Huntsville in Walker County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Site of First Masonic Lodge Building
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 4, 2013
1. Site of First Masonic Lodge Building Marker
Forrest Lodge No. 19, A.F & A.M., erected its first lodge building at this site early in 1850 on a lot measuring 50 by 75 feet purchased in 1849. The two-story white frame building was 50 feet square with five plastered brick columns in front. Lodge meetings were held upstairs, and the lower floor was leased for retail purposes. Sam Houston was a member of this lodge from 1851 through 1854. The Masonic Grand Lodge of Texas met here in June 1858. After the building was destroyed by fire on December 27, 1881, members of the lodge made immediate plans to replace it with a brick building, which was completed late in 1883. Within a year six other fraternal organizations also were meeting in the building. In 1895 Forrest Lodge purchased a lot on Twelfth Street to accommodate a future, larger building. The new location was occupied in June 1909, a few months after the property at this site had been sold to several Huntsville businessmen.
Erected 1998 by Citizens of Huntsville, Texas.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Fraternal or Sororal Organizations • Man-Made Features. A significant historical year for this entry is 1850.
Location. 30° 43.434′ N, 95° 33.059′ W. Marker is in Huntsville, Texas
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Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Old Gibbs Store (a few steps from this marker); Sam Houston Whittling Site (within shouting distance of this marker); Walker County (within shouting distance of this marker); The Five Courthouses of Walker County (within shouting distance of this marker); Site of Pleasant Gray's Trading Post (within shouting distance of this marker); First United Methodist Church of Huntsville (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Walker County (within shouting distance of this marker); Cornerstone of the Fourth Courthouse (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Huntsville.
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker.
Also see . . .
1. Forrest Masonic Lodge No. 19. East Texas History website entry:
In 1843, a local merchant and postmaster, Alexander McDonald, constructed Huntsville’s first brick building, which had a “simple rectangle[r] shape with three dormer windows at the attic level.”
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 4, 2013
2. Site of First Masonic Lodge Building Marker (wide view)
This is the building currently at First Masonic Lodge site. The marker is located between this building and the next building to the west, just beyond the left side of this image.
2. A.F.& A.M. Forrest Lodge No. 19. Walker County History website entry:
The upper floor of a store owned by Alexander McDonald, the first worshipful master, served as an early meeting place. A two-story lodge hall on the north side of the square, built in 1850, was destroyed by fire in 1881. It was replaced by a brick building near the corner of University and 11th Street in 1883. (Submitted on December 24, 2017, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 4, 2013
3. Alexander McDonald Memorial (located at current Forrest Lodge building )
Alexander MacDonald built the first Masonic Lodge at this site in 1850; it was the first brick building in Huntsville.
Credits. This page was last revised on July 22, 2022. It was originally submitted on December 24, 2017, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 284 times since then and 19 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on December 24, 2017, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
