Middletown History

The following historical account of Middletown Lodge was compiled and written by Brother Fred Jackman, P.M. and former Secretary of Middletown Lodge.

The cornerstone of Middletown Lodge. The lodge was founded in 1901. The current building that houses the lodge was built in 1984.

(The information in Chapter I was taken from the 125th anniversary booklet of Abraham Lodge No. 8, issued in 1926.)

The Grand Lodge of Kentucky was formed at Lexington in the year 1800 by five lodges, only three of which survive, Lexington No. 1, Hiram No. 4, Frankfort, and Solomon's Lodge No. 5, Shelbyville.

Masonry in Louisville and Jefferson County, Kentucky and in Indiana, had its beginning in Middletown, KY., in 1801. Abraham Lodge No. 8 was granted dispensation by Grand Master James Morrison, December 21, 1801, at the request of Solomon's Lodge No. 5.

Abraham No. 8 was the third lodge organized in the Western country after severance from the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Virginia. Abraham Lodge began with ten charter members, only one of whom was made a Mason in Kentucky the others having received the degrees in older jurisdictions in Eastern States.

The meeting place of Abraham Lodge in Middletown is unknown; likely in the home of one of the members. After the removal of Abraham Lodge to Louisville, April 3, 1803, James Taylor, one of the charter members and a son of an officer in George Washington's Revolutionary Army, organized a second lodge in Middletown, which soon became defunct. I am unable to find any record of this lodge.

Visitors to the conferment of the Master Mason degree and to the lodge festivals were customarily charged fees ranging from 25 cents to $1.00. This was done because of the popularity of undeposited demits. Brothers leaving Eastern jurisdictions to settle in the West seldom knew where they would eventually settle, so did not deposit demits with any lodge.

Elections were held twice yearly, on the days of St. John the Baptist and St. John the Evangelist. Also, Grand Lodge sessions were held semi-annually. By 1886, fifteen Masonic lodges were working in Louisville. Some found difficulty in carrying on and sought relief by merger with Abraham No. 8. On December 27, 1886, Mt. Moriah, Clark and Antiquity Lodges were consolidated with Abraham Lodge.

On the wall of Middletown Lodge's hall at present hangs a souvenir apron celebrating the one hundredth anniversary of the founding of Abraham Lodge, presented to Middletown Lodge No. 732 at the time of that event, 1901.

The next lodge located in Middletown of which I can find any record is Harry Hudson Lodge No. 193, instituted August 28, 1850. It's charter was either revoked or arrested July 10, 1866. During this lodge's existence its average membership was approximately 30.

In 1946 Brother A. W. Burt, a member of Parkland Lodge No. 638, presented Middletown Lodge with a photostatic copy of a Masonic Carpet, or certificate, presented to his grandfather, Brother James E. Burt, on being raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason in Harry Hudson Lodge, February 26, 1853. This certificate is signed by C. W. Hilton, W.M.; J. Lawrence Brown, S.W; S. S. Hite, J.W., and Benjamin A. Head, secretary. This certificate is printed in English, French, and German.

Here are the names of some of the members of Harry Hudson Lodge, many of which are familiar to old residents of Middletown: Luther P. Wetherby, William Waters, William M. Morrison, William D. Tyler, Allen Poulter, John S. Roman, P. L. Simpson, John Downey, Walter Elder, S. B. Horde, William Jones, J. F. Lawrence, A. H. Mitchell, George B. Yenowine, J. W. Taylor, George Beckley.

In 1894 a secret organization called "Middletown Lodge No. 1908, Knights and Ladies of Honor" was formed. The by-laws state it was benevolent society of both sexes, to give aid to its members and dependents in sickness or distress to the sum of $3.00 weekly. It seems to have been national in scope and to have reached 81,000 members. No further information has been found concerning this organization.

(Because of a fire, we have no minutes for meetings previous to December 27, 1911. Thus much valuable information was destroyed. Necessarily, the facts herein stated as having occurred previous to that date are limited and were taken entirely from Grand Lodge Returns and Grand Lodge Proceedings for those years, with the exception of the meeting place. Other information was taken from lodge minutes.)

The existent Middletown Lodge No. 732 was granted dispensation November 19, 1900, and set to work January 12, 1901, by Brother E. D. Ragland, Master of Philip Swigert Lodge No. 218, by authority of the then Grand Secretary, Brother H. B. Grant.

This lodge was formed with seven charter members, as follows: Silas Offen Witherbee, Master; Orlando Sherman Kline, Senior Warden; John B. Guthrie Junior Warden; William Augustus Oursler, Secretary and Treasurer; R. S. Waters, Senior Deacon; John A. Yenowine, Junior Deacon; and Harry A. Wetherby, Steward and Tiler.

Brothers Witherbee, Guthrie, Oursler and Wetherby were former members of Philip Swigert Lodge. Brother Waters was a former member of Harry Hudson Lodge No. 193, defunct. I have been unable to trace the Masonic origin of Brother Kline and Yenowine. The lodge was chartered October 17, 1901 by the Grand Lodge and assigned the number 732.

The lodge originally met monthly on Saturday night before the full moon. It is said to have met in the building now known as the Wetherby Apartments, built when this section was a part of Virginia.

The lot on which the hall now stands was deeded by W. J. Jones and wife Lutitia Jones to Brother Henry Frank, Master; William Cox, Senior Warden, and R. S. Waters, Junior Warden, and their successors in office, as trustees in consideration of $70.00, on November 3, 1903. The hall was dedicated August 7, 1905 by Brother John H. Cowles.

The first Brother raised in the to the degree of Master Mason in Middletown Lodge No. 732 was Henry Frank; the second was William Cox.

The Holy Bible on our altar until 1957 was presented to the lodge December 27, 1921, by the five surviving charter members, Brothers Witherbee, Kline, Guthrie, Oursler, and Yenowine. April 1, 1957, Senior Warden Gerald A. Biven donated the Bible presently in use.

The Membership increased steadily, at times spectacularly, until the number had reached 175 by the mid '30's, the depression years decreasing the rolls to approximately 100. The Grand Lodge report for the year ending June 1972, showed 316 Master Masons.

War seems always to play havoc with lodges. There usually is an increase in the number of petitioners, but sometimes a shortage of competent officers. This seems to have been particularly true of this lodge in World War I, when all officers except the Master were drawn into the armed services. With the passing away of Brother William Haebe March 23, 1952, we lost probably our most dedicated member. He had served the lodge in every capacity, the last eleven years as treasurer. He served two terms as Master, 1917 and 1918 for the reason noted above.

To add to our troubles the Government declared "heatless Mondays" (our meetings were held on Mondays then as now) to conserve fuel. The officers and members wore overcoats during the meetings. Then came the influenza epidemic, cutting down large gatherings. However, several candidates were initiated, passed and raised during this period.

On October 16, 1920, Middletown Chapter No. 319, Order of Eastern Star, which recently celebrated its 50th anniversary, was called to order at the Middletown Masonic Hall by the worthy Grand Patron, Brother William A. Keller. Mrs. Lora Lee Bates, Worthy Grand Matron, served as Grand Chaplain. The first meeting of the organization was held November 8, 1920, and it met under dispensation until November 28, 1921, when the Chapter was granted a charter. The first Worthy Matron was Mrs. Minnie Cox; the first Worthy Patron, Brother Lewis Benjamin. Of the 26 charter members, only one survives, Mrs. L. C. McDonald.

If anyone doubts the fine spirit of cooperation existing between the lodge and chapter, one only has to ask any brother who has attended one of our December 27 banquets preceding the annual election of officers. The Order of Eastern Star ordered, prepared and served these feasts for years.

Nineteen hundred sixty-three witnessed the chartering of Middletown Assembly, Rainbow for Girls, sponsored by the lodge. However, the Assembly fell by the wayside after about four years.

In January, 1930, the Triangle Degree Team, composed of members of Philip Swigert Lodge No. 218, Jeffersontown Lodge No. 774, and Middletown Lodge No. 732, was formed. Original Middletown Lodge members of the team were John H. Correll, Jr., Herbert G. Cochran, Robert P. Drummond, John A. Moser, Willet Nay, L. Edgar Painter, Jr., Helm E. Walls and James H. Rudy. The Triangle Team conferred the M. M. degree for the first time June 16, 1930, at Middletown Lodge.

The original team set high standards of excellence of performance for the new members to aim at, but which have little hope of attaining. It has drawn the three neighboring lodges close to the bonds of brotherly love and has provided an outlet for the energy of the members who desire labor in the quarries.

The year 1937 with the great Ohio River flood, long will be remembered by the people of Louisville and vicinity, but especially by the then members of Middletown Lodge, which was the first (and to our knowledge the only) lodge to throw open its doors at that time to those in distress. The members were called upon and assigned various duties dispensing food and clothing which was collected in the community. A well-known Past Master of Robinson Lodge No. 266, Louis Weber, was drafted as cook.

The requests for shelter became so numerous that we were forced to send shelter cases to the schools in Middletown and Avoca. The ladies of Middletown Chapter, O.E.S., took charge of clothing alterations and distribution to relieve the lodge of that duty, enabling the lodge to concentrate on collection and distribution of food, bedding, and cots. This continued for about ten days.

Our first shipment of clothing and bread came by air from McMinnville, Tenn. A local citizen donated a substantial amount of money, and a large estate donated 50 bushels of corn and a large amount of straw, which was made into straw beds at Ormsby Village. The corn was ground into meal.

Where so many people of different stations of life are thrown together, naturally there are amusing and pathetic incidents. One woman in need of a dress tried on every one we had, finally finding one she liked, but refusing it because we didn't have the matching belt. She started all over again.

Another incident concerned a railroader and his niece. He wore an expensive diamond ring but little clothing. The niece wore an expensive fur coat but badly worn clothing, all they could salvage from their home. Both were most humble and exceedingly grateful for whatever we could give them.

By this time our files were full of bills and the treasury empty, but the Red Cross came to our rescue, relieving us of the financial burden. At a later meeting a widow, a former resident of the Home now living in this community, was reported in distress. A goodly sum was immediately placed on the secretary's desk and a committee appointed to investigate. Toys and food were promised. In addition, a hat was passed at the next meeting, netting about $50.00. She and her family were taken care of handsomely.

Starting in 1954, plans were made to try to build a new hall, since extensive repairs were needed on the present building. Several meetings were held to discuss this problem. Members were asked to donate over a four-year period. Response was not too enthusiastic, so over the years many necessary repairs and improvements have been made. The anterooms were enlarged, utilizing heretofore wasted space, and restroom facilities were built. A member donated enough Philippine mahogany to panel the upstairs and stairway walls. Another member donated material and labor to refinish ceilings. There improvements took care of falling plaster. Central-unit furnaces and air-conditioners were installed upstairs and downstairs, replacing stoves and noisy ceiling units and adding to the year-round comfort of the hall. Officers' chairs were repaired and reupholstered and new sideline chairs purchased.

The lodge and Eastern Star chapter recently collaborated in laying wall-to-wall carpeting upstairs and on the stairs. In 1959 the Ashlar Club was formed, principally for the purpose of getting a monthly news letter to the members containing news of interest to all and a schedule of coming events. The paper, now in its thirteenth year, has proved of great value.

In 1961 this lodge co-sponsored Beargrass Chapter, DeMolay for Boys, meeting in our hall. Despite many trials, the Chapter is going strong. It is recognized as probably the outstanding Chapter in the state and recently presided at the institution of a new Chapter at Milton, KY.

Following the burning of the building next door, in 1969, the lodge bought that lot, 78X115, relieving a serious parking problem. After the fire, in which we suffered smoke damage and blistering, both the inside and outside were completely renovated. This lodge has accumulated over the years 14 Life Memberships in our two Homes, plus owning its own hall and having some funds in reserve.

Following is another account of the history of Middletown Lodge that is titled 189 Years of Masonary In Middletown Kentucky 1801-1990 written on March 9, 1990 by an author that is unknown at least on the paper it was typed. It is summarized as it repeats some of the history detailed above.

As in Bro. Fred Jackman's account there were three lodges in Middletown before Middletown Lodge No. 732. The first being Abraham No. 8. The second, according to Bro. Jackman was unknown. It is believed in this account to be Jefferson Lodge No. 83 which was chartered August 29, 1826 and was declared Defunct on September 1, 1829. After that lodge came Harry Hudson Lodge No. 193 which was instituted August 28, 1850 and the charter revoked or arrested on July 10, 1886. Finally came the Middletown Lodge No. 732. The new building where the lodge now stands on 440 North Madison Street was dedicated on November 18, 1984, at 2:00 pm. Brother William Ben Gray was Master of Middletown Lodge No. 732, and Brother Harold W. Downard, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Kentucky. As of July 31, 1989 membership of Middletown Lodge was 306.