MONTICELLO LODGE, No. 532   

 

Monticello Lodge No. 532, F&AM, was instituted Dec. 1862, under a dispensation from the Grand Lodge of the State of New York, naming David G. Starr, W.M. James Matthews, Senior Warden; and Eli S. Pelton, Junior Warden.

For many years the question of securing a permanent home was discussed until 1897, when, under the efforts of the Trustees, at that time consisting of Charles S. Starr, Robert J. Brome and Daniel Downs, together with Robert McNickle, W.M.; Charles H. Royce, S.W.; and George E. Waller, J.W.; and others, the Lodge secured property opposite the county courthouse lawn. The Temple erected was a large three-story brick structure, 38 x 90’, with office rooms on the first and second floor, the third floor being used exclusively since its construction, for Lodge purposes. The cornerstone was laid May 12, 1898, and M.W. William A. Sutherland, assisted by the Grand Officers of the State, dedicated the Lodge on Oct. 29, 1898. The cost of the lot and building was approximately $16,000. This building, together with most of the buildings on Monticello’s main street, burned in a great conflagration in 1909.

            Monticello’s founders – Samuel F. Jones and his brother John P. Jones – served as Masters of Sullivan Lodge #272 which met on the top floor the historic structure now housing the Nowhere Bar across from the present Village Hall. During alterations to this building after its purchase in 1859, when it was remodeled into the Curley Hotel, upon removing the upper floor workmen discovered that the space beneath was filled with 15 inches of tan bark placed there to sound-proof the Lodge rooms and protect the privacy of the Order’s rituals. M.W. DeWitt Clinton, and Grand Secretary John Wells signed the warrant for this first lodge in Monticello.

The cornerstone of the original Masonic Hall reportedly weighed 940 pounds and contained an 8 x 10 inch cavity which held a zinc box with some newspapers from the period, was dedicated on June 25, 1829. In June of the same year, Sullivan Lodge #272 made its last return to Grand Lodge, which declared its charter forfeit in 1835.

After the destruction by the fire, the present Masonic Building at 5 Bank St., Monticello, was continued in the ownership of Monticello Lodge after its dedication on October 10, 1910. The cornerstone at the northeast corner reads as follows: "This cornerstone with its Archives taken from the ruins of the Temple burned Aug. 10, 1909, was relaid in the new with Masonic honors Nov. 18th following."

On Oct. 2, 1913, on behalf of Delhi Lodge #439, F&AM R:W: Walter G. Edgerton presented the Lodge with a silver trowel presented to him by Monticello Lodge #532 on the occasion of the laying of the cornerstone of the Masonic Temple at Monticello on May 12, 1898.

Rising heating costs in the 1970s, combined with county, town, village, and school taxes, put the Lodge in a position that it was determined to sell the building. A sale was made on June 19, 1984 to the Times Herald-Record newspaper. One of the terms included a reservation to Monticello Lodge #532 of the rental of the entire third floor of the building under very favorable lease arrangements with renewals thereof at the option of the Lodge. This reserved lease agreement has permitted the continuous use of the third floor of the building by Monticello Lodge #532 where it continues to meet to this date, and Kiamesha Chapter #309, OES, which merged with two other chapters in 1999 and moved to Liberty.

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References:

Benton, Alvin O. (1942). Early Masonry In Monticello And Sullivan County: History Of Monticello

Lodge No. 532, F&AM, privately published.

Curley, Edward F. (1930). Old Monticello, The Republican Watchman: Monticello, NY.

MacPherson, Malcolm (1958). One-Hundredth Anniversary: Delhi Lodge No. 439, F. and A.M., 1858-1958, privately published: Delhi, New York, p. 46.

Monticello Lodge #532, F&AM (1920). Masonic Fair And Carnival Held In The Lyceum, Monticello, NY, July 20-23 for the benefit Monticello Lodge, privately published.