COTTAGE GROVE MASONIC LODGE #51 FIRST OPERATED UNDER
DISPENSATION FROM JANUARY 28, 1871, WITH A.H. SPIRES AS THE
WORSHIPFUL MASTER.
THE FIRST MEETINGS WERE HELD ON OR BEFORE THE FULL MOON. THE ONLY SUITABLE PLACE FOR MEETINGS WAS A ROOM ABOVE A STORE.
IN 1873, A TEMPLE WAS ERECTED ON A SITE NEAR THE OLD FLOUR MILL ON SOUTH RIVER ROAD, BUT THE BUILDING SOON PROVED INADEQUATE.
IN 1883, IT WAS MOVED BY OX TEAM TO JUST SOUTH OF THE FLOUR MILL AND ENLARGED AND REMODLED, AND USED UNTIL 1913. ( IN 1920 THE
BUILDING WAS DISMANTLED AND USED IN 2 OTHER PROJECTS ) . IN 1912, ARRANGEMENTS WERE MADE FOR A 2 STORY BUILDING AND IN
1913, LODGE #51 MOVED IN. IN 1990 LAND WAS PURCHASED AND THE OLD BUILDING SOLD. THE LAST MEETING IN THE OLD BUILDING WAS
IN FEBRUARY, 1991. THE NEW BUILDING, ON ITS PRESENT SITE, WAS THEN FINISHED, AND WM JOE SNOOK WAS THE FIRST MASTER IN THE NEW
BUILDING