Organization: Loyal – Early Free Mason Lodge

Transcriber: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Stockwell, Raab, Dahlke, Theisen, Osborne

----Source: Family Scrapbook

In May of 1925 fifteen Masons living in or near the Village of Loyal petitioned the Most Worshipful Grand Master of Masons in Wisconsin asking for a dispensation permitting them to organize a Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons in the Village of Loyal. On June 1 the dispensation was granted. On August 19, 1925, C. S. Stockwell, acting under the authority of the Grand Master, duly instituted the Lodge under the dispensation. On June 9, 1926, a charter was granted, and on June 18, 1926, C. S. Stockwell, acting under the authority of the Grand Master, duly instituted the lodge as Loyal Lodge Number 335, Free- and Accepted Masons in Wisconsin.

The first meetings of the lodge were held above a restaurant operated by Mrs. Baker in what is now known as the Wehe Building. In 1935 the lodge moved to the Raab Building where they remained until 1945 when they moved to the second story of the Loyal High School Garage, formerly the Village Hall. Later this building was purchased by Loyal Lodge No. 335 and continued to be their meeting place until 1958. In 1967 the Lodge sold the building to James Dahlke and purchased the former Theisen Hardware Building. The first floor of this building was remodeled into a lodge room, a well equipped kitchen, plumbing installed, and a gas furnace installed in the basement. On May 18, 1968, the building was formally dedicated by Robert V. Osborne, Most Worshipful Grand Master of Masons in Wisconsin.

For the past several years the membership of Loyal Lodge No. 335 has been slightly over fifty.