Gladewater in Gregg County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Gladewater Lodge No. 852, A.F. & A.M.
On November 15, 1900, twenty master masons, many from Longview Masonic Lodge No. 404, presented a petition to form a separate lodge. On April 19, 1901, Grand Master Nat M. Washer issued the dispensation, and Daniel Washington Wood served as First Worshipful Master of the new lodge. It formally chartered in December 1901 with 29 members.
From 1901 to 1931, members met in James A. Ponder’s General Store, which also housed the Post Office, on the Northwest corner of Main and Pacific. During the Lodge’s formative years, members included prominent early businessmen, clergymen, professionals and civic leaders of Gladewater. Among them was Dr. Earl George McLaughlin, who opened the city’s first hospital and invented a medication during the influenza epidemic in 1918 that earned him national acclaim.
Sharing a common early history with the lodge is Chapter 831, order of the Eastern Star. Chartered in 1932, the group has long been active in its support of lodge projects and activities.
The lodge met for a time in a schoolhouse and in the Measles Hotel before building its own hall at this site. It first met here on July 1, 1940, and members formally dedicated the building in September of that year. They held meetings upstairs and leased the first floor space to a number of enterprises, including the Gladewater Daily Times-Tribune.
Lodge members have served the grand lodge of Texas as district deputy grand masters and actively supported Masonic projects. Locally, they contribute to many worthwhile community and educational programs, including annual scholarships. Today, Gladewater Lodge No. 852 serves as an integral part of the city’s future, as well as a reminder of its rich history.
Erected 2005 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 22771.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Fraternal or Sororal Organizations • Notable Places. A significant historical date for this entry is April 19, 1901.
Location. 32° 32.203′ N, 94° 56.645′ W. Marker is in Gladewater, Texas, in Gregg County. Marker is on North Dean Street south of West Upshur Avenue (U.S. 80), on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 215 N Dean St, Gladewater TX 75647, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. First United Methodist Church of Gladewater (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); John Ben Shepperd (about 600 feet away); First Franchised Motor Bus Line in Texas (about 600 feet away); Gladewater Post Office (about 600 feet away); Rosendale Cemetery (about 600 feet away); Camp's Ferry (about 700 feet away); Development of Gladewater (about 700 feet away); The Notorious Bonnie & Clyde (about 700 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Gladewater.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 25, 2024. It was originally submitted on September 7, 2019, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 208 times since then and 31 times this year. Last updated on July 11, 2022, by Joe Lotz of Denton, Texas. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 7, 2019, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.