El Paso Scottish Rite Temple

The El Paso Scottish Rite Temple was designed by the architectural firm Hubbell and Green of Dallas, Texas, and constructed in the Early  Revival Style by the R.E. McKee Construction Company of El Paso.  Groundbreaking commenced in 1921, and the project reached completion slightly over two years later. The original construction cost amounted to $350,000.00—a figure which, when adjusted for inflation, would exceed  $4 million in today’s economy. This estimate pertains solely to the building itself and does not include its interior contents.

Herbert Miller Greene (1871–1932), a prominent Dallas-based architect, was born in Huntington, Pennsylvania, in 1871. In 1876, his family relocated to Peoria, Illinois, where he received his early education. He later attended the University of Illinois, earning a  Bachelor of Science degree in architecture in 1893. After a brief period of professional practice in Peoria, Greene moved to Dallas in 1897. He initially operated his own architectural office before forming a partnership in 1900 with James P. Hubbell, establishing the firm Hubbell and Greene.

During the early decades of the twentieth century, Greene was responsible for a significant body of architectural work. His portfolio includes the Dallas News Building, the Scottish Rite Dormitory for Girls in Austin, the Dallas Trust and Savings Bank, Westminster and Oak Cliff  Presbyterian churches in Dallas, Temple Emanu-El in Dallas, the  Neiman-Marcus Building in Dallas, and Scottish Rite cathedrals in  Dallas, El Paso, San Antonio, and Joplin, Missouri. Greene also served as Chief Architect for the University of Texas, where he designed numerous campus buildings.

Among Greene’s many contributions to Masonic architecture, the El  Paso Scottish Rite Temple stands out as his most distinctive work in this genre. The building is a near-literal interpretation of architect  Paul Philippe Cret’s Pan American Union Building, constructed in 1913 on  Constitution Avenue in Washington, D.C.

Both the Pan American Union Building and Greene’s adaptation in El  Paso exemplify architecture characterized by discreetly modulated forms that reflect the functional layout and spatial hierarchy within. The El  Paso Temple achieves a sense of monumentality without veering into grandiosity.

Symbolic elements are also present in the building’s design. Entry into the Temple is achieved by ascending three, five, and seven steps—numbers of particular significance within the Masonic tradition.  

 On Monday, July 24, 2023, at approximately 12:33 a.m., an act of arson was perpetrated at the El Paso Scottish Rite Temple. The building’s fire alarm system functioned properly, promptly alerting the  Fire Department, which was dispatched to the scene.

The perpetrator forcibly entered the premises through a side door located on Missouri Street, carrying two containers of gasoline. Upon gaining access to the lobby, the individual proceeded to saturate the furniture and flooring with the accelerant before igniting the fire. The arsonist then exited the building through another side door and fled the scene.

While the exterior facade of the Temple remained structurally intact,  the interior sustained extensive damage as a result of the fire.

With over $400,000 in estimated damages and no structural insurance coverage—due to age and historic status—we faced the overwhelming task of restoring our 104-year-old building ourselves.

Under the leadership of Ill. Nicholas J. Quarm, 33°, and Honorable Juan M. Navarro, 32° KCCH, our members and volunteers rose to the challenge. Thanks to generous donations and thousands of volunteer hours, the Temple is now 90% restored and looks better than ever.

We salvaged and refinished the wooden floors, cleaned smoke damage, and carefully repainted ceiling details. Most of the artwork has been fully restored. There’s still work ahead, and while donations have slowed and volunteers are tired, we’re pressing forward one task at a time. 

A huge thank you to everyone who’s helped—whether with time, funds, or encouragement. You know who you are, and we are forever grateful.

Justice was served: the arsonist was arrested in August 2023 and pled guilty in January 2025. He has been sentenced to 40 years of civil commitment in a federal mental health institution.

As we work to finish the final restoration projects, we kindly ask for your continued support. Every contribution to our Building Fund—no matter the amount—helps preserve this historic landmark for future generations.

El Paso Scottish Rite Foundation
301 W. Missouri Ave
El Paso, TX 79901