Potomac West in Alexandria, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Universal Lodge No. 1

Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), May 27, 2019

1. Universal Lodge No. 1 Marker

Inscription. Prince Hall Masonry originated in Massachusetts in 1775 when a lodge attached to the British army initiated Prince Hall and 14 other free black men as Freemasons. Universal Lodge No. 1, the first Prince Hall lodge in Virginia, was established in Alexandria on 5 Feb. 1845. According to tradition, founders William Dudley, Benjamin Crier, and Sandy Bryant were seamen who had become masons in Liverpool, England, in the 1830s. They later joined Social Lodge No. 1 in Washington, DC, and worked to charter a new lodge across the Potomac River. Before the Civil War, Universal Lodge No. 1 met secretly in a house on South Royal Street in Hayti, a black enclave.

Erected 2018 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number E-151.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Colonial Era • Fraternal or Sororal Organizations. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) series list. A significant historical date for this entry is February 5, 1845.

Location. 38° 49.614′ N, 77° 3.532′ W. Marker is in Alexandria, Virginia. It is in Potomac West. Marker is at the intersection of Mount Vernon Avenue and East Oxford Avenue, on the right when traveling south on Mount Vernon

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Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2400 Mount Vernon Avenue, Alexandria VA 22301, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Town of Potomac / Mount Vernon Avenue (a few steps from this marker); St. Asaph Racetrack (within shouting distance of this marker); Potomac Yard History (within shouting distance of this marker); Schools in the Town of Potomac (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Electric Railway (about 700 feet away); a different marker also named St. Asaph Racetrack (about 800 feet away); Corporal Charles William Hill (about 800 feet away); Captain Rocky Versace Plaza and Vietnam Veterans Memorial (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Alexandria.

Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), May 27, 2019

2. Universal Lodge No. 1 Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on January 27, 2023. It was originally submitted on May 27, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 435 times since then and 16 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 27, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.