Friday, March 3, 2017

LAFAYETTE MASONIC LODGE IN READFIELD GETS A FACELIFT


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 

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