Mount Dora in Lake County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
Witherspoon Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons, No. 111
Photographed By PaulwC3, March 11, 2014
1. Witherspoon Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons, No. 111 Marker
Inscription.
Witherspoon Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons, No. 111. . The Witherspoon Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons, No. 111, is one of Florida’s oldest functioning African American lodges. Established in 1898, it followed the tradition of Prince Hall (1735-1807), who opposed racial oppression in Colonial New England and founded the first African American Lodge in the United States. The Witherspoon Lodge bought this frame vernacular style building in 1903 and has met here since then. Masonic rites require that meetings be held on the second floor. The building also houses the Order of the Eastern Star, the Masonic women’s auxiliary. The Masons, the world’s largest fraternal organization, are committed to community service, mutual aid and the pursuit of free thought. In Mount Dora, the Witherspoon Lodge has provided help and shelter to various community organizations. In 1922, fire destroyed the city’s one-room segregated school for African-American children (Public School No. 66, first established in 1886). The Witherspoon Building served as a schoolhouse until the construction of the Milner-Rosenwald Academy in 1925. The Witherspoon Building has also served as the temporary assembly place for two churches, the Weaver Memorial Church of Christ and the Holiness Church
The Witherspoon Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons, No. 111, is one of Florida’s oldest functioning African American lodges. Established in 1898, it followed the tradition of Prince Hall (1735-1807), who opposed racial oppression in Colonial New England and founded the first African American Lodge in the United States. The Witherspoon Lodge bought this frame vernacular style building in 1903 and has met here since then. Masonic rites require that meetings be held on the second floor. The building also houses the Order of the Eastern Star, the Masonic women’s auxiliary. The Masons, the world’s largest fraternal organization, are committed to community service, mutual aid and the pursuit of free thought. In Mount Dora, the Witherspoon Lodge has provided help and shelter to various community organizations. In 1922, fire destroyed the city’s one-room segregated school for African-American children (Public School No. 66, first established in 1886). The Witherspoon Building served as a schoolhouse until the construction of the Milner-Rosenwald Academy in 1925. The Witherspoon Building has also served as the temporary assembly place for two churches, the Weaver Memorial Church of Christ and the Holiness Church
Erected 2001 by Witherspoon Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons, No. 111 and the Florida Department
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of State. (Marker Number F-437.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Fraternal or Sororal Organizations. A significant historical year for this entry is 1898.
Location. 28° 48.569′ N, 81° 38.311′ W. Marker is in Mount Dora, Florida, in Lake County. Marker is at the intersection of North Clayton Street and Grant Avenue on North Clayton Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1410 North Clayton Street, Mount Dora FL 32757, United States of America. Touch for directions.
2. Wide view of the Witherspoon Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons, No. 111 Marker
The lodge was restored in 2007 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2009.
Credits. This page was last revised on September 25, 2020. It was originally submitted on April 4, 2014, by PaulwC3 of Northern, Virginia. This page has been viewed 747 times since then and 49 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on April 4, 2014, by PaulwC3 of Northern, Virginia.
