Ashlar Lodge No. 125, A.F. & A.M.
Shenandoah, Virginia
More than one hundred years ago, two wealthy brothers, David and Henry Forrer, came from the state of Pennsylvania to Virginia. Interested in mining operations, they bought land from Mr. Samuel Gibbons and settled in the area now known as Shenandoah, Page County, Virginia, which at that time was called Shenandoah Iron Works. Later in 1866, this town experienced its greatest single event upon the arrival of Honorable William Milnes, Jr., Thomas Johns, W. M. Fields, J. P. Houck and others from Pennsylvania. Being Masons, they were interested in establishing a Masonic Lodge at this place. On Wednesday evening, July 21, 1869, the first Masonic meeting was held in the office of Honorable William Milnes, with the following present: J. R. Deacon of Concordia Lodge No. 67 of Pennsylvania, W. T. Young and L. R. Stout of Lafayette Lodge No. 137 of Luray, Virginia, and William Glenn of Piedmont Lodge No. 50 of Stanardsville, Virginia.
Elected officers at the first meeting were:
A. P. Boude Worshipful Master
William Milnes, Jr. Senior Warden
J. R. Deacon Junior Warden
L. R. Stout Senior Deacon
W. T. Young Tiler, pro tempore
A Master Masons Lodge was opened and J. P. Houck was elected Secretary. A form of bylaws were adopted, four petitions were read and a committee was appointed to have a hall built. A hall was built and Shenandoah Iron Works Lodge No. 125 was chartered on December 15, 1869. The new hall was dedicated and the Lodge instituted by the District Deputy Grand Master, Right Worshipful J. T. Logan of Rockingham Union Lodge No. 27 of Harrisonburg, Virginia, on April 13, 1870.
The following officers were installed:
A. P. Boude Worshipful Master
William Milnes, Jr. Senior Warden
William Fields Junior Warden
John Fields Treasurer
J. P. Houck Secretary
J. N. Haney Senior Deacon
H. H. Miller Junior Deacon
William Glenn Tiler
On September 29, 1870, the Lodge hall was swept away by a great flood. The charter was recovered from a drift on the celebrated “Kites Island.” The first minute book was also found on the Island. The first candidate raised after the flood was Brother William Downs.
In the summer of 1871, a room was prepared for use as a Masonic hall in a building owned by Milnes and Houck.
On October 10, 1882, the name of the Lodge was changed from Shenandoah Iron Works to Ashlar Lodge. On April 21, 1885, the school trustees granted the Lodge permission to use the second floor of the school for Lodge meetings. The cost of renting was $1.00 per month. On April 25, 1885, a contract for a new hall was made. The stone and brick work was done by R. T. Kingree, a Mason, but not a member of Ashlar Lodge and the carpenter work was done by Brother J. N. Haney. On December 5, 1885, the first meeting was held in the new hall. The second floor was rented to the International Order of Odd Fellows for $1.00 per month. The exact location is not known.
On March 12, 1887, the Lodge sold the building to David Kagey and J. W. Miller, partners in D. J. Kagey and Company. Then on April 2, 1887, the schoolroom was rented again, for two years. On December 16, 1891, the Lodge paid for a lot, recorded as Lot No.14, Section K. The Lodge purchased another lot, Lot 10, Section E, at a cost of $200.00. This lot was sold on June 14, 1893.
On August 12, 1892, the Lodge bought the Lodge hall from D. F. Kagey and Company. The Lodge could not pay for the property, so they rented it.
Milnes Chapter order of the Eastern Star was organized by the Maryland Grand Chapter, on August 14, 1896, and named for Brother W. Milnes, Past Master of Ashlar Lodge. This was the third chapter to be organized in Virginia. It is older that the Grand Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star in Virginia.
On March 13, 1897, the Lodge granted the Eastern Star Chapter permission to use the hall free of charge, provided they kept the Lodge room clean.
The Lodge bought the old bank building for Lodge purposes on November 20, 1902. The cost was $450.00, with $100.00 down payment and the balance borrowed for a period of five years.
On January 11, 1935, the Lodge hall caught fire and considerable damage was done.