Update: The Shriners have made a commitment to stay in downtown East St. Louis. See some details of the building that I took in the summer of 2019.
Long known as one of the last surviving institutions from the “old” East St. Louis, the Ainad Temple is a fascinating mix of brick and Moorish Revival decorative elements.
Inspired by buildings such as the Alhambra in Granada, Spain, it reflects an architectural frame of mind that was willing to borrow from any style that suited architects and their clients.
There was talk of moving two years ago, but I hope that they’ve changed their minds and chosen to stay.
To the credit of the Shriners they voted in 2015 to forgo plans to sale their buildings. They have established a restoration fund for major upgrades to building to coincide with its 100 year anniversary in 2022. They also last November 2017 voted to utilize $900,000 from what intended for relocation funds to the buildings restoration efforts. Now that’s commitment. Such a stoic history at the largest shrine organization in the state of Illinois and 7th
largest in the world. History will be preserved in this instance and this is a story that should be told as preservation efforts are underway!