D.C. Prince Hall Masons Retain Historic Site

November 5, 2025

The Prince Hall Free and Accepted Masons of Washington D.C. successfully secured D.C. Council approval to maintain tax-exempt status for their historic building at the corner of 10th and U Streets NW. The temple, constructed between 1922 and 1929 by prominent African American figures including Industrial Bank founder Jesse Mitchell and architect Albert Cassell, holds significant cultural importance as a gathering place for Black organizations during the segregation era. The tax exemption required renewal because the organization's charitable foundation changed its name without updating the corresponding paperwork in 2022.

Who is affected

The Prince Hall Free and Accepted Masons and Order of the Eastern Stars of the District of Columbia
The Prince Hall Free and Accepted Masons and Order of the Eastern Stars Educational Charitable Foundation
Glenn Ruffin (Most Worshipful Grand Master)
Marquis McCants (foundation leader)
Angela B. Tyson (Grand Worthy Matron of the Order of the Eastern Star)
African American residents and organizations in the U Street corridor
D.C. Council members Brianne Nadeau, Anita Bonds, Phil Mendelson, Kenyan McDuffie, and Charles Allen

What action is being taken

No ongoing actions are explicitly described in the article. The article discusses completed actions, including the D.C. Council's approval that occurred "earlier this year" and legislation that "passed without controversy in the summer."

Why it matters

The retention of tax-exempt status ensures the preservation of a historic African American cultural landmark in a rapidly gentrifying neighborhood that has shifted from predominantly Black to increasingly white residents. The U Street building represents nearly 200 years of African American Freemasonry history in Washington D.C. and served as a vital community hub during the segregation era when it housed restaurants, bowling alleys, ballrooms, and offices for Black businesses. Maintaining ownership protects tangible connections to U Street's legacy as "Black Broadway" and provides continuity of African American institutional presence in a neighborhood undergoing significant demographic transformation.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: The Washington Informer