Marblehead Masons to install elevator

MARBLEHEAD-When Philanthropic Lodge, Masons, celebrates its 250th anniversary in 2010, something new may be added: an elevator.Lodge spokesmen David Riordan, Morris Schopf and Dincer Ulutas went before the Board of Appeals Tuesday evening and obtained the board?s unanimous permission to build a 51.5-foot high addition to the Masonic hall without adding any new parking spaces. The building has 69 spaces on site, but could be required to add five more under the Zoning Bylaws and the height is more than that permitted by the Zoning Bylaws.The Old and Historic District Commission has already approved the project and Riordan, Schopf and Ulutas are scheduled to go before the Planning Board.Schopf said the elevator shaft will be similar to the one added to Abbot Hall several years ago. The group had not obtained a cost estimate for the work at the time of the meeting.Chartered in 1760, the lodge is the third oldest in Massachusetts and the 19th oldest in the United States, and has occupied a 19th Century building at 62 Pleasant St. since 1950. The name was changed from St. John?s Lodge to Philanthropic Lodge in 1797, when Paul Revere was Grand Master of Massachusetts Masons. Early members included Elbridge Gerry and General John Glover and visitors included George Washington and Andrew Jackson during their presidencies.In addition to the 430-member Masonic lodge and its affiliates, the building also houses the Marblehead Chamber of Commerce, accountant Paul Taylor, Alcoholics Anonymous and a private club, the Market Square Associates.