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A grand plan by the Shriners in the 1920s would have made Raleigh Court a very different place!
In 1924, a most ambitious plan for the Raleigh Court area was announced by the Kazim Temple. What is known today as Shrine Hill came into being when the Shriners voted to buy a tract of land encompassing the present-day site of Patrick Henry High School. The 101-acre tract was purchased for $237,500 for the following purposes: to erect a mosque for the Shrine, which would contain an auditorium of 3,000 seating capacity, reading rooms, quarters for officers, club house and other departments; to construct a modern stadium of concrete, seating between 25,000 and 30,000; to open a nine-hole golf course, with hopes of adding another nine holes at a future date; and to build tennis courts and a swimming pool. This mammoth undertaking had been four years in the making.
The project was to be located at the end of the Raleigh Court streetcar line on Grandin Road, and a mosque was to be constructed for an estimated $550,000. Surrounding the structure would be Kazim Park with a club house, recreation fields and stadium. The location had been chosen because of its “commanding topography” and easy access.
The Shriners retained the services of landscape architect Sid J. Hare to design the park and grounds. Hare commented about the site, “The ground is ideally located and decidedly suited for all the purposes spoken of…As for the Shrine site at the top of the hill, I feel that all who visit the building would always remember the vistas and views to the mountains and hills and to the city. From this site one would also view the players on the grounds, the children to the east of the building and your members who play golf would be in full view of the Temple building.”
Following the nearly unanimous vote of the Shriners in attendance (over 500) at their November meeting to proceed, C. B. Wilson of the Building Committee declared, “This is one of the greatest civic enterprises ever planned for Roanoke.” Wilson stated this “playground of the Masonry” would house the Shriners in “regal style.”
After the adoption of the plan, approximately 2,500 Nobles and their ladies attended an elaborate Potentate’s Ball at the City Auditorium, concluding what must have been an enthusiastic meeting.
Fundraising moved quickly. “1,500 Shriners to Invade City” read a front page headline in the Roanoke Times on May 16, 1925. “Shriners will be in attendance at Kazim Temple’s spring ceremonial here today to be staged under a tent which has been pitched in the ‘Garden of Allah,’ the one hundred acre tract of land acquired recently by the Shrine just east of Grandin Road to Raleigh Court. Indications point to the biggest celebration ever staged by Kazim Temple here.” So read the opening paragraph.
After a short business session at the Masonic Temple, the Shriners made their way to the future “Garden of Allah”, where they found a huge tent erected upon a knoll in the center of the property and the spot the proposed mosque was to occupy. “One look at the magnificent view afforded from this point and the majority of the visiting Nobles were converted into enthusiastic supporters of the undertaking,” reported The Times.
Within 48 hours, the Shriners launched the campaign to raise $400,000 among its membership for their proposed mosque. An architectural rendering of the grand structure ran in the newspaper, with the campaign literature describing the knoll in Raleigh Court as “the most beautiful spot in America” and once developed would become “unexcelled in beauty in this section.”
The mosque was described as being of “handsome proportions, of the ancient architectural style employed by the Moors, unique, majestic, and entrancing.” The first floor entrance would lead to an open-air terrace on either side, overlooking the expansive grounds. The first floor would contain a large lounge along with a large banquet hall, dining room, private dining rooms, and administrative offices. The second floor would be occupied by an immense auditorium with a stage, dressing rooms and property rooms. This same floor would be complimented by reading and writing rooms, game rooms, private rooms, and lodge rooms. The ground floor would be reserved for recreational purposes. A detached guest house would contain 33 rooms to accommodate overnight visitors.
The drive for $400,000 was well organized. The campaign united the entire jurisdiction from Lynchburg to Appalachia, involving some 300 Nobles. The territory of the Kazim Temple was divided into fifteen zones, under the direction of Noble J.O.D. Copenhaver. The goal of the effort was to solicit each member of the Kazim to make a loan to the Kazim Temple Corporation without interest.
On complete payment of each loan, there would be issued a Certificate of Indebtedness. The amount of the loan was to be paid to the estate or beneficiary of the loaner at his death or to the loaner himself in case of disability. Loans would be received from the minimum of $200 and up. “The plan has been received with great favor and success in building Temples in other communities and will undoubtedly find a loyal response in behalf of this great movement of Kazim Temple to secure a permanent home. Every Noble will be asked to be a Temple builder and their names will be entered in the cornerstone of the mosque and in a permanent record to be kept in the mosque.” reported the Times. With this, the campaign was launched.
For the next several days The Roanoke Times kept its readers updated as to the Shriners’ progress. “Kazim Temple Begins Drive, Zone 13 Over the Top” read a headline dated May 19th. Campaign workers dined together at 6:30 every night of that week to report their progress. Members were reporting donations from as far away as New York City and Miami, Florida.
Congressman Clifton A. Woodrum was heavily involved, showing up at various campaign dinner meetings throughout the Temple’s region and giving motivational speeches. “Shriners Pass $100,000 Mark, Two Zones Are Over Top” ran the headline of May 20th. State Senator R.O. Crockett of Tazewell was working in Southwestern Virginia with much success, as Galax was leading in pledged loans after two days. A few days later, the Roanoke Times proclaimed, “Enthusiasm In Kazim Temple’s Drive For Mosque Is Growing.” By day three of the campaign, pledged loans totaled $158,750.
Securing loans from Roanoke City Shriners were H.T. Martin, Cecil E. Bertie, H.B. Gray, J.W.J. Goff, S.R. Mason, John Antrim, W.F. Davis, and F.B. Reid. On May 27th, after the announced eight days of the campaign ended, the Shriners were short by nearly $57,000. Needing the full amount, Shrine leaders nevertheless declared the campaign a success and committed to a quiet campaign in sections distant from Roanoke. Some 1,200 Nobles in the territory solicited had not pledged, and campaign leaders believed their late commitments would put the campaign over the top. Of all the Nobles, 1502 had made pledged loans, with the average loan being $229. Roanoke’s Shriners had pledged over $192,000.
Though the amount pledged was significant, ongoing efforts fell short. The total needed was not achieved. Sobered by exhaustive efforts without results, Roanoke’s Kazim Temple decided to abandon their “playground of the Masonry.” Decades later, the Temple would do a land swap deal with the City of Roanoke, gaining a tract on Campbell Avenue and additional funds in exchange for their coveted Shrine Hill.
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