The property was originally owned by Hugh Forbis, president of the Forbis-Toole Company (an investment company that handled farm loans, mortgages, and irrigation bonds. The company had offices in the building). Ownership stayed in the Forbis family until the Masonic Temple Association purchased the property in 1954.
Since construction, the building has been home to Masonic activities of all kinds including all three of Missoula's Masonic Lodges: Missoula Lodge #13, Harmony Lodge #49 and Sentinel Lodge #155 A.F&A.M. Also The Scottish Rite, York Rite, Eastern Star, Job's Daughters, DeMolay, Daughter's of the Nile and Rainbow Girls meet at the Temple at various times each month. The Masonic Lodge has an impressive meeting room on the third floor as well as a dining room/ kitchen and billiard hall.
Other tenants of the building have included commercial businesses, a Church, barber shop, tea company, a few restaurants, offices and even a business college. Montana Power Company occupied the building for several decades beginning in the 1920s.
The building was designed by Link and Haire, Montana's most prolific early twentieth century architectural firm.[2]
