Look: The Most Mysterious Buildings In Montrose, Colorado

The city of Montrose, Colorado, was incorporated on May 1st, 1882. Grand Junction and Delta would also incorporate later that year, making it a banner year for the Western Slope.

By 1886, the first brick building in town was completed and became home to R. C. Diehl's Dry Goods at 347 E Main Street. Today, downtown Montrose is home to several historic buildings that may seem a little mysterious to some. Let's take a look at some of them.

The Masonic Temple: Secrets in Plain Sight

The Montrose Masonic Temple, Lodge 63, was completed in 1911. While the structure has been divided up by different businesses, the Freemasons’ craftsmanship is still very noticeable. Tuscan columns, the stone balcony, and the shaped parapet are all done in the revival style of the time. The building is topped by a beautiful domed stained-glass skylight that illuminates the former Lodge room.

The Old Montrose Elks Lodge

Searching the archives of the Montrose Daily Press will turn up some interesting tales of tunnels that lead from the old Montrose Elks Lodge to other nearby buildings. The same tunnels are also found beneath Grand Junction’s Elk Lodge. They date back to prohibition, as do tales of a mysterious locked door somewhere inside that leads… to nowhere. The letters BPOE on the front stand for the “Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.”

The Sherman & Ross Block Building

The Sherman & Ross Block Building was completed in 1910 and named for the lawyers Sterling Sherman and Frank Ross. The building has been a home for prominent Coloradans, a theater, a pool hall, and even the county courthouse. The Montrose County Historical Museum says the unexplained designs found within the bricks remain a mystery today. Was it a sign for travelers? A code? Or just a stylistic quirk? See for yourself at 238 W. Main Street.

Get our free mobile app

The Magic Circle Theatre In Montrose

The Magic Circle Theater in Montrose is located at 420 S 12th Street. The building is rumored to have a history of unexplained footsteps, lights flickering, and things moving around backstage. Is it just the lively arts scene, or is it also the rumored spirits?