29 Apr the egyptian revival craze in racine: photographic survey of edmund bailey funston’s masonic lodge (1922)
April 29, 2026
in Bldg. 51, Events & Announcements, Featured Posts, Miscellaneous, Travel, Uncategorized
photographic survey of edmund bailey funston’s egyptian revival style masonic lodge (1922), located at 1012 main street, racine wisc.
the polychromed terra cotta ornamernt was executed by the northwestern terra cotta company, chicago, il.
the building’s worn walls, masonic symbol with cobras, lotus and papyrus cornices, and winged scarab cartouche resemble an egyptian temple. before the egyptian revival of 1922, freemasons already used ancient egyptian imagery for their traditions. edmund b. funston, a local architect and temple member, designed it.
about the architect:
edmund bailey funston (1868–1933) was an american architect based in racine, wisconsin, known for designing the badger building (1916). he founded the edmund b. funston company architects and previously partnered with a. arthur guilbert to design several notable buildings in racine, such as churches, banks, schools, and clubhouses. funston also led construction projects at the university of illinois and managed various industrial and commercial designs. beyond architecture, he established the funston long distance telephone company and became president of multiple telephone companies. funston married ella m. kephart in 1905, had a daughter jeanette in 1915, and passed away in coral gables, florida, in 1933.
