The Freemasonry community previously operated a masonic temple in Saint John until its destruction by the Great Fire of Saint John in 1877.[5] Construction on a new masonic temple began following the fire,[2] worked on by architects McKean & Fairweather, and contracted by Alexander Christie & Co. as well as William L. Prince, Esq.[6] The building was completed in 1881,[1] totaling CA$80,000 (equivalent to $2,903,680 in 2023).[6]
Historically, the building was used to host Masonic Grand Lodge of New Brunswick meetings annually, including once in 1934 which included John Babington Macaulay Baxter, a former Premier of New Brunswick who served as the province's Grand Master at the time.[7][8]
On the morning of January 26, 1929, the masonic temple was destroyed by fire, with damages estimating to be at $100,000 at the time.[9] $55,000 of which was insured.[10] Discussions on rebuilding the temple were made the following month,[11] and efforts to rebuild it began being made starting in late May 1929 until being finished by November 26, 1930.[5] On July 11, 1929, during the rebuilding process, Saint John Masonic Temple, Limited. was established under The Royal Gazette.[12]