Our Lodge History
Not much is known concerning the original organization of Blackford Lodge, except that a dispensation was issued on June 28, 1849, to a small group of Mason's residing in the community granting them the power of conducting business and conferring degrees and other Masonic rites. Joseph C. Maddox was appointed as Worshipful Master, Albert S. Perkins as Senior Warden, and Benjamin F. Paris as Junior Warden. Winchester Lodge #56 was the sponsoring Lodge for this group.
On October 6, 1850, Jacob Elsworth of Winchester Lodge, serving as proxy for the Grand Master, presented the Lodge with its charter. A few months latter on March 1851, the new Lodge held its first public installation of officers, the event taking place in the old Methodist Church.
A few resolutions passed by the Lodge in its early years are of intrest in the light of modern practices. In 1854 the following was adopted: "The Secretary shall notify all members who have absented themselves for six months to appear and show cause why they continued to do so," -- In 1857 a resolution was presented to require all candidates to take an examination in open Lodge before advancing to the next degree, -- In 1866, this resolution was adopted: "Whereas, there being but little work to do in Lodge and but little of our time is occupied in actual labor, and in order to make ourselves more acquainted with the beauties of Masonry and our duties to each other. Resolved: that there be appointed at each meeting some one of the Brethren to address the meeting on the subject of Masonry and our duties to our Brethren."
(Evidently our modern problems are not new.)
In the late 1880's marks some critical years for our Blackford lodge and in 1888 Israel J Burris was elected to serve as Worshipful Master. The records indicate that we at Blackford Lodge owe much to this diligent and faithful Master.
In 1893 the cornerstone of the county courthouse was laid under the auspices of Blackford Lodge.
It is not definitely known where the Lodge held its first meetings, but the records seem to indicate that a jury room in the original County Courthouse, of log construction, served as the first Lodge room.
The Lodge looked forward to acquiring its own Temple and in 1909 that ambition was finally realized with the building of the Lodge down town Hartford City. Stimulus for building the Lodge came from Brother James E. Wolverton who's donation had became the nucleus for the building fund.
Since then Blackford Lodge has built another new Lodge where it is today.
near all of the above was prepared in 1950 for the centennial celebration by Robert E. Jones & Russell H. Campbell