Decatur in Morgan County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)

Rising Sun Lodge No. 29

Ancient Free & Accepted Masons

Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, July 7, 2024

1. Rising Sun Lodge No. 29 Marker

Inscription.
Dr. Henry Rhodes, for whom Rhodes Ferry Landing was named, was Decatur's first Postmaster and one of the organizers of the Lodge (Nov. 22, 1826). Chartered in 1827, its first Worshipful Master was Colonel Francis Dancy, builder of the Dancy-Polk House. It is the oldest Lodge in Morgan County and the first fraternal organization in Decatur. Early members were the pioneer settlers of Morgan county. Two of Decatur's founders, Isaac Lane and General Jesse Winston Garth, were Masons and Directors of the Decatur Land Company which laid out the city streets. A lodge was built in 1834 with the lower floor used for school and church purposes. Riding Sun Lodge was destroyed by the enemy during the War Between the States (Nov. 25, 1864). In 1873 a Lodge was built on the NW corner of Bank and Pond Streets, across from the Old State Bank, W.W. Littlejohn and Colonel C.C. Harris were Masons and founders of the Decatur Land Improvement & Furnace Company which planned the city of New Decatur (1887). Three members, all doctors in faithful discharge of their Hippocratic Oath, were lost to the 1888 Yellow Fever epidemic. James McGinnis Brundidge,

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PM, is the only Mason in the history of the Alabama Grand Lodge to be bestowed the title of 'Honorable Past Grand Master' (1899). In 1934, the Lodge moved into the Masonic Temple on Johnston Street, formerly the Cotaco Opera House.

Marker in the pavement at base of marker:
This marker was unveiled b George Flavious Mills
Rising Sun Lodge 29 Past Master
Bronze Star, Infantry Combat Badge, Purple Heart
WWII POW
Legion of Honor
American Hero

Erected 2014 by Morgan County Archives, Alabama Historical Association.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work • Fraternal or Sororal Organizations • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Alabama Historical Association series list. A significant historical date for this entry is November 22, 1826.

Location. 34° 36.845′ N, 86° 59.022′ W. Marker is in Decatur, Alabama, in Morgan County. It can be reached from the intersection of Bank Street Northeast and Church Street Northeast, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 952 Bank Street NE, Decatur AL 35601, United States

Photographed by Sandra Hughes, April 15, 2017

2. Rising Sun Lodge No. 29 Marker

of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in North Alabama.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the original Cherokee Nation,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Old State Bank Building (a few steps from this marker); Battle of Decatur (a few steps from this marker); Decatur and The Civil War in North Alabama (within shouting distance of this marker); Hood’s Middle Tennessee Campaign and The Battle for Decatur (within shouting distance of this marker); Historic Downtown / Founders Park (within shouting distance of this marker); Old Decatur Historic District / Old State Bank (within shouting distance of this marker); To Commemorate the Passage of The Olympic Torch (within shouting distance

Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, July 7, 2024

3. Rising Sun Lodge No. 29 Marker

of this marker); Two Bridges Across The Tennessee River (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Decatur.

Also see . . .
1. General Jesse Winston Garth. Huntsville History Collection entry:
Born: October 17, 1788, Albermarle County, Virginia Died: September 8, 1867, Morgan County, Alabama Buried: Garth Cemetery, Decatur, Alabama Father of: Col. William Willis Garth (1826) Notes: • Son of Thomas Garth (1758 - 1834) and Susan Durrett ( - 1829) - Ancestry.com • Married Unity Spottswood Dandridge (1800-1833) in 1821. - Tripod • General Garth is on James Record's list of Generals having called Madison County home, at least for a short time. Most of his life and influence centered around Decatur, Alabama. However, he owned land in Madison County and a son settled in Madison County. - Record (Submitted on April 16, 2017, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA.)

2. James McGinnis Brundidge. Find A Grave entry:
Honorary Past Grand Master of the Grand Lodge A.F.& A.M. of Alabama. He was elected Grand Lecturer of the Grand Lodge in 1848 and

Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, July 7, 2024

4. Rising Sun Lodge No. 29 Marker

annually thereafter until 1854. He was elected Junior Grand Warden in 1862 and in 1863 refused further advancement. In 1889 the office of State Grand Lecturer was created to which he was appointed. He held the position until the time of his death. He was Worshipful Master of Athens Lodge No. 16 from 1845 to 1847. (Submitted on April 16, 2017, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA.)

Rising Sun Lodge No. 29 image. Click for more information.

Photographed by Larry Gertner

5. Rising Sun Lodge No. 29

Rising Sun Lodge 29 website entry:
"Today “The Masonic Building”, located at 1 Walnut Street NE, is home of Rising Sun Lodge 29, Decatur York Rite Bodies, Mizpah Chapter 19 and Mary Lou Dancy Chapter 320 of the Order of the Eastern Star.
It is the second largest lodge in Alabama in membership slightly behind Helion Lodge #1 just 20 miles away in Huntsville, Alabama.
Homepage link:
Click for more information.

Credits. This page was last revised on July 11, 2024. It was originally submitted on April 16, 2017, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. This page has been viewed 1,269 times since then and 59 times this year. Last updated on July 7, 2024, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. Photos: 1. submitted on July 7, 2024, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. 2. submitted on April 16, 2017, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. 3, 4. submitted on July 7, 2024, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. 5. submitted on April 10, 2021, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.