October 15, 1913

Nationally prominent African-American leader Booker T. Washington delivered the dedication speech for the recently completed Mosaic Templars of America building at the corner of 9th Street and Broadway to a crowd of more than 2,000 citizens—black and white. The Mosaic Templars of America was a hugely successful African-American fraternal organization founded in 1882 by two former slaves. The Mosaic Templars assisted black citizens who were unable to obtain insurance from other established organizations because of the racial policies of the time.