In driving through Readfield Corner these days one cannot
help but notice a change taking place. The green exterior of the “Masonic
block” has disappeared and is being replaced by new gray siding. “I do not
recall it being any other color but green” said Evelyn Adell Potter, 86,
lifetime resident and Readfield Historian. A surprise discovery was made when
it was removed - the original brown clapboards, added in 1921 when the building
was constructed, are still in place. Ed Dodge of Readfield, Mason and treasurer
for 50+ years, said “They don’t look too bad but maintenance of the wooden
clapboards would create too much labor and expense.” He and the lodge secretary
John Lord both shared that Readfield Masons are able to install the new siding,
and they’ve also repaired the roof, because of a bequest from Readfield native Thomas
Adell, who died in February of 2013. He was a member of the lodge for more than
50 years and the Post Master at Readfield Corner Post Office for nearly 30
years, which is located on the first floor of the building. “He loved the
Masons and did a lot for them through the years” said Potter, his niece.
The Masons have existed in Readfield for 190 years but,
as a “secret society”, their ceremonies and the services they provide have been
conducted more discreetly than this building project. In 1909 a comprehensive
history of their Lafayette Lodge No. 48 was compiled. The book gives details of
various members including support extended to some Masons in need, their
surviving widows and children and community events. For instance, when they
found one fellow Mason’s widow was “feeble in health and destitute of funds...”
not only did they help her at that moment but they supported her for the
following twenty-six years.
The first record of the Mason’s presence in this town was
in 1817 when Temple Lodge in Winthrop invited some Readfield men to join them.
Over the next few years ten men joined the Winthrop group and in 1825 they petitioned
for their own charter. Purportedly they chose “Lafayette Lodge” as the name
because of the Marquis de Lafayette’s visit to Maine that same year. The
charter was granted on January 13, 1826 and the first three meetings were held
in homes at Readfield Corner. Almost immediately arrangements were made to
construct a hall on the second floor of a store on the north side of Main
Street. Concurrently the new lodge members made plans to lay a cornerstone for
the Union Meeting House (UMH) and help with its construction. Many of the UMH
founders were also Masons and over the years they held a number of events and
ceremonies there.
Meetings were held regularly until the “Dark Days of
Masonry” - a national movement against the Masons that arose following a scandal
in New York. Meetings ceased in Readfield from 1832 until September of 1849
when a few members came back together after seventeen years of silence. The
revived order leased the second floor of a building on the south side of Main
Street; steady growth ensued to eventually reach an active membership of 156,
according to Lord. Lafayette Lodge expanded their space to include the third
floor and in 1917 they purchased the entire building.
On June 11, 1921 lightning struck a kerosene barrel in
the store adjacent to the Masonic Lodge. With that, a fire started that
destroyed most of the buildings at Readfield Corner. According to an account by
the late Roy Giles, he and another Mason were able to save an armful of record
books, papers and the secretary’s desk from the Masonic Lodge but all other
contents were destroyed. The Masons rebuilt on the original foundation but
plans for a larger structure required additional land so an adjoining lot was
purchased. Three months after the fire a ceremonial setting of the cornerstone
was held. They took out a mortgage to rebuild which was not discharged
until 1969 when, interestingly enough, Thomas
Adell was Master of the lodge.
In 1974 the Masons bought property on the east side of
the Masonic Hall, tore down the deteriorating house and turned the vacant lot
into a parking area. The Lafayette Lodge has rented their first floor to
several entities since 1921 including merchants, insurance agents, a radio and
TV repairman, beauticians, gift shops, bakeries, the Readfield Telephone and
Telegraph Company and, since 1963, the U.S. Post Office. Lodge membership has
dwindled to sixty-five, according to Lord, but dedicated members continue to
meet on a regular basis. The Temple Masonic Lodge and Abenaki Eastern Star from
Winthrop meet at Lafayette Lodge now as well.
Thanks to Adell’s bequest roof repairs have been
completed and the installation of new siding is well underway. “This is an
expensive project” said Dodge. “Adell’s bequest gave an excellent kick-start
but we do need to raise more funds to completely finance the job.” Dodge
explained that a longtime member has pledged $20,000 if Lafayette Lodge can
raise an equal amount. Letters have gone out to members and contributions have
come in from some of them. Several townspeople and family members of Masons
have given as well. “We appreciate any help people are willing to give towards
reaching the $20,000 match. The results of these efforts will last through our
lifetimes and we hope for a long time into the future.” Contributions can be
sent to Lafayette Building Corp. PO Box 243 Readfield, ME 04355. Those
with interest in joining the Masons can contact any member they know, or can
call John Lord at 685-4266.
As for future projects, Lord and Dodge shared that
Lafayette Lodge #48 wants to meld the past with the present by establishing an
area of recognition and memoriam inside the Masonic Lodge. “Family members
sometimes contact us to offer memorabilia from Readfield Masons who have
passed” said Dodge. We would like to create a place of honor and remembrance
for them.”
This story appeared in Lakes Region Reader, Oct. 2016. The author, Dale Potter-Clark, is a founding member
and consultant for Readfield Historical Society and organizes "Readfield
History Walks". FMI readfieldmaine.blogspot.com
