And from the history of Monticello Lodge #532, F&AM, describing the dedication of the completed Temple...

"The Pelton building was a frame structure with a French roof. The lodge-room windows, of which there were few, were cut through the hip-shaped roof. In the winter the brethren found it difficult to keep warm and in the summer the nearness to the roof provided little opportunity for ventiliation and heat penetrated almost to a degree of suffocation.

The old-fashion chunk stoves provided heat and consumed large quantities of wood, which was usually provided by the brethren.

"The new temple was completed in the early fall of 1898 and it was dedicated with an imnposing ceremony on October 29, 1898.

"William A. Sutherland, Grand Master, and his staff met in the lodge's magnificant reception room at 8 p.m. and the lodge was opened in due form. Assisting the Grand Master during the ceremonies wree Grand Treasurer George W. White, Grand Marshal Isaac Frome, Grand Sword Bearer Jacob Heidt, Grand Tiler Andrew Ferguson, Acting Grand Chaplain the Rev. P.C. Creveling, Acting Grand Senior Warden Charles T. Curtis, District Deputy Grand Master of the 16th District.

"Also assisting were S.E. Wenzel, Master of Delawarde Lodge; ACting Grand Junior Warden Justice Arthur S. Tompkins, District Deputy Grand Master 13th District; Charles Smith, District Deputy Grand Master of the Sixth District; Walter M. Hand, District Deputy Grand Master of the 28th District; Jesse T. Durland, District Deputy Grand Master of the 27th District, and Henry C. Gillespie, District Deptuty Grand Master of the [sic] District.

"The brethren were seated in the main lodge room and the Grand Marshall announced the entrance of the grand Master and the Grand Lodge officers. The brethren rose and the officers of the Grand Lodge entered. They were received with Grand Honors.

"After prayer and symbolic ceremonies the Grand Junior Warden presented a vessel of corn as an emblem of nourishment.

"The Grand Master said, 'In the name of the great Jehovah, to whom be all honor and glory and praise, I do solemnly dedicate this temple to Freemasonry.'

"Then followed the same ceremony in the pouring of oil and wine which was followed by a benediction by the Acting Grand Chaplain.

"Grand Master Sutherland then dedicated an address replete with learning and elequence. He set forth the high purposes of the order.

"The exercises closed with a benediction, after which a banquet was served in the spacious parlor which adjoined the lodge room. This room was in the front part of the building.

Visitors were present from Livingston Manor, Mongaup Lodge of Liberty, Delaware Lodge of Callicoon, Jeffersonville Lodge and several other lodges, incluidng Warwarsing Lodge of Ellenville."

An finally, a century later...

On June 13, 1998, after preserving this symbol of fraternal friendship and brotherly affection for over 80 years, through the destruction of the original Masonic Temple in Monticello by the great fire which destroyed nearly the entire Village of Monticello in 1909, and through two world wars, officers and members of Delhi Lodge #439 travelled to Monticello to return the ceremonial trowel to Monticello Lodge in the Temple which was rebuilt in 1910. The cornerstone at the above right tells the story of the building's destruction by fire and reconstruction in its present form, three blocks northwest of the original site.

The building was sold to the Times Herald-Record newspaper, now owned by Dow-Jones & Co., in 1975. But the Lodge has continuously rented the third floor for its operations since the sale. Monticello Lodge remains a vital component of the local community, with over 120 members today.

Also pictured above, Wor. Eric Greenfield, Master of Delhi Lodge, is shown presenting the silver-plated trowel which was used by R.W. Walter G. Edgerton of Delhi to cement the cornerstone of the first Monticello Masonic Temple, a century earlier, to Wor. Robert Halprin, Master of Monticello Lodge. Wor. Anthony Lubniewski, outgoing Master of Monticello Lodge (May 1997-May 1998) also officiated at the centennial ceremony.

Following the presentation of the historic trowel, in which officers of both lodges gave instructive remarks pertaining to the history of Freemasonry and their respective institutions, a dinner-social was held in the collation room.