Old Masonic Lodge Hall in Sardis

John Wright Johnson, son of Andrew Johnson (born Anders Johnsson, "Big Swede"), followed in his architect father's footsteps.  Andrew emigrated to the US from Sweden in the late 1800s, and moved to Mississippi to design depot stations for the Illinois Central railroad stops between Memphis and Grenada (NRHP nomination form for the architecture of Andrew Johnson, Holland & Gordon, 1983).  The Johnsons worked primarily in Panola County, although John also designed heavily in Memphis (Holland & Gordon, 1983).

John W. Johnson was the architect for the Sardis Lodge # 307, constructed in 1923. According to the NRHP nomination, John

...lacked his father's certain flair for ornamental embellishment.

While the building itself may lack Big Swede's propensity for the ornamental, the portico seems like an "embellishment" to me!

Looking up through the hole in the roof of the portico, I spied this pigeon watching me.  This would lead me to believe that the top floor of the hall is most likely covered in pigeon poop.  The other openings in the upper floor have exposed the building to weather and other varmints as well.

Even though rusted and peeling layers of paint, the iron work is striking.

Every time I see an external stairway on the side of a building, I always picture "Doc Adams" from Gunsmoke.

Meanwhile, the remnants of the lighting (a sign?) hold on above the portico, clinging to the wall and looking rather like a forlorn little ladder upon which pigeons might perch.  Sardis # 307 was merged with Panola # 66 July 11, 1996, so most likely, this building has been vacant since then.