In the 1850’s Elk Grove began as a stage stop and hotel to provide for the needs of travelers from San Francisco, Sacramento and Stockton. James Watson Hall is credited with the naming of this Hotel and subsequently the town of Elk Grove. According to the Elk Grove Historical Society, Brother Hall became a Freemason in 1822 while in England, and eventually joined the Tehama Lodge No.11 in Sacramento. Hall’s original stage stop and hotel is located at 9941 East Stockton Boulevard next to Elk Grove Park. It has been thoroughly restored and is the headquarters of the Elk Grove Historical Society. Tours are available year round but Christmas time is best, when it is decorated and hot chocolate and spiced apple cider are available! In 1860 the Central Pacific Railroad came through about 1 mile east of this stage stop where a new hotel was built, also called the Elk Grove Hotel. This building survived the fire of 1892 and a second fire in 1922. It is the oldest building in the Old Town area and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In 1950 it was sold to Bob Parker and is still known today as Bob’s Club. As an afterthought I should probably go to the old “Elk Grove Hotel” sometime and conduct additional historical research!
In 1864, our country was filled with the ravages of war. The civil war had been raging in the east for three years and was not going well for Union forces. In March of 1864, President Lincoln appointed General Grant as Commander in Chief of all Union armies. On a lighter note, in April, the United States Congress passed the coinage act of 1864 which mandated the phrase, “In God We Trust” to be printed on all coins minted as U.S. currency and on June 15, Arlington National Cemetery was established.
Then on July 30, 1864 a group of men were granted a dispensation to form Elk Grove Lodge No. 173 by the Most Worshipful Grand Master William G. Belcher, Grand Lodge of California.
On August 6, 1864, Elk Grove Lodge, U.D. (Under Dispensation denotes a temporary status) was first organized at the home of Obediah Shank Freeman about 3 miles south east of Elk Grove. (As you read this there is an effort to identify this property for Lodge historical records.) Grand Master Belcher appointed the following Masons as our founding officers:
- Anson S. Ferris from Tehama Lodge No. 3 as Worshipful Master
- James B. Hogle from Petaluma Lodge No. 77 as Senior Warden, and
- Andrew Jackson Painter from Tehama Lodge No. 3 as Junior Warden
In order to accomplish this installation, Brethren from Tehama Lodge No. 3, Concord Lodge No. 117 and Natoma Lodge No. 64 served as acting Master, Senior Warden and Junior Warden. To fill out the first officers of Elk Grove Lodge No. 173, the following brethren were also installed:
- Thomas McConnell from Georgetown No. 25 as Senior Deacon
- Benjamin F. Wethers, from Tehama No. 3 as Junior Deacon
- Obediah Shank Freeman, from Warsaw Lodge, Illinois as Treasurer
- George W. Chaplin. from Vermont Lodge No. 131 as Secretary
- William G. Sullivan, from Arkansas Lodge No. 76, asked for affiliation with Elk Grove Lodge, was accepted and became the first affiliate. On September 10, 1864 he became our first Tiler.
During this first meeting, our Lodge adopted the Uniform Code of By-Laws. It was resolved that we charge $50.00 for the degrees as follows:
- Entered Apprentice – $20.00
- Fellowcraft – $15.00
- Master Mason – $15.00
In addition there was a $5.00 affiliation fee and $6.00 annual dues per year, payable quarterly in advance. In closing the minutes of this first meeting we find the familiar phrase:
“There being no other business connected with organizing, Lodge proceeded to close. Lodge then closed in due form. – George W. Chaplin, Secy. A.S. Ferris, W.M.”
-Brother Don Price, Lodge Historian