More Steps Taken to Secure Masonic Temple Building in Binghamton

New efforts have been made to prevent intruders from illegally entering the abandoned Masonic Temple on Main Street in Binghamton.

Large entrances on the east side of the century-old structure have been boarded up.

In the past, flimsy construction fences secured with small chains were used in an effort to secure the building.

Binghamton firefighters outside the abandoned Masonic Temple on March 7, 2025. (Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News)

Police and fire investigators have been trying to determine who set a blaze on the first floor of the structure last Friday afternoon.

Authorities said someone apparently was trying to burn insulation off some copper wire that was placed in a large pile. The fire generated a significant amount of smoke but did not damage the building.

Firefighters searched the abandoned structure because a woman had been heard calling for help. They found a woman on the fifth floor and turned her over to police. It was not known if she had anything to do with the fire.

A Binghamton firefighter walks toward the Masonic Temple on March 7, 2025. (Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News)

Days after the blaze, the derelict building remained unsecured and access remained possible through openings in the fencing.

An inspection of the property on Thursday revealed those entrances had been secured with plywood.

Yellow tape warning of "Hazardous Materials" at the Binghamton Masonic Temple building on Main Street on March 10, 2025. (Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News)

In an email responding to a WNBF News inquiry, Mayor Jared Kraham wrote that "the work was done for the building owner by a local firm." He said city officials have "been in contact with that firm as part of our expectations that the property remains secured."

The old Masonic Temple site has been the source of problems for decades. In July 2003, the body of a 48-year-old Johnson City woman was found in the basement of the building. A Binghamton man admitted killing her after they had been drinking together.

WNBF NEWS VIDEO: An update on the historic Masonic Temple building at Main and Murray streets in Binghamton on March 13, 2025.

This story was updated to include information provided by Mayor Kraham.

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Contact WNBF News reporter Bob Joseph: bob@wnbf.com or call (607) 545-2250. For breaking news and updates on developing stories, follow @BinghamtonNow on Twitter.