History of Philip Swigert Lodge No. 218

How it all began

Our Charter was signed in 1851, to be exact, Philip Swigert Lodge #218 F. & A.M. received its Charter on Wednesday, August 27, 1851. This is not the oldest lodge in Kentucky, but it is certainly one of the oldest. If you look at the lower left hand corner of our Charter, you will see that Philip Swigert actually signed it. In 1851, Philip Swigert was the Grand Secretary for The Grand Lodge of Kentucky and a very respected man among men and Masons. In August of 1851, Millard Fillmore was President of the United States. The Statue of Liberty had not been dedicated, construction on the Washington Monument had begun, but was a long way from being completed. California was in the process of becoming a State. The Golden Gate Bridge, the Civil war, the Presidency of Abraham Lincoln, and even Stephen Foster's song, "My Old Kentucky Home" were to be events for the future.

Philip Swigert Lodge only met in the "Old Mill Building" (photos above for a few years while their "new" building was being constructed.

Philip Swigert Lodge and a local Baptist Church formed a partnership to raise the funds required to build a two story, frame building. The Church occupied the first floor and the Lodge occupied the second floor. The total cost to construct such a building in the 1850's was $35.00 and a suit of clothes.

Mergers with other lodges is nothing new to Philip Swigert Lodge on December 27, 1938 Elk Creek Lodge # 485 merged under Philip Swigert Lodge # 218. It appeared to be a natural fit as brothers from Elk Creek had been attending Philip Swigert meetings regularly. Elk Creek Lodge was chartered on October 19, 1870 and became defunct after they merged into Philip Swigert. No one knows what happened to the charter of Elk Creek Lodge it's possible the Grand Lodge may still have it in their archives. For more information on Elk Creek Lodge click HERE

A period of facility remodeling followed the purchase of the Baptist Church's interest in the Lodge property on November 18, 1950. A dining hall area and kitchen with new gas stoves were provided on the first floor. During the December 27, 1952 meeting a special celebration took place when the final payment was made on the Lodge indebtness. The note was burned in open Lodge. It only took a hundred years, but the building was finally ours. In June of 1954, the Lodge building was painted outside at a total cost of $475.00. New heating stoves and exhaust fans were added. A new cistern was built. Double sinks were installed and a rest room with hot and cold running water, completed the "uptown" conveniences. The old Lodge building was sold on August 7, 1975 for the sum of $12,000.00 and years later torn down.

This picture of the lodge brings back memories of the stories of bee's causing the lodge building to be vacated during a night of degree work, heat by woodstoves, and a "tilt-n" building is all that is left of "the old building" and approximately 120 years of history.

On November 15, 1969, a building fund was established by deposit of a $1,000.00 from the general Lodge Treasury. On July 17, 1971, the Acasia Club was formed for the purpose of raising monies for the building fund. Lodge members joined the Acasia Club to participate in the planning of auctions, cake sales, Blue Lodge Open Golf Tournament, and other fundraising activities.

On August 7, 1971, a called meeting announced Archie and Ruby Boston's donation of property for a new Lodge building. (See below)

On November 16, 1974, at a special called meeting, the Lodge authorized the Building Committee to hire an architect to draw plans for the new Lodge Building. Many gifts and labors were pledged. As gifts and dedicated efforts continued, it became evident that the majority of the craft "agreed to wait no longer" and plans for building a new lodge hall began in earnest. The Lodge continued to meet in the "Old building" until construction of the new building was completed. Many donations were made toward the new Lodge Hall including a gift on July 17, 1976 of a memorial Cornerstone. The first meeting was held in the new building on July 3, 1976. The new building was "erected to God and dedicated to the Holy Saints Johns of Jerusalem" on November 7, 1976. Most Worshipful Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, John Moyers, officiated.

For a more complete Philip Swigert History click HERE