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History of Plainfield Lodge 224 Free and Accepted Masons

| November 20, 2012

PLAINFIELD – CHARTERED OCTOBER 21,1852, PLAINFIELD LODGE #224 HAS SEEN MANY CHANGES IN THE LAST 160 YEARS.

REPORTEDLY, THE FIRST LODGE BUILDING WAS NEAR WHERE THE BLUCK ONE-ROOM SCHOOLHOUSE IS LOCATED, ON GROUND OWNED BY GEORGE STURTZ. JACOB NICHOLS WAS THE FIRST WORSHIPFUL MASTER.

ACCORDING TO THE MINUTES OF A MEETING IN APRIL 1853, THE LODGE WAS CONSUMED BY FIRE ON MARCH 25TH 1853, DESTROYING ALL OF THE FURNISHINGS AND RECORDS OF THE LODGE. IN APRIL 1853 A SPECIAL DISPENSATION WAS GRANTED (APPARENTLY BECAUSE OF THE FIRE) AND THE APRIL 22, 1853 MEETING WAS HELD AT THE SONS OF TEMPERANCE HALL. ARRANGEMENTS WERE MADE TO CONSTRUCT A BUILDING WITH MR. P. INSKEEP WITH THE LODGE OCCUPYING THE UPPER FLOOR. THE BUILDING WAS LOCATED IN SOUTH PLAINFIELD NEAR THE FUTURE SITE OF THE WOODWARD BROTHERS GRIST MILL. THIS ARRANGEMENT LASTED FOR 15 YEARS AND THE MASON’S SOLD THEIR PART TO MR. INSKEEP FOR $450.

ON OCTOBER 20,1853, THE LODGE PURCHASED A MASONIC CARPET WITH A RED BACKGROUND AND BLACK EMBLEMS FOR USE IN THE LODGE HALL. PARTS OF THIS CARPET ARE FRAMED AND ON DISPLAY ON THE EAST WALL OF THE LODGE TODAY.

STEVE WOODWARD’S STORE WAS THE NEXT LOCATION FOR THE LODGE HALL. WOODWARD WAS AN ARDENT MASON SERVING SEVERAL YEARS AS MASTER AND HOLDING OTHER OFFICES IN THE LODGE. THE LODGE REMAINED ABOVE WOODWARD’S STORE ON MAIN STREET UNTIL THE VILLAGE WAS MOVED IN THE 1930’S. WOODWARD’S STORE WAS RAZED FORCING THE LODGE TO SEEK A NEW LOCATION IN THE RELOCATED VILLAGE OF PLAINFIELD. A PICTURE OF THIS BUILDING IS POSTED ON THE WALL BESIDE THE TREASURER. THE SQUARE AND COMPASSES CAN BE SEEN BETWEEN THE TREES NEAR THE PEAK OF THE ROOF.

BERNIE COOK, A LODGE MEMBER, BUILT A GARAGE IN THE RELOCATED VILLAGE OF PLAINFIELD AND EQUIPPED THE UPSTAIRS FOR A LODGE HALL. THE LODGE MOVED THRE IN 1938. THIS LOCATION WAS NEVER VERY SATISFACTORY; IT WAS COLD IN THE WINTER, HOT IN THE SUMMER, AND NOISY DUE TO THE GARAGE IN THE LOWER LEVEL. THE LODGE REMAINED THERE FOR 15 YEARS. (1953)

THE LODGE MEMBERS REQUESTED THAT THE WORSHIPFUL MASTER, HARRY BELL, APPOINT A COMMITTEE TO CONTACT LESTER ROAHRIG, WHO OWNED THE ODDFELLOW BUILDING ACROSS THE STREET, ABOUT POSSIBLY MEETING IN THE HALL. THE BUILDING WAS, ONE OF THE MANY, MOVED FROM THE OLD TOWN BY THE ARMY CORP OF ENGINEERS. THE LARGE BUILDING WAS MOVED IN TWO PARTS AND THE MOVE TOOK TWO DAYS. DURING THE MOVE, THE ELECTRICITY WAS CONNECTED TEMPORARILY SO BUSINESS COULD BE CONDUCTED. IT WAS QUITE A PROJECT IN ITS DAY. THE ODDFELLOWS HAD NOT MET THERE FOR 10 YEARS AND THE MEETING HALL NEEDED REPAIRS AND CLEANING. ROAHRIG AGREED BUT HE DID NOT EXPECT TO INCUR ANY COST OR INVEST ANY LABOR IN RESTORING THE HALL. THE MEMBERSHIP PLEDGED THEIR HELP IN RESTORING THE MEETING HALL. THIS MOVE PROVED TO BE SATISFACTORY TO ALL PARTIES INVOLVED.

BROTHER M.V.ADDY PURCHASED THE ROAHRIG STORE/ ODDFELLOW BUILDING IN THE EARLY 1970’S. IN 1975 THE MEMBERS REMODELED THE MEETING HALL AGAIN. THE LODGE DECIEDED TO KEEP THE OLD EMBLEMATIC CARPET REGARDLESS OF ITS WORN CONDITION. MEETINGS WERE HELD IN THAT BUILDING UNTIL 1998.

THE NEXT MOVE WOULD BE TO THE PRESENT LOCATION. THIS BUILDING WAS ORIGINALLY A WAGONMAKER’S SHOP, OWNED BY JOHN LAWLERY. THE PRESBYTERIAN TRUSTEES PURCHASHED THE BUILDING FROM LAWLERY IN OCTOBER, 1847 FOR $150 AND CONVERTED THE BUILDING INTO A CHURCH. (COSHOCTON COUNTY DEED VOL.21) I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE BUILDING WAS ONCE ON THE HILL ABOVE ITS PRESENT LOCATION BUT HAVE NO RECORD OF WHEN IT WAS MOVED. THIS BUILDING WAS PURCHASED BY PLAINFIELD GRANGE #1326 IN 1912 FOR $300. (COSHOCTON COUNTY DEEDS VOL. 115 PG. 504) THIS BUILDING WAS ALSO RENTED BY THE PLAINFIELD AREA JAYCEES FOR THEIR HAUNTED HOUSE IN THE LATE 1970’S AND EARLY 1980’S. MANY OF THE JAYCEE MEMBERS BELONG TO PLAINFIELD #224 TODAY, INCLUDING MYSELF.

IN 1998 THE FELLOWCRAFT CLUB OF PLAINFIELD #224 PURCHASED THE BUILDING OWNED BY PLAINFIELD GRANGE #1326. THE PURCHASE OF THIS BUILDING WAS ONLY ACHIEVED THROUGH THE DILIGENT WORK OF KENNETH DERR (A MEMBER AND PAST MASTER OF BOTH THE GRANGE AND PLAINFIELD #224) AND SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THIS LODGE. MANY OBSTACALES HAD TO BE OVERCOME TO FACILITATE THE PURCHASE. THE PROPERTY LINE RAN DIAGIONALLY THROUGH THE BUILDING. THE PRESBETERY STILL HAD AN INTEREST IN THE PROPERTY. THE CEMETERY BEHIND THE BUILDING (THE PRESBYTERIAN CEMETERY) HAD TO BE DEEDED TO LINTON TOWNSHIP. AFTER A CONCENTRATED EFFORT, THE PURCHASE WAS COMPLETED AND BOTH PARTIES BENEFITED. PERMISSION TO KEEP THE BEAUTIFUL GRANGE INLAY IN THE FLOOR WAS GRANTED BY A SPECIAL DISPENSATION OF THE GRAND LODGE, THEREBY MMAINTAINING THE HISTORY AND ENCOURAGING THE PROMISE OF THE FUTURE FOR BOTH ORGANIZATIONS. UNFORTUNATELY, PLAINFIELD GRANGE 1326 HAS BEEN MERGED WITH ANOTHER AS MANY OF THEIR MEMBERS HAVE PASSED ON. THE INLAY IN THE FLOOR REMINDS US OF THE GOODWILL AND COOPERATION BETWEEN THE TWO ORGANIZATIONS.

SINCE 1998 THE LODGE HALL HAS HAD MANY IMPROVEMENTS INCLUDING: A NEW SUSPENDED CEILING DOWNSTAIRS, NEW TOILETS, NEW PAINT ON THE WALLS AND FLOOR DOWNSTAIRS, NEW DRAPES UPSTAIRS AND DOWN, A NEW FURNACE, AIR CONDITIONING INSTALLED, VINYL SIDING, NEW STEEL DOORS INSTALLED, AND A NEW METAL ROOF. EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE MANY NEW THINGS IN THE BUILDING MANY OLD THINGS ALSO REMAIN. MANY OF THE LODGE’S FURNISHINGS ARE OVER A HUNDRED YEARS OLD AND INCLUDE THE OFFICERS STATIONS, ALTAR, HOLY BIBLE, AND SOME PLANK BOTTOM CHAIRS (MADE IN ROSCOE) . THE EMBLEMATIC CARPET STILL TAKES A PLACE OF HONOR ON THE WALL AS A REMINDER OF OUR PAST.

THIS OLD LODGE HAS MANY HISTORICAL VALUES AND PLEASANT MEMORIES EMBEDED IN ITS HISTORY. DURING ITS HISTORY WE HAVE GONE FROM PEOPLE OWNING SLAVES TO HAVING A BLACK MAN AS PRESIDENT. GONE FROM THE TELEGRAPH TO THE INTERNET. GONE FROM HORSEBACK TO CARS, AIRPLANES, AND SPACE SHUTTLES. MANY THINGS HAVE CHANGED BUT MANY REMAIN THE SAME.

THE MASONIC PRINCIPLES OF BROTHERLY LOVE, RELIEF, AND TRUTH STILL REMAIN WITHIN THESE WALLS. ONE OF THE MAIN TENENTS OF FREEMASONRY IS TO MAKE GOOD MEN BETTER. I AM PROUD TO SAY THAT PLAINFIELD #224 HAS BEEN DOING THAT FOR 160 YEARS.

SO MOTE IT BE.

 

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