Masonic Park, a community within a community, is a Senior Citizens Complex, owned and operated by the Masonic Fraternity of Newfoundland and Labrador. It is situated on approximately twenty-four acres of land within the City Limits of Mount Pearl, just off Mount Carson Avenue.

Masonic Park exists today mainly because of the actions taken by the Board of the Masonic Hall Joint Stock Company Limited. First by acquisition of a parcel of land near Paddy’s Pond in 1959, and then in September 1967, when the Provincial Government required this land for a Sea Plane Base, it was exchanged for a nine acre parcel of land on Kenmount Road, approximately five miles from the junction of Thorborn Road. Then in November 1968, the Board received a grant of Crown Land from the Provincial Government, which consisted of a little over twenty-three acres in area, and abutting the nine acre parcel. This land was designated to be for “Masonic Benevolent Program”.

Masonic Park was also in receipt of two small parcels of land located between the eastern boundary of the Park and Mount Carson Avenue, which increased Masonic Park land area to the estimated twenty-four acre parcel that exists today. One parcel was received through the Quieting of Titles in September of 1980, and Mr. Fred Newhook graciously donated the second parcel to Masonic Park on August 19th, 1998.

During the early half of the 1970s, the Board of Masonic Hall Joint Stock Company Limited had a number of problems to deal with, including: a shortage of space to accommodate all the requirements of tenants in the St. John’s Temple, along with the rising costs of repairs and maintenance of the Building. Because of these and other problems, the Board decided to look into the feasibility of re-locating the facilities to the land on Kenmount Road, and erecting a building more suitable for the present and future needs of the Fraternity.

At first, a meeting was held on March 8th, 1975, with representatives of seven Lodges, to discuss the proposal to re-locate to the Kenmount Road property. Positive support was the result, with a decision to meet again on May 10th, with all concerned Masonic Bodies invited to attend.

At the May 10th meeting, with a good representation from most concerned Masonic Bodies, and after considerable discussion on the proposal, there was once again strong support for the re-location. A Steering Committee of three was appointed to determine the feasibility of the project. The Committee did their work very well and presented a final report at a meeting of almost two hundred Masons on October 26th, 1976. The report in great detail recommended re-location and inclusion of a Senior Citizens Complex. All matters were considered in depth, after which there was strong support for the recommendation and a decision to set up a committee to carry out the Steering Committee Recommendations.

The Committee, which eventually numbered twelve, began work immediately, meeting regularly for almost five years before meeting with success. Two companies were incorporated, namely: Masonic Park, a Non-Profit Corporation to own and oversee the Senior Citizens Complex, and Masonic Place, incorporated to be the holding Company of the New Masonic Temple. The members of the Committee became the founding directors of both companies.

After almost five years of meetings and discussions with Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, the St. John’s Metropolitan Area Board, the Provincial Government, Lawyers, Financial Institutions, Architects and other stakeholders, and after receiving approval in principal for financing, a decision was made to proceed with the building of the Senior Citizens Complex on the twenty-three plus acre parcel of land. The Provincial Government approved the building of a Senior Citizens Complex as complying with the terms under which the land had been granted, which was for “Masonic Benevolent Program”.

Planning for the proposed New Temple had advanced to the point where tenders could have been called. Plans and a scale model were presented. However, because the projected cost was in the neighborhood of several million dollars, the Directors of Masonic Place decided that this was a financial obligation they were unwilling to undertake on behalf of the Fraternity. It was therefore decided to defer the building of a new home for the Masonic Fraternity until a later date.

With plans for the Senior Citizens Complex completed, a tender call was made with the result that the firm of NECCO (The Newfoundland Engineering Construction Company) was awarded the contract for construction of the complex. Land clearing began early in 1981 followed by a spring construction start, and a sod-turning ceremony held on July 10, 1981. In November 1981, the first tenants took up residence and the official opening took place on July 14, 1982.

Construction was approximately fifty percent completed when the prime contractor, NECCO, unfortunately went into receivership. The result was that all work on the complex stopped, but only for a few days, until successful negotiations with the contractors Bonding Company resulted in Ryan Construction and Development Limited taking over the project with authorization to continue and complete the Complex.

The original contract was to build 208 Residential Units and a 28 bed Nursing Home. However, in September 1982, it was decided to increase the Nursing Home to 42 beds. This has now been reduced to 40 beds as a result of re-allocation of Nursing Home Space. Also, a garage to house a Maintenance Department, a three hundred thousand gallon underground water storage tank was also built, as was a pump house, mainly as a water reservoir to provide pressure and sprinkler adequacy in case of fire. This has been converted to storage, since Masonic Park is now connected to the Mount Pearl water supply. Also included was the provision of total under ground services, paving of the roadway and courts, street lighting, and landscaping.

A building to become a home for a Club for tenants living in the Complex was built in 1985. The cost was a little over $100,000 and it was financed without any Government assistance. Approximately one half of the tenants in Masonic Park are paid up members of the Senior Citizens Club. The Club is run by the tenants and for the tenants, with a nominal membership fee. A program of events is planned throughout the week, including darts, bingo, cards, dancing, bowling, and sing-a-longs.

In 1994, the Complex was enlarged to 220 Residential Units with the addition of a twelve unit building under a special program with Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation.

A sod-turning ceremony on September 9, 1996 marked the beginning of construction of a Chapel, extended on the existing structure of the Nursing Home. The Chapel was a much-needed addition to the Complex, and it serves a vital role as a Multi-Purpose facility for recreation needs of the Nursing Home Residents, along with a general meeting place. The cost of the Chapel was close to $300,000, and it was also built without any Government financial assistance.

Masonic Park is now located within the City of Mount Pearl as a result of changes to the boundaries of the City in 1982. Before that date, Masonic Park was located in the jurisdiction of the St. John’s Metropolitan Area Board.

The total cost of Masonic Park exceeds twelve million dollars. Of this, over seven hundred thousand dollars was contributed by the Fraternity, mostly for the purchase of furniture and equipment for the Nursing Home, the building of the Chapel, and the Senior Citizens Center.

A Board of Directors, twelve in number, manages the Park. Ten members are appointed by the two ruling Masonic Bodies in Newfoundland and Labrador, five from each. The other two are members of the Board by virtue of their office namely, the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Newfoundland and Labrador, and the District Grand Master of the District Grand Lodge of Scotland.

Today there is a lengthy waiting list of persons interested in residing in Masonic Park. This list had its beginning when a need and demand study was made before construction to determine the feasibility of the Complex. This study produced a satisfactory list of interested persons and has in fact continued to grow even up to the present time. Since the beginning, all vacancies have been filled from the waiting list. Admissions are made on a first come, first serve basis, the date of the application determining the order of rotation. It is important to point out that members of the Masonic Fraternity DO NOT have a priority in gaining admission to the Park. It could take up to eight years after making application before admittance.

Volunteers have made and continue to make a wonderful contribution to Masonic Park by fundraising from many sources, by entertainment events, by the clergy for pastoral care and presiding over religious services, by serving on the Board of Directors and on Board Committees, and in so many other ways. The Masonic Park Ladies’ Auxiliary which began in 1982 have since raised over $100,000 which was used to buy items to make the quality of life better for the residents of the Nursing Home, and in a lesser way for the tenants of the Park.

Masonic Park Nursing Home is now one of the six Nursing Homes in the St. John’s Area, which have been grouped together to be governed by the St. John’s Nursing Home Board. The result is that the Masonic Park Board of Directors has been relieved of managing the day-to-day operations of the Nursing Home, including the admission of residents.

Masonic Park exists to be of service to Senior Citizens. All Senior Residents of the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador have full right and entitlement to apply for admission to the Park. Masonic Park today is a happy community with a population approaching 325. The Park covers 24 acres of Private Property. A maintenance department looks after day-to-day needs, which includes periodic painting of interiors of all residential units. Garbage is collected twice each week. There is a Bus Service five days of the week, and a special bus service that runs twice per week and travels to and from the major shopping centers.

After over twenty-five years, Masonic Park is a complete success story and this should continue to be so, well into the future.

W.A.N. – January 1, 2004.