Ark Lodge No. 33

The first petition for a Masonic Lodge in Ontario Country came in October of 1791. The Charter was granted to Ontario Lodge # 23 on October 12, 1792. This sparked Freemasonry in the new settlements. The birthplace is today known as Canandaigua.

In June of 1807 there went out a petition for a Lodge in the Village of Geneva. The Mother Lodge, Mount Moriah made the recommendation. DeWitt Clinton was the presiding Grand Master of Masons of the State of New York, as well as the Governor of New York. In September of that same year, Ark # 160 was chartered, with Philetus Swift named as the Master. The group met at the home of Brother Pearly Phillips on Exchange Street, and numbered 21 Brothers. In 1839 Grand Lodge issued Ark Lodge the number 33.

From 1857 until 1907 Ark Lodge went through a transitional period. Corydon Wheat was five times Master, three times District Deputy Grand Master. He was a great administrator, ritualistic and was known as "Master Builder." From 1874 to1899 the Lodge saw a period of great prosperity, harmony and peace. In 1903 the Masonic Temple Corporation came into being, and in 1907 the Lodge celebrated its 100-year anniversary.

In 1919 Ark Lodge recommended a Charter for Geneva # 965, which then became a daughter Lodge. In 1921 the new President of Hobart and William Smith Colleges affiliated to Ark Lodge, and was coroneted honorary 33rd Degree Scottish Rite. In 1932 Lodge membership reached an all-time high with 668 members.

Milo Lodge No. 108

Freemasonry in the Penn Yan area dates back to 1810. The first Lodge was Vernon Lodge No. 190, named after Mount Vernon or after the Town of Vernon. The town in Ontario County was set off from the Town of Jerusalem by an act of legislature in 1803, and included the later Towns of Benton, Milo and Torrey. The Town of Vernon later became Town of Snell, after Senator Snell. In 1810 the name was changed to Benton, and has remained as such. The Town of Milo was set off from Benton in 1818, and the Town of Torrey from Milo in 185 1. It should be noted that Vernon Lodge was constituted 13 years prior to the time when Yates County was set off from Ontario, and 23 years before the incorporation of the village of Penn Yan. From 1810 to 1830 the Masons met in several places, such as Lee's Tavern, on the Pre- Emption Rd., the home of Asa Cole, Morris Sheppard's "upper room," and the Court House. The last recorded meeting of Vernon Lodge was held December 27, 1830. Masonry remained dormant throughout the "Morgan period" in Yates County until 1845, when on August 12 Penn Yan Lodge (Under Dispensation) held its first meeting. Penn Yan Lodge held 10 meetings and raised 15 Masons. For some reason, never clearly understood, this Dispensation was with- drawn, and in 1846 a new one was issued to Milo Lodge No. 108. The first meeting of Milo Lodge was held on April 15, 1846, and on June 6 a Charter was granted.

John L. Lewis was the first Mason raised in Milo Lodge, and under his leadership Milo Lodge took an active part in the 1848 amendment of the Constitution of the Grand Lodge. He served as Grand Master for four years. By his efforts the two Grand Lodges in the State of New York were brought together, and Masonry was strengthened. Grand Master Lewis furnished many of the plans for the construction of the beautiful Masonic Temple in New York City. He served as the head of all the Grand Lodge bodies of Masonry. He received his 33rd Degree in both the Northern and Southern Jurisdictions, and was elected Grand Commander of the Supreme Council of 33rd Degree Masons of America. Later, Lewis was nominated by the Grand Lodge of England, Scotland and Wales to represent them in the U.S.

Dundee Lodge No. 123

Masons living in the Town of Reading first held meetings in Eddytown, now Lakemont, after receiving a Charter from Grand Lodge on June 7, 1823, under the name of Reading Lodge No. 366. Following much confusion in the delivery of mail, Grand Lodge approved in 1828 a change in the Lodge name to Ionic Lodge (sometimes called Reading-Ionic) No. 366. Following the Morgan incident, Ionic Lodge No. 366 membership declined, and the Lodge was forced to surrender its Charter in 1831.

On June 3, 1847, Grand Lodge issued a new Charter for Reading-Dundee Lodge No. 308. Grand Lodge appointed Hosea Palmer as Master, Samuel Kress, Jr. and John T. Andrews. With the consent of Grand Lodge on June 4, 1858, Reading-Dundee Lodge officially became Dundee Lodge No. 123. A fire on January 20, 1900, destroyed all Lodge records prior to December 30, 1881. Also lost in the fire was the original Charter, which Grand Lodge duplicated on May 2, 1900.

Masons from the Dundee area have met in a variety of locations. Prior to 1860, they met in the Hamlin Block at 44 Seneca Street; from 1860 to 1888 Lodge met in the Wall and Wilkins Block; and from 1 888 to 1900, they met in the T.D. Beekman Block, until it was destroyed by fire. Following the fire, the Masons returned to the Wilkins block from 1900 to 1956. From 1956 to 1990, Masons met at the Masonic Hall at 20 Water Street. The Masons then met for several years at a local church and now hold their meetings in the Bath National Bank building.

Dundee Lodge has had five Brothers serve as District Deputies, two as Grand Steward, and one as AGL. Dundee's most noted Mason was Isaac Andrews, a surveyor by trade, who served as George Washington's Private Secretary. Whether Andrews helped Washington survey this area or served with Washington during the Revolutionary War remains a mystery. We do know that Reading Lodge members buried Andrews with Masonic Honors. Andrews and his wife Mabel are buried in the old cemetery site on Seneca Street, which now serves as a Village park and entrance to the historical society.

Milnor Lodge No. 139

Organizational plans for a Masonic Lodge were made about 181 6 at the Inn on Boughton Hill just south of the present village of Victor. On December 1, 1817, Ontario Lodge No. 23 in Canandaigua and Zion Lodge No. 172 in East Bloomfield recommended the petition to estab- lish a Lodge in Victor. One Zion Lodge member who signed the recommendation was Brother Claudius Victor Boughton, for whom the Town of Victor was named in honor of his gallant service on the Niagara Frontier during the War of 1812. He was a member of the New York State Assembly in 1820-2 1 and 1825-26. Grand Lodge granted the petition on March 4, 18 18, and issued a Warrant the next day to Milnor Lodge No. 303. The Lodge was named in honor of James Milnor, D.D., a lawyer who served at various times as a member of Congress, Bishop of the Episcopal Church, Grand Master of Masons in Pennsylvania and Grand Chaplain of the Grand Lodge of New York. The Lodge prospered for a time, but anti-Masonic activity resulting from the Morgan Affair, led to its being unofficially closed from 1826 to 1848, though meet- ings may have been held in private homes. Grand Lodge forfeited its Charter in 1835.

In 1847, permission was requested to resume labor, and as a result, Grand Lodge granted a new Charter to Milnor Lodge No. 139, dated June 19, 1848. In its first year under its new Charter the Lodge met in W.C. Dryer's Hotel and the upper floor of James Walling's Building, located on the south side of Main Street. Moves were subsequently made to Seavey's Hall (1851), the Victor Hotel (1869), Seavey's Hall (1870), the Moore Block (1873), the Walling Block (1882), and the Gallup Block (1886). In 1893, fire destroyed much of Victor's business district, including the Gallup Block. All records of Milnor Lodge except the Charter were lost. Meetings were held in the office of Dr. James F. Draper until February 1893, when rooms in the Moore Block were rented again. After a period of locating and relocating for 110 years, the Lodge purchased its present home, the former Universalist Church on Maple Avenue for $2250.

Bro. Heber C. Kimble was one of the 12 apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and a member of Milnor Lodge. Four Brothers were involved in the removal of William Morgan in 1826 from the Canandaigua jail. Milnor Lodge has been honored over the years by having eight Past Masters appointed to Grand Lodge Staff positions. Proceeds from the Annual Turkey Dinner have provided major financial support to this Lodge for 48 years.

Garoga-Sincerity Lodge No. 200

The early Masons in the Town of Phelps jointly formed Mt. Moriah Lodge No. 11 2 in 1803 with their Brethren in Palmyra. Difficulty in traveling during those early days caused the Phelps Brothers to petition Grand Lodge, which granted a Charter in 18 1 1. Meetings were held regu- larly until the Lodge surrendered its Charter in 1835. Application was made to Grand Lodge in 1857, and a Charter was granted on June 19, 1858. Sincerity Lodge was assigned the No. 443 at that time, but the original No. 200 was restored exactly a year later.

In 1869, Sincerity Lodge contracted with a builder reconstructing a business block in the cen- ter of the village. The third floor was built exclusively for the Lodge as a Masonic Hall. Sincerity Lodge No. 200 first met in these rooms in 1870 and held meetings there until 1978. Maintenance of the roof and top two floors (the second floor was purchased in 1930 for a din- ing room) became excessive, and the Lodge decided to build a new Masonic Hall. The new Lodge building was dedicated in the fall of 1979 with Grand Master William R. Punt present at the laying of the cornerstone.

Garoga Lodge No. 300 was chartered in 1853 in Garoga, Fulton County. A disastrous fire in Garoga led to a decline in the local economy and the atrophy of the Lodge. During a District Deputy visit in 1910, the Deputy was told that Brothers had decided to move the Lodge to a more "productive field" or to surrender their Charter. Some interested Masons from Clifton Springs, who often traveled to Garoga Lodge, affiliated and on November 1, 191 1, voted to move the Lodge meeting place to Clifton Springs. The new location was an immediate success and membership grew to 93 in two months. Garoga Lodge No. 300 prospered nearly another 90 years. In 1990, Garoga No. 300 lost its meeting room and rented one from Sincerity No. 200 until both Lodges unanimously agreed to merge in 1999, were granted a Charter and first met as Garoga-Sincerity Lodge No. 200 on November 2, 1999.

Pocahontas Lodge No. 211

At 2:00 o'clock in the afternoon of April 8, 1851 Masons from neighboring Lodges met in Seneca Falls to participate in the first installation of officers in the newly chartered Pocahontas Lodge. The Masons in Seneca Falls had been trying for years to have a new Charter granted, and this was the culmination of their efforts. Heretofore, men of that village were obliged to travel to other communities to join a Masonic Lodge. In fact, six of the 19 original members of the new Lodge were members of Seneca No. 113 in Waterloo, and six were members of St. Paul's No. 124 in Auburn. John Morse, of St. Paul's, was installed Master and Jacob H. Corl, of Seneca, Secretary.

History is sparse for the first 18 years, due to a disastrous fire on the night of January 16- 17, 1869, that totally destroyed the meeting rooms and all of the records and furnishings of the Lodge. Pocahontas met for the next 32 years in various rental halls until it was decided that they should have a home of their own. On June 15, 1901 the cornerstone was laid, and on December 10 of that year, the first communication was held in the brand new Temple. The brick building was located on Cayuga Street near the business district, and was an excellent example of classic Masonic Temple design, with all of the proper columns and fenestrations in place.

The Lodge prospered and grew until 1930, when a membership of 377 was reported, its zenith. Membership then started a decline, and only for a seven-year period during and after World War I1 were increases reported. After 80 years the State of New York bought the Temple, tore it down and covered over the spot with a new roadway. Again many records were lost. In 1983 Pocahontas Lodge built a new Temple, of basic, unadorned wood frame construction. On Mount Road (S.R. 414) between the villages of Seneca Falls and Waterloo, it has also become the home of the Seneca Lodge, Salem Town Chapter No. 173 RAM, and two associat- ed OES Chapters.

For 150 years of its life the Pocahontas members ledger shows 1,234 members, I04 of whom served as Master, some for as long as four terms. Many locally prominent men have been members of the Lodge, but the most Masonically recognized is Harry G. Meacham, who was the DDGM for the 0-S-Y District for 1924-26. In 1926 he became the Grand Lecturer Emeritus. In May 1955 he was appointed to the Board of Custodians. He "Ceased Earthly Labor" on October 15, 1955. His writings on Masonic procedures and etiquette are well known in the Craft.

Canandaigua Lodge No. 294

The original lodge in Canandaigua, Ontario Lodge No. 23 F&AM, fell victim to the Morgan Affair in the 1830's; shortly thereafter, the Lodge turned in its Charter.

In the early 1850s, some Masonic Brethren applied for a Charter, and in spring, 1853, they received it. They became Canandaigua Lodge No. 294. The Brothers met at various places around Canandaigua until 1920, when Canandaigua Lodge No. 294 F&AM and Excelsior Chapter No. 164 RAM purchased a building at 5 Court Street in Canandaigua. This property known as the Temple Building housed these groups until 1995, when Ontario County purchased the building.

The Lodge met in numerous places until it purchased a building at 12 Canandaigua Street in Shortsville in 1998. The building has been remodeled to include a Lodge room and other appropriate rooms. The jail cell door and a lock from the jail where William Morgan had been held remains in the Lodge's possession.

Rushville Lodge No. 377

On December 11th, 1854, Canandaigua Lodge No. 294 recommended the petition for Rushville Lodge. Grand Lodge granted a Dispensation February 23rd, 1855, with Ambrose S. Thomas as its first Master. One of its first members was Chester Loomis, who had been Master of Harmony No. 273, the first Lodge in the Rushville area before surrendering its Charter dur- ing the Morgan Affair.

In 1855, the first meetings took place in Watkins Hall. The building had been a Methodist Church and at the time served as the Old Fellows Hall. Fire devastated the building and several others in 1882. The fire destroyed all records except the Lodge Register, the signature book and the ledger, which resided in the Secretary's home.

The Lodge then purchased a low, one and one-half story building on the corner of Green and Main Streets and moved across the street. In 1887, the Lodge voted to raise the roof and add another floor. Due to its indebtedness, the Lodge lost the building. The Lodge then paid rent to

H. Collins Mapes and sublet the rooms to the Maccabees. In 1890, Rushville No. 377 re-pur- chased the building.

As the Lodge prospered, this building became too small. With the aid of field days and other money-raising events, the sale of the old building and generous contributions from the member- ship, the Lodge erected the present building 1922-23 on the corner of Main and Gilbert Streets. Grand Master S. Nelson Sawyer laid the cornerstone in December 1922. Fewer than 10 years later, a fire damaged the north side of the building.

In 1937, the Trustees voted to purchase the lot on the north side of the Temple, moved the Temple to this lot and built a gasoline station on the vacated corner lot. In 1943, a flash flood destroyed the north wall, tipping the building to the creek. After raising or lifting the building and rebuilding the wall, the work of the Lodge continues to this day. and the Lodge turned in its Charter in 1829 during the Morgan Affair. The hunger for fellowship and Brotherhood, which grew in the armies during the Civil War led to a resurgence of Masonry during the 1860's. Many soldiers joined Military Lodges during their time of service and, upon war's end desired to continue their Masonic ties.

Such was the case in Honeoye when, in 1866 a group of area Masons signed a petition to organize a Lodge in the Village. The petition was recommended by Naples Lodge No. 133 and Union Lodge No. 45 on April 7, 1866. A Dispensation was granted on July 30, 1866 by Robert Holmes, GM. The first Oficers of Eagle Lodge U.D. were: Ami Stevens, Master; Amos Hilborn, SW; Gardner Marble, JW;John Wilson, Treasurer and Ransom McCrossen, Secretary.

The first meeting of Eagle Lodge was held U.D. on August 4, 1866 in the rooms over E.W. Gilbert's Store, which stood in a block of frame buildings. This cluster of buildings was destroyed by fire on April 30, 1930. On June 4, 1867, a Charter was granted to Eagle Lodge No. 619 by Stephen H. Johnson, GM. The first meeting held under the new Charter was on July 15, 1867.

Over the years, many fundraising events were held which, in 1966, allowed the Lodge to pur- chase land on West Lake Road. Many more fundraising events and sacrifices by all of the Brothers resulted in the erection and dedication of our present building in 1981.