History of McHenry Lodge No. 158

The first one hundred years of the lodge is recorded in eight large books. In this brief sketch, we can present only the high lights and a few notes of interest picked at random. 

On October 3rd, 1854, the Grand Lodge of A.F. & A.M. granted a charter to McHenry Lodge No. 158. Zemin W. Burnham, W.M., James R. Mack, S.W., and Herman N. Owen, J.W., were installed in due form. 

Actually, the history of the lodge dates back to February 25th. 1854, when a group of men adopted the by-laws of Pistakah Lodge No. 158 of A.F. & A.M. These same men in October became members of McHenry Lodge.

For the next eight years progress was slow. Z.W. Burnham was Worshipful Master during that period and worked hard to keep the organization moving along. By 1870, however things looked brighter. The lodge moved into the Smiths Block and beautified the hall with new furnishings. They had a Festival Dance in September and a big installation party on New Year’s Eve.

From 1870 to 1878 McHenry must have had long, hard winters. The record is full of references to troubles with the stove and cold meetings. On March 28, 1878, on installation night, the weather was so bad that only two officers could get to the Lodge hall to be installed. Those that did appear at the affair retired to the Riverside House and “partook of a sumptuous repast furnished by H.E. Wrightman.”

The Lodge had trouble keeping track of their chairs. For instance, on December 11, 1875, a committee was appointed to look for the chairs. They did not find them until February, 1876. and most of them had to be repaired. But living costs in those days were low. In January, 1875, it cost the lodge only $8.75 for all the lumber, trim and labor for constructing a preparation room.

Men were men back in 1910. The Lodge voted to purchase cuspidors for the use of its members.

Our beloved brother, R. G. Chamberlain, who passed away last year, took his first degree on February 15, 1904. Wallie Woodburn, who now lives in Woodstock, took his work in 1901.

Dues were $2.00 until 1913 when they were raised to $3.00 and in 1917 to $4.00.

In 1901 the lodge began meeting in the Colby Building on Riverside Drive. When that building burned down, the lodge moved to Bolger’s building on Green Street, over the old bank. In 1938, the lodge was given a deed to the present Acacia Hall and moved into it in 1942.

The records from 1900 to date show the lodge working in harmony — quietly growing with the community. Many of the names appearing in the records are names of most of our prominent early settlers and the names of equally prominent citizens who followed them.

From the McHenry Lodge No. 158 Centennial Celebration Program