▁first ▁reading ▁room ▁and ▁library ▁of ▁the ▁Yang an ▁School ▁of ▁Arts ▁and ▁later ▁acquired ▁and ▁alter ed ▁by ▁the ▁Yang an ▁Mason ic ▁L odge , ▁the ▁Hall ▁has ▁a ▁command ing ▁view ▁of ▁the ▁district ▁which ▁it ▁has ▁served ▁for ▁nearly ▁a ▁century . ▁ ▁The ▁place ▁is ▁important ▁in ▁demonstr ating ▁the ▁principal ▁characteristics ▁of ▁a ▁particular ▁class ▁of ▁cultural ▁places . ▁ ▁The ▁Mason ic ▁Hall ▁is ▁in ▁ess ence ▁a ▁simple ▁tim ber ▁vern ac ular ▁public ▁building , ▁but ▁its ▁decor ative ▁front al ▁emphas is ▁of ▁the ▁g abled ▁entry ▁por ch , ▁ver and ah ▁cl ad ▁in ▁fil ig ree ▁screen , ▁long ▁tim ber ▁st air , ▁and ▁cer emon ial ▁approach ▁is ▁( in ▁common ▁with ▁the ▁present ▁School ▁of ▁Arts ▁building ▁( Y ang an ▁School ▁of ▁Arts )) ▁a ▁deliber ate ▁gesture ▁to ▁demonstrate ▁the ▁civ ic ▁prom in ence ▁of ▁the ▁building , ▁and ▁to ▁formally ▁address ▁the ▁town ' s ▁main ▁street . ▁ ▁The ▁place ▁is ▁important ▁because ▁of ▁its ▁a est h etic ▁significance . ▁ ▁Situ ated ▁on ▁the ▁high ▁northern ▁side ▁of ▁Yang an ' s ▁main ▁street , ▁the ▁Yang an ▁Mason ic ▁Hall ▁with ▁its ▁long ▁process ional ▁approach ▁( g iving ▁rise ▁to ▁its ▁title ▁as ▁the ▁Temple ▁with ▁the ▁Long ▁St airs ) ▁is ▁a ▁distinct ive ▁land mark ▁and ▁symbol ▁of ▁the ▁former ▁prosper ity ▁of ▁the ▁town ▁in ▁which ▁only ▁rem n ants ▁of ▁the ▁main ▁streets cape