History of Elk Creek Lodge # 485

According to annual returns Elk Creek Lodge operated U. D. from the Grand Lodge of Kentucky in 1869 until they were chartered on October 19, 1870.  The first slate of officers for this lodge was:

H. Hardiing Stout, Master

Elijah D. Shafar, Senior Warden

Jesse M. Boston, Junior Warden

James D. Veech, Secretary

Daniel L. Bennett, Treasurer

John L. Dale, Senior Deacon

James D. Beard, Junior Deacon

Isaac Carrithers, Steward and Tiler

Total membership in the first year was 37.  This is about the average membership of this lodge throughout it's 69 year existence.  The lodge originally met on the second and fourth Saturdays of the month.

There is not much information on Elk Creek Lodge before they merged with Philip Swigert Lodge and became defunct. With the merger, Philip Swigert inherited Elk Creek Lodge's minute books which are still kept in the lodge archives today.  There are two minute books that date from January 4, 1902 to the last meeting of Elk Creek on October 2, 1937.  From the minute books we can find some information about the lodge.  The lodge met in Elk Creek Kentucky which is in Spencer County.  Where they met is not certain but they did meet the first Saturday of the month.  They initially meet in the afternoon around 2 or 3 PM but at one point went to evenings but their last year changed back to afternoons.  Some items of note from the minutes.  

• On a stated meeting Saturday January 4, 1902 the lodge voted to have an Oyster Supper on January 18th.  

• As most lodges still do, the lodge held their annual election of officers on December 27th each year.  St. John the Evangelist's Day.  

• There is mention of the School board to fix the roof of the lodge hall so perhaps they met in a school house?

• Had some paying renters for the Lodge Hall: The Woodmen and The Normandy Kings Daughters.  

• There is mention in the minutes for Dec. 27, 1934 a fire in the lodge hall and the necessary repairs needed. 

The final slate of officers for this lodge was: 

A. C. Money, Master

C. A. McKinley, Senior Warden

C. T. Stout, Junior Warden

R. C. Carpenter, Treasurer

W. O. Collings, Secretary

T. L. Jewell, Senior Deacon

J. M. Jones, Junior Deacon

C. L. Wigginton, Tiler

Last stated meeting that there is a record of was on Saturday October 2, 1937 in which there appeared to be three masons present.  

W. O. Collings Master Pro Tem

C. A. McKinley Senior Warden

R. C. Carpenter Junior Warden Pro Tem.

In the end it appears that what caused Elk Creek Lodge to consolidate with Philip Swigert was the fact they did not have a large membership, monetary issues, and loss of interest.  Membership as of 1921 was 41.  The lodge paid $123 in Grand lodge assessments for that year.  A receipt from the Grand Treasurer was found in the old minute books to prove this amount.  Monetary issues for the lodge was very much the topic of discussion when reading through the minutes of the last few years.  Several times the lodge did not have enough to pay Grand Lodge assessment and their own members had to bail them out.  There was also mention of the Treasurer's books being short and not balancing with the Secretary's books.  Finally  a loss of interest in the lodge from its membership appears to be another factor in their downfall.  The last Master of the lodge was A. C. Money who was Master for thirteen years in a row.  This is an indication of a dying lodge.  Looking at the minutes from the last few years of the lodge's existence you can see that there were maybe 5 to 6 members at the meetings and one or two lines of business written in the minutes.  On December 27, 1938 the lodge consolidated with Philip Swigert Lodge # 218.  Elk Creek was already meeting at Philip Swigert's lodge hall and it seemed to be a good fit. 

Past Masters of Elk Creek Lodge