What's next for long vacant Frank B. Hower Cathedral in Corning? What we know.

The long-vacant Frank B. Hower Scottish Rite Cathedral, a former Masonic Lodge in Corning, is likely once again headed towards foreclosure, according to Mitch Alger, Steuben County Deputy Commissioner of Finance.

The 146 Walnut St. structure, which was erected in 1920, has been empty since 1992 when the Valley of Corning Masonic Temple held its last meeting at the site before moving to a Reynolds Avenue location.

In August 2023, the Corning City Code Enforcement Office found the 14,432 square foot site to be in an unsafe condition and structurally unsafe. A hole in the roof was visible over the winter.

“Over the years, the building has deteriorated significantly and is in need of repairs,” said City Manager Mark Ryckman.

Three Rivers Development Corp. of Corning looked at the site in the past but determined "it was just impossible to make it work," then-president Jack Benjamin previously told The Leader. Benjamin noted the site has difficult access with no parking attached, and would require substantial financial resources to redevelop the building.

Alger said the taxes owed on the property must be paid by May 8 to keep the property out of tax foreclosure. According to Steuben County records, taxes have not been paid on the property for the last several years.

Around $8,500 is owed in back taxes dating back to 2022. The property is assessed at $50,000.

Property has changed hands several times in the past 25 years

The site, which has played an important part in the city’s history, has had five different owners since the early 2000s, many with plans to reuse the historic site with no success, said Tom Dimitroff, a local historian.

The Masonic Temple was sold during the Steuben County property tax foreclosure action in 2016 for $31,655, and was most recently acquired for $1 in 2021 by Corning Public Theater Inc., according to county records. Ownership did not return calls seeking comment.

The Masonic Temple was once a hub of activity in Corning, with something going on at the four-story building every night, according to members.

While owned and occupied by the Masonic Temple, the building included a lodge room, and the ground floor was the home of a large banquet hall. The second floor was a 100-seat auditorium with a large stage.

The Valley of Corning Masonic Temple at one time had more than 2,500 members.

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A look at the building’s history

The four-story brick and limestone building represents the eclectic movement of the 1880-1940 period, according to Alice Johnson-Schmidt, a Corning area preservation architect.

Improvements in building technology in the 1920’s allowed for a surge of mimicry of European landmarks. The building was constructed by the Corning Building Company in 1919-1920 and remains intact on the exterior.

It was built by the Masonic Order of Corning on property purchased from the Walker estate. C.B. Walker's home once stood at the site.

This section of Walnut Street between Denison Parkway and First Street is now completely occupied by commercial and public buildings with no residential use.

The Scottish Rite Cathedral has a strictly semantical Walnut Street facade, with two corner towers that stand five stories tall topped by hexagonal brick caps with stone quin corners and hexagonal roofs.

The main facade features carved stone quatrefoils and other carved decorations. Radiating to either side of the building's name at the third flood level are six porthole type windows, three on each side, one of which is in each corner of the tower.

The first, second and fourth floors each have symmetrically placed multi-pane, double-hung windows artfully on the face with stone strips which break the brickwork up into sections.

This article originally appeared on The Leader: Former Corning Masonic Temple declared unsafe, may go to tax sale