Right in front of you stands the Masonic Temple-a building that’s seen more political star power than a campaign rally buffet! Picture Kent in the 1880s, carriages rattling along the street and dust swirling as Marvin Kent, the city’s famous namesake, oversaw a house grand enough for presidents. Isaac Tuttle, an architect from just up the road in Ravenna, drew up the plans, but the real magic happened inside: woodworkers all the way from New York City carved intricate details you can still spot around doorways and mantels. This place wasn’t just home to the Kent family for forty years-it was a hotspot for Republican movers and shakers. Presidents Benjamin Harrison, William McKinley, William Howard Taft, and Warren G. Harding all stayed overnight, likely sampling Ohio hospitality-and maybe a midnight snack in their honorably-named "President’s Room," still preserved just as they left it. Imagine the whispers of political strategy over lemonade on the spacious wrap-around porch, the impressive brick walls, sandstone accents, and the commanding tower keeping secrets beneath that sharp slate roof. Since 1923, the Masons have called it home-and since 1974, it’s been on the National Register of Historic Places, part of Kent’s charm and a true witness to history. So, who knew a building could be so presidential-and still keep its structure together?
Stop 8 of 12
Masonic Temple
