Masons to Masterpiece: Re-Imaging of Masonic Hall
by Dan Greeson
This article originally appeared in the Summer 2024 issue of Art with Altitude.
Once the home of the tight-knit Freemason society, the top floor of Steamboat Springs’ historic Routt County National Bank building is now a showcase for another tight-knit community: the community of the arts. The space that once housed Elk Mountain Masonic Lodge #118 now contains the Brinkman Creative Space—a crossroads between historic architecture and contemporary art.
Richard Jones began construction on what is now the Routt County National Bank building in 1918. The building was originally planned to be a courthouse in what was to be Courthouse Square. However, by the time the building was completed in 1919, it had evolved from a community space into a commercial hub, a reflection of the town’s rapid growth during that time.
The building’s ground floor held the Routt County National Bank, while its upper floor was specifically designed to house the Elk Mountain Masonic Lodge. Art Gumprecht, a prolific local carpenter who worked on dozens of buildings in downtown Steamboat Springs, designed the expansive interiors, which
would go on to host school dances, meetings and many other community events. The architecture features a mix of brickwork and large, inviting windows embodying Steamboat’s early-20th-century aesthetic.
“The building showcases the permanence and grandeur that the town was seeking in the late 1890s to early 1900s,” says Katie Adams, curator at Tread of Pioneers Museum. “The use of the locally quarried stone and the arched windows makes for a really beautiful building, I think. Plus, it is one of the few buildings on Lincoln Avenue with masonry work that we can attribute to Carl Howelsen.”
In 2022, the Elk Mountain Masonic Lodge could no longer afford costs related to the downtown location and sold the space to relocate to the property of longtime local Freemason Ray Selbe. Paul and Chresta Brinkman, the building’s owners, recognized the potential in the space’s architecture, and repurposed a portion of it to showcase local art, particularly during First Friday Artwalk. Lizzie Larock and John Russell are among the artists featured thus far in what has been dubbed the Brinkman Creative Space.
“The original space had almost a throwback retro design,” Brinkman says. “Vaulted, high ceilings, a lot of natural light and original features make it an ideal place for the arts.”
The Brinkman Creative Space retains its historic charm while adding a new venue for the local visual arts community. “Having the original hardwood floors and the original lath and plaster on the walls, some of the unique, original light fixtures–I think that lends to a really unique experience,” Brinkman adds.
Ray echoes this sentiment. “The space has large rooms and lots of walls,” he says. “It’s got lots of glass and good lighting–it’s very conducive to displaying art.”
Featuring contemporary art against the building’s historic backdrop creates a dialogue between past and present. “The nice thing is, it benefits the tenants that are in the space too,” Paul adds, referring to the office spaces that make up a portion of the second floor, including Mountain Architecture, Fish Pond, Ikonic Adventures, and a family office.
As the art scene in Steamboat Springs continues to thrive, the Brinkman Creative Space provides a space where history and art can intersect. Experience this intersection firsthand at the next First Friday Artwalk.
Elevate the Arts: Stop by Steamboat Creates to pick up a First Friday Artwalk brochure, or stop by Brinkman Creative Space on First Friday to check out the space and discover local artists. DG
