The first meeting place was in the Odd Fellow hall in the Goodall and Campbell building on the north side of the square, being owned by Charles H. Denison. All arrangements were highly satisfactory with landlord and tenants, when the following September 26th, 1899, the lodge room, building and all the furnishings and regalia of all the Orders, including the Odd Fellows, were destroyed by fire, nothing saved, and not more than half enough insurance to cover the loss.
In 1900 the Masons, Odd Fellows and Knights of Pythias, procured a ten-year lease from Mr. C. H. Denison for a hall in the new Denison Building on the north side of the square. There was also a banquet hall attached, and the room was styled “Fraternity Hall.” It was furnished and fitted up by all three of the Orders jointly, each bearing one-third of the expense.
The Hall was used by the Chapter and Blue Lodge Masons, by the Encampment and Subordinate Lodge of Odd Fellows, by the Knights of Pythias and by the Eastern Star and Rebekahs.
On February 10, 1916, the Denison building which housed the First National Bank in the bottom floor burned down and the lodges were forced to relocate. A fire report in 1921 and a listing found in the 1922 directory indicate the Masonic lodge at 313 W. Main Street (The I.O.O.F. Hall at the time). They remained in this location till 1928 when they purchased the old A.F. White building at 805 ½ Public Square. This building was later known as the Dunston building on the corner of the square and S. Market St. and was destroyed in the 1990’s to clear a place for the new Civic Center.
On March 17, 1930, yet another fire occurred at this location. The fire originated in the paraphernalia room on the third floor and is believed to have been caused by defective wiring. Insurance of $10,000 was carried on the building by the Masons who appear to have owned it. The fire destroyed most of the regalia used by the different Masonic orders although that of the Eastern Star is believed to have escaped with less damage that the others. The building was used by the Royal and Selected Masters, Royal Arch Masons, Order of Eastern Star and Fellowship Lodge 89, I.O.O.F. Another fire broke out on the second floor again on June 10th but didn’t cause major damage.
Evidently it was decided by the Masonic lodge that ownership wasn’t in their cards at the time because by 1938 they are back to renting the space at 315 W. Main which is where they appear to have remained until a building committee was formed in 1969 under the term of Master Dewey Horn. The new Masonic Lodge building was built in 1972 and dedicated on October 29, 1972.
The following excerpt was taken from the 1905 Souvenir History, “This flourishing, aristocratic addendum to the A. F. & A. M. in Marion at its last election of officers counted in, without an accusation of ballot-box stuffing, generally chargeable to political performances in that line, the following list of misses and matrons to look after the business and edibles for the ensuing year: Worthy Matron—Mrs. A. Holland, Worthy Patron—Joe Fozzard, Associate Matron—Mrs. M. Kern, Secretary—Miss Alice C. Stotlar, Treasurer—Mrs. Parle Aikman, Conductress—Mrs. P. A. Canfleld, Asst. Con.—Nettie Spieldock.
The Five Points of the Star are Ada—Miss Kate Burkhart, Ruth—Mrs. Geo. C. Heyde, Esther—Mrs. Alice Davis, Martha—Mrs. Mollie Holland, Electa—Miss Ada Edwards, Farder—Mrs. Aggie Abney, Sentinel—C. T. Holland, Marshall—Mrs. Samantha Smith, Chaplain—Mrs. Emma Fozard”—1905 Souvenir History
The local chapter appears to be thriving and well in 2013 and share space with the Masons in the current Masonic Lodge #89.
(Compiled from fire reports, directories and the 1905 Souvenir History, WCHS; matron photo from 1995 History edition of the Marion Daily Republican; compiled by Sam Lattuca on 02/14/2013)