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1876

FIRST CORNERSTONE

The first reference we have of a cornerstone being laid by our lodge brothers is captured in the Minutes of July 29, 1876.

 

“A communication was received from Brother A.J. Melson to lay the corner stone of the M.E. Church at Elk Grove.  Moved and seconded that on the 4th of August this lodge meet at the Grangers Hall at Elk Grove Station to perform the above work.”

 

The motion was carried.  Elk Grove Station is that area of Elk Grove near what was then called
Main Street, now Elk Grove Boulevard, and the Central Pacific tracks laid down about 10 years before.  A little research reveals that the “M.E. Church” was likely the Methodist Episcopal Church which was the oldest and largest Methodist denomination in the US from its founding in 1784.  It was also the first religious denomination in the US to organize itself on a national basis.  In 1939 the Methodist Episcopal Church was reunited with other Methodist denominations and became simply the Methodist Church.  Then in 1968 the Methodist Church united with the Evangelical United Brethren Church to become known as the United Methodist Church which we have today located at 8986 Elk Grove Boulevard.

 

ANOTHER LODGE

Late in 1871 we purchased property at the Elk Grove Corners, that area that is today roughly defined by Elk Grove Boulevard and Highway 99.   Our lodge grew.  Month by month we would have new Apprentices entered and affiliates come to us from other lodges.  It is possible that we outgrew our first lodge because just 6 years later, at the December 15, 1877 Stated Meeting we formed a committee consisting of John N. Andrews, Thomas Taverner and
Obediah Freeman, to procure a lot near the Elk Grove Station on which to build a new lodge.  On May 11, 1878 the committee made a verbal report and was discharged.  In July the matter was indefinitely laid on the table.  The concept of “indefinitely laid on the table” must end with each Masonic year because just over a year later we again see reference to a new lodge.  At the stated meeting of November 22, 1879 we formed a committee to “see what they could do” in securing a lot to build a new Masonic Hall.

 

1880 WAS A BUSY YEAR

In the Minutes of January 24, 1880 the Lodge Secretary, Brother Cyrus B. Kennard was ordered to communicate with Grand Secretary Abell in regards to the Free Masons and Odd Fellows meeting in the same Hall.  The following month, on motion of Brother Andrews, seconded by I.F. Freeman, the Master of this lodge was to confer with the Noble Grand of Elk Grove Lodge No. 274 of Odd Fellows at Elk Grove Station, in regard to building a Hall in which both Lodges could meet.  The Worshipful Master was to appoint a committee from this lodge, providing the Odd Fellows appoint a similar committee.

 

In February of 1880 the committee searching for a lot upon which we could build a new Masonic Hall reported that the lot on the railroad land could not be bought.  No specifics are provided but it is clear that our brothers wanted a lot in the middle of the growing community of Elk Grove.

 

In March the committee reported that the Odd Fellows were not able to help build a Hall.  Brother John N. Andrews was then appointed to a committee of one to go to San Francisco and inquire directly with the Central Pacific Railroad officials and try to procure a lot belonging to the railroad on which to erect a new Masonic Hall at Elk Grove Station.  In preparation for a back-up plan, Obediah S. Freeman and Silas C. Stewart were appointed as a separate committee to follow-up with Brother Andrews providing he could not make any purchase of the Railroad property.  The committee’s mission was to see what could be done in securing some other lot.  Apparently Brother Andrews was the “go to” guy that our lodge needed because at the next Stated Meeting in April Brother Andrews reported that the Central Pacific Railroad officials “knew of no reason” that our lodge could not purchase the land we wished to build on.   It appears that our contact person with the Central Pacific Railroad was a Mr. E.B. Ryan.  Our lodge’s request was left to him to respond to.  On motion of Brother Obediah Freeman, Brother Andrews was reimbursed $10.00 for his efforts and travel to San Francisco.

 

At the stated meeting of May of 1880, Brother Andrews presented a letter from Mr. E.B. Ryan as a report to the Lodge which stated that when he can get the “meats and bound” of the lot we wanted of the Central Pacific Railroad Company, he would send the deed.

 

Reading this sentence in our Minutes was initially confusing.  However, a little research revealed that the correct spelling and phrase was actually “metes and bounds.”  This is an antiquated system of describing land or real estate.  Typically the system uses physical features of the local geography, along with the directions and distances, to define and describe the boundaries of a parcel of land.  This system was used in describing the original 13 colonies and is based on English Common Law.

 

Mr. Ryan informed us that prior to providing a deed, the President of the Central Pacific Railroad would need to return from Europe in order to sign it.  This was none other than
Mr. Leland Stanford, former Governor of California.  The compensation was to be $125.00 or about $2,504 in today’s currency.  It is interesting to note that under grants to the
Central Pacific Railroad Company, the federal government offered twenty square miles of land for each mile of track laid in territories and ten square miles of land for each mile of track laid in states.[1]  So the land given to the Central Pacific Railroad in and around Elk Grove was likely free as it was part of a grant.  Then the Central Pacific turned around and made a tidy profit on our lodge property.  Arguably the land would have been worth very little if not for the presence of the railroad which was partly responsible for our community growing.

Former Governor Leland Stanford circa 1870

 

The building lot committee was then tasked with obtaining the measurements of the lot and to send a plot of to E.B. Ryan with the $125.00 and have the deed made.

 

 

It was moved, seconded and carried that a special meeting of members of this lodge be called on June 5th 1880 at 2:00 at Elk Grove Station for the purpose of organizing a joint Stock Company to build a new Masonic building.  The Secretary was instructed to notify all the members who are not present of the planned meeting.  It was moved, seconded and carried that this Lodge take 100 shares in the Elk Grove Masonic Building Association.

Stock Certificate issued by the Elk Grove Masonic Building Association to
Brother Obediah S. Freeman in the amount of $25.00.  Part of a collection of historical artifacts provided by Brother Oscar Mix, Past Master, Elk Grove Lodge No. 173.

 

By June, the committee on the building lot reported that they had measured the land on the Railroad premises designating the lot they wished to build a lodge on and sent the plot to
E.B. Ryan with the $125.00 to pay for the deed.

 

 

At the July 17 stated meeting in 1880 captured in the Minutes on the side of the page it is noted, “200 Meetings as this page.”   (No, I didn’t bother counting, sorry…)

 

At this meeting it was moved by John N. Andrews that the Deed of Land from the Central Pacific Railroad Company be transferred to the Elk Grove Masonic Building Association.  It was also determined that an order be drawn on the Treasurer for $100 to pay an assessment of 10% on the capital stock of the Elk Grove Masonic Building Association.

 

ANOTHER CORNER STONE

In August of 1880 we were looking at laying another cornerstone, this time for ourselves.  The cornerstone ceremony was scheduled for Wednesday, August 18, 1880.  Of course a committee was formed, this one consisting of Brothers John N. Andrews, Obediah Freeman and
Cyrus Kennard, to receive and entertain the visiting brethren.  Arrangements were made with the Railroad Hotel to provide 100 meals for $75.00 and that each meal over 100 would be provided at a cost of $0.50 each.  Unfortunately there is no record of how many attended.
It was also ordered that the Secretary, Cyrus Kennard, send a notice to the Sacramento Record Union and The Sacramento Bee to be published in the local columns of those papers announcing the laying of the cornerstone.  It was also determined that this lodge take 12 more paid up shares in the Elk Grove Masonic Building Association (for the money paid the Central Pacific Railroad Company for land).  It was moved, seconded and carried that if the Building Association, “get in a tight place and deem it necessary, the Association should draw on this Lodge for the 75% on the capital stock the Lodge holds before levying an assessment on the other stock.”  An order of $650.00 was drawn for paying up the 75% of the capital stock of the Elk Grove Masonic Building Association.  At the November 13 Stated Meeting it was moved and carried that Brother Freeman be a committee of one to purchase two dozen chairs for the new hall and also get new frames for the three Masonic charts in the Hall representing the three degrees in Masonry.  (See Pictures) Norman P. Steward, Ezra P. Byington and Cyrus B. Kennard were appointed to a committee to remove the furniture from the old Hall to the New Masonic Hall at the Elk Grove Station.

 

 

 

 

 

The Three Degrees in Masonry from our original Lodge.  Located in the foyer at the Hall
on Elk Grove-Florin Road.

 

 

Entered Apprentice Degree

 

Fellow Craft Degree

 

Master Mason Degree

 

Again, it must have been exciting times again for our Brothers.  We can see inscribed at the top of the Tiler’s Register from December 11, 1880 the words, “New Hall first Meeting.”

 

 

Finally from this last meeting of 1880 the Minutes note, “A certain lot of dishes were purchased for the use of the Lodge from O.S. Freeman, $10.50.

9075 Elk Grove Boulevard – Elk Grove Masonic Temple (circa 1880)

Initially 60 feet long by 35 feet wide (pictured here) construction of the present day building was completed in 1893 after the original building was destroyed by fire.  In 1928 the building underwent a major renovation when, to increase the size of the temple, the building’s second floor was literally sawed apart and the east end of the building was moved more than 10 feet to expand the main hall, banquet rooms and kitchen and a 6th window was added.  In 1993 however, another fire ravaged the building and was reconstructed with its original 5 window front façade.  The first floor of the building hosted many general merchandise and grocery stores until the 1960s.  Since then it has been home to a variety of businesses including hobby, auto parts, salons insurance companies and Architects. –  Provided courtesy of the Elk Grove Historical Society.

[1] Encyclopedia of the Great Plains, David J. Wishart, Editor.

 

-Brother Don Price, Lodge Historian

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