Blackwood Masonic Lodge

This photo shows the Tinsmith Shop circa 1890. Originally, the Tinsmith Shop in the village was a hardware store on the main floor, while the second storey was the first home of the Masonic Lodge known as the Blackwood Lodge. Named for Thomas Blackwood, a highly respected freemason in the community at that time, the Lodge was used regularly throughout the 1870s.

In 1983 it was dismantled and brought to Black Creek Pioneer Village for restoration. Through a joint effort between the Freemasons of Ontario and The Metropolitan Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, the restored building was opened to the public in 1984. The interior of the lodge room has been preserved as it would have looked in the 19th Century.

Govan Town Hall

Govan Town Hall was designed by the architects Thomson & Sandilands it was completed in 1899 at a cost of about £60,000 and formally opened in 1901 by Govan's Provost Bro. James Kirkwood Provost 1892—01. The building contains a large hall with a grand organ and seating for 2,500 people, a smaller hall, and municipal offices including a large suite of rooms for council business.

Above the main entrance is the Govan burgh arms (a ship on the stocks flanked by two shipyard workers) with the motto Nihil sine labore (`Nothing without work`) also the motto of Govan High School. There are also two roundels and they are of Provost James Kirkwood and Baillie John Marr. His tenure would have been in the old town hall which later became the Police Station.

Bro. Kirkwood was a member of Lodge Govandale No.437 and master 1902—04 then Deacon Convenor of the Trades House 1905—06, and is buried in Craigton Cemetery in Paisley Road West.

Today, and now called Film City, many of those offices are occupied by independent film and TV production companies, with the halls providing ideal spaces for the construction of film sets and sound stages.