense structure, maybe as large as the old Armory – known as The Brokerage when I was a kid. One account tells that, in later years, Ebenezer Capps used the building as a warehouse.
For a long time, I thought I was catching glimpses of the theatre when I saw the image of a dome cupola on photographs taken of Fourth Street.    
I had discussed this with fellow history buff, Dale Reeves, and one evening he appeared at my door with a copy of the 1976 VCHS "Vandalois" yearbook.
Imagine my surprise when he opened the book and pointed to a photograph revealing a three-story building on Fourth Street whose architectural style does not suggest it would contain an ornate cupola, but there it was.
The building was that of Vandalia’s Masonic Lodge. Although not visible on this photograph, an inscription of A.L. 5863, along with a Masonic symbol, indicates that this building was built in 1863.  
The history of the Vandalia Masonic Lodge is a long one, stretching back to Oct. 8, 1822, when it was chartered by the Grand Masons of Missouri as Vandalia Lodge No. 8. Two years later, Lodge No. 8 would be chartered in Illinois.
In the beginning, members met in the first capitol building, a two-story structure on the corner of Fifth and Johnson streets, which burned in 1823. This site is currently occupied by The Vandalia Leader-Union newspaper.
The offices and meeting room of the organization later moved to upper rooms on Gallatin Street. A fire at that location destroyed their original charter.
The building pictured here, bedecked with the graceful dome, stands today,  although missing a couple of stories.   
Although I did not uncover a photo of the old Athenaeum, one mystery was solved…that of the mysterious cupola.

These two pictures show the domed building located west of the Vandalia Statehouse. The picture above is looking north on Fourth Street from Gallatin Street. The picture at right shows the building as it appeared from the roof of the Vandalia Statehouse. It was occupied by the Masonic Lodge.