A History of Hiram Lodge No. 103
|
|
|
Hiram Lodge No. 103 is the third oldest Masonic Lodge in Allegany County, being junior only to Mountain Lodge No. 99 in Frostburg, MD and Potomac Lodge No. 100 in Cumberland, MD. Hiram Lodge No. 103 was issued its Charter May 14, 1856. To put this in perspective, consider that this was five years before the beginning of the Civil War, and seven years before the Battle of Gettysburg.
When the Lodge received its charter, there were 16 charter members. In 2015, 159 years later, the Lodge is now 75 members strong and actively seeking new membership.
For many years, Lodge communications were held in the Odd Fellows Hall on Front Street, which it shared with that organization and with several other lodges. Beginning in the 1940's, the dream of a home of its own was constantly in the mind of the members. It was not until 1965 that we were able to purchase a property that seemed to satisfy our idea of a proper site for a combination Temple, and hopefully, a postal facility for the Town. On October 31, 1971, the Grand Master and his line officers, as well as the officers of Hiram Lodge No. 103, laid the cornerstone of the future Temple, located on Main Street. Three years later, on Tuesday, September 17, 1974, the first meeting of the Lodge was held in its new home, on the second floor of this new building. The first floor was, and is still to this day, leased to the U.S. Postal Service.
When the Lodge received its charter, there were 16 charter members. In 2015, 159 years later, the Lodge is now 75 members strong and actively seeking new membership.
For many years, Lodge communications were held in the Odd Fellows Hall on Front Street, which it shared with that organization and with several other lodges. Beginning in the 1940's, the dream of a home of its own was constantly in the mind of the members. It was not until 1965 that we were able to purchase a property that seemed to satisfy our idea of a proper site for a combination Temple, and hopefully, a postal facility for the Town. On October 31, 1971, the Grand Master and his line officers, as well as the officers of Hiram Lodge No. 103, laid the cornerstone of the future Temple, located on Main Street. Three years later, on Tuesday, September 17, 1974, the first meeting of the Lodge was held in its new home, on the second floor of this new building. The first floor was, and is still to this day, leased to the U.S. Postal Service.
Taking part in the groundbreaking ceremonies were, left to right: Ted Metcalf, Senior Warden; Jess Lashley of the Lashley Construction Co., which would build the structure; Ray L. Wilt, chairman of the lodge building committee; and Everett Knott, Worshipful Master of Hiram Lodge 103 AF and AM.
Click on the thumbnails below to view the photos in the Lodge Construction Gallery
The pictures below of Hiram Lodge Groundbreaking, Cornerstone Ceremony and Construction were graciously provided by Past Master Aaron Lea.
Hint: Click on the arrows icon in the bottom right corner to view this document full-screen.
