Irem Temple
The auditorium of the Irem Shrine in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania in 2019
Updated July 30, 2019 | By Matthew Christopher
Construction on the Irem Temple, also known as the Irem Mosque, began in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania in 1907 and was opened in December 1908. According to the Times Leader, it was built for the "rituals, social events and entertainment of both Shriners and the surrounding community", the Irem Temple's Moorish-style architecture is "unlike any other Shrine auditorium in the country." It hosted dance recitals, weddings and graduation ceremonies, concerts, theater performances, and holiday celebrations. In 1931 the auditorium was updated - balconies were constructed, the stage was extended, and a sloped floor was built bringing the seating capacity to 1,375.
For many years it served as a central part of Wilkes-Barres' arts scene, when people mostly left their home to be entertained in larger venues like the Irem Shrine. Listings provide show a multitude of uses even in its later years, including concerts by singers like Tammy Wynette, circus performers, and a Star Trek Convention. According to the Irem Temple Restoration Project, though, "once newer and better equipped seated-theaters, such as The F.M. Kirby Center, entered the area, the Irem Temple Building was forced to close its doors." Indeed, an article in the May 12, 2000 Citizens' Voice reported that the Shriners were looking to sell the building was in "a state of disrepair beyond the organization's financial ability to mend."
Despite talks in 2002 that the building would be turned into a heritage center and museum, nothing materialized. It was purchased by the Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Commerce in 2005 for just under $1 million. According to their analysis it would cost $15 million to restore; a multitude of ideas were put forth but in the end the building sat vacant and poorly secured for over a decade.
A photograph of the original auditorium of the Irem Temple in 1909, before it was renovated
I visited first in 2008, when the railings were still there and the electricity still worked. I was immediately struck by what a beautiful, unique structure the Irem Mosque is, and what a tragic loss it would be if it were destroyed. In the years that followed scrappers and vandals smashed out windows and cut out brass railings and copper wiring, it became an area attraction for urban explorers, and the deteriorating condition of the minarets seemed more precarious each passing year. Its demise seemed inevitable.
Behind the scenes, though, the Irem Temple Restoration Group was hard at work, trying to ensure that the site would be restored. In March 2019 the title for the building was transferred to them, and the effort is now underway to restore the temple to a place where theater, concerts, and other events can be held once again. Spearheaded by Christian Wielage, the restoration plans also include the heritage museum that was planned for the site earlier. According to the Citizens' Voice, "(initial) work will involve plugging holes in the roof where water has entered. For example, organizers plan to remove the wood and copper ornamentation on the minarets, and wrap the tower to prevent water from entering." Weilage is quotes as adding, "“It’s no secret to anyone on the internet that people have been getting in there. Those days are over, unless you want to get arrested.”
Recently Wielage was kind enough to allow small groups in my photography workshops can have legal access to the interior of the building to photograph it (here's the link, if you'd like more information on attending), with 50% of the profits going toward the restoration effort. It's sad to see the abuse the building has endured since my first visit - the power is out, people have spray painted on the walls, and peeling paint and debris are strewn everywhere. According to an engineering study it will take $8 to $14 million to restore the building, but work is scheduled to start soon to clear up the interior and repair the roof and minarets. The success of large projects always seems improbable at the outset, but we also quickly forget how many successful restorations of treasures like the King's Theatre in New York City have already occurred. I'm hopeful for the Irem Temple's future and glad that it is in the hands of people that care about reusing it rather than destroying it. It's a jewel of a building, and one that absolutely deserves to be preserved and cherished in the community for years to come.
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