Clifton Forge Lodge No. 166 A.F. & A.M.

                                                           Clifton Forge, Virginia

Clifton Forge Lodge No. 166 had its beginning as Low Moor Lodge U. D. Their meetings were held in the old reading room, in a building owned by the Low Moor Iron Company. This was located near the Central School in Low Moor, Virginia.

Unfortunately, little is known of the Brethren who founded the Lodge, or their reasons for doing so. Most of the information available was gleaned from the old minute books of the Lodge and several of these are missing. A special issue of the “Daily Review” dated June 2, 1936, gave a brief sketch of the Lodge, it being the oldest fraternal organization in Clifton Forge. The material for the “First 100 Years of Clifton Forge Lodge No. 166” was obtained by word of mouth from the older members at that time, since most of the records had been lost. This historical sketch is taken from that publication.

No doubt the thriving iron industry, and the boom associated with the westward move of the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway Company had a great influence on the founding of the Lodge and its subsequent move to Clifton Forge. From the minutes of the Lodge dated July 3, 1880 is the following:

“At the first regular stated meeting of the Low Moor Lodge of A. F. & A. M., U. D. held in their Lodge room at Low Moor, Alleghany County, Virginia, on the 3^rd day of July A. D. 1880, A. L. 5880 there were present:”

George W. Huddleston                       Worshipful Master

W. A. Thomasson                               Senior Warden

J. S. Ham                                             Junior Warden (pro tempore)

W. A. Rinehart                                    Treasurer

E. Shepard                                          Secretary

J. E. Vawter                                        Senior Deacon

J. R. Nuckols                                       Junior Deacon

J. E. Perkins                                        Tiler

G. H. Lloyd                                        Member

“By the order of the Worshipful Master the secretary read the dispensation from the Grand Lodge of Virginia.”

“The Worshipful Master ordered that Brothers Shepard, Vawter and Rinehart be a committee to frame a set of bylaws to be presented for approval before the Lodge at some future stated meeting.”

The fees for degrees were fixed at $10.00 for initiation, $5.00 for passing, and $5.00 for raising. Dues were fifty cents. A sizeable chest was ordered to be provided for the Lodge jewels.

On August 5, 1880, the petition of William P. Burks, who was the postmaster at Low Moor, was called up and balloted on. He was the first candidate to receive the first degree of Masonry in this Lodge on August 5, 1880. On August 21, William P. Burks was the first member to receive the second degree of Masonry in this Lodge.

On September 4, 1880, C. M. Baker, who was listed as a mechanic by trade was the first member to be raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason. Also raised at that time were M. P. Kemper, M. D. and P. B. Huston, Civil Engineer, both of Clifton Forge. The first candidate, William P. Burks was raised on September 18, 1880.

It is ironic that C. M. Baker, who was the first member to be raised as a Master Mason was also the first member to die, on May 18, 1881. His funeral expenses of $19.00 were ordered paid by the Lodge.

On New Years Day, January 1, 1881, at a stated communication of Low Moor Lodge, it received its charter from the Grand Lodge of Virginia. Right Worshipful J. Howard Wayt, District Deputy Grand Master of Masonic District No. 17, acting in the absence of Right Worshipful W. H. Pleasants, instituted Low Moor Lodge No. 166. He was assisted by Brother A. A. Eskridge, Staunton Lodge No. 13, as acting Grand Marshall Other visitors were G. E. Cornell, Widows Son Lodge No. 60, and M. M. Caldwell, Mountain Lodge No 140. No record of other members or visitors can be found.

The first officers installed were as follows:

G. W. Huddleston                  Worshipful Master

W. O. Thomasson                   Senior Warden

Dr. J. F. Hughes                      Junior Warden (by proxy)

W. A. Rinehart                        Treasurer

W. P. Burks                             Secretary

Joseph E. Vawter                    Senior Deacon

J. R. Nichols                            Junior Deacon (by proxy)

A motion was made at the stated meeting on March 4, 1882, that the Lodge be moved to Clifton Forge. It may be noted that during the early years motions were also seconded from the floor. This is contrary to usage today. A meeting was called to discuss the motion on March 18, 1882, and the motion carried by a vote of eighteen to six to move to Clifton Forge. No reason was given in the minutes as to why the members wanted to move.

On April 8, 1882, the last meeting was held in Low Moor and on May 6, 1882, the first meeting was held in Clifton Forge. It is known that the first Lodge in Clifton Forge was held over the “Old Tank,” situated near the North end of the Richmond and Alleghany Railroad Bridge. The bridge was washed away in the flood of March 1913. The north end of the bridge was located about one thousand feet east of the present day Route 220 highway bridge, on land that was deeded to the C. & O. Railway Company, by Andrew Williamson on October 19, 1874.

The old tank was used by the railroad to water steam engines. In addition to the meeting room, it also housed a telegraph office, which was accessible by a flight of rickety stairs on the outside of the building. The Lodge also shared their meeting room with the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers.

After meeting on top of the “Old Tank” for two years a committee was appointed to devise ways and means for building a new Lodge. The committee recommended that the Lodge construct a two-story building not to exceed a cost of $2,000.00. The Lodge room was to be on the second floor with the first floor rented. To receive the funds to erect this building they suggested that the Lodge issue stock in shares of $25.00 each bearing 8 percent interest, secured by the building.

On April 28, 1886, it was resolved that a cornerstone suitable for the occasion be purchased. At 11:00 A. M. on June 1, 1886, the cornerstone was laid. Most Worshipful Peyton S. Coles, Past Grand Master of Masons in Virginia and Grand Lecturer of the Grand Lodge of Virginia was present for the occasion. The first meeting in the new Lodge was held on September 18, 1886.

The Lodge moved to the Masonic Theater Building in 1905. The United States Post Office was located on the first floor until 1910. The City of Clifton Forge brought condemnation proceedings against the Lodge in 1910 and took possession of the property.

Alleghany Lodge U. D. was formed on December 5, 1893, chartered on December 6, 1894 as Alleghany Lodge No. 256 and merged with Clifton Forge Lodge No 166 on June 7, 1905.

The name of the Lodge was changed on July 26, 1909 from Low Moor Lodge No. 166 to Clifton Forge Lodge No. 166. The reason for the change being the confusion caused by the name Low Moor with the Lodge meeting in Clifton Forge.

It can be said of our Masonic Brethren during these early years that they upheld the great Masonic virtue of charity. Even during their times of financial adversity they never forgot that valuable lesson, “The greatest of these is charity.”

As unbounded was their charity, so was their zeal to keep their institution pure and unsullied. They never hesitated to bring a Brother to task for conduct unbecoming a Mason. The records show numerous instances of Masonic trials and in many cases the expulsion from the Lodge was their mandate.

On May 5, 1900, the Lodge purchased a lot on Ridgeway Street. A motion was carried to set aside the rent from the Post Office to pay the notes on the building as they came due. This lot was eventually traded, along with $500.00, to the Clifton Forge Lumber Association for the lots bordering Smith Creek and the belt line of the C. & O. Railway. On March 18, 1905, the Lodge voted to build on the Smith Creek lot. The cornerstone was laid on July 4, 1905. The total cost of the building was $42,073.54. The first meeting was held in the new building on September 26, 1906.

It seems that financial troubles beset the Lodge from the beginning. At first it was decided to use the hall for their own purposes, this was soon changed. In addition to the Commandery and Royal Arch Chapter, the Elks, Eagles, Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, International Order of Odd Fellows and Rebeccas used the facility.

The deed of trust provided that in case of default any bond holder in the amount of $2,000.00 could request in writing for the sale of the property. W. W. Boxley executed this option, and on June 16, 1910, it was sold at auction. Somehow the Lodge had never parted with the title to the property recorded in the deed of trust dated June 29, 1905. A deed dated December 8, 1920, conveyed the property to S. Sacks.

The Lodge apparently continued to meet in the building. On January 4, 1921, the house committee was instructed to rent a new Lodge room in the Carpenter and Boxley building and to notify Mr. Sacks that they would vacate the present building by March 1, 1921. For some reason that building was not rented. An agreement was reached to rent the top floor of The First National Bank for $360.00 per year. The first rent was paid on May 20, 1921. Although the records do not show the date of the first meeting in the First National Bank Building, we can best assume from what records that are available, that it was on May 3, 1921.

This Lodge laid several cornerstones in the city. Among them are the new Post Office on April 5, 1910, the new City Hall on March 21, 1911, the Central Methodist Episcopal Church on March 9, 1909, Clifton Forge Baptist Church addition on May 7, 1912.

The Lodge bought the Harvey Building on March 20, 1936, with title held jointly by the Clifton Forge Lodge No. 166, Alleghany Commandery No. 23, and Alleghany Royal Arch Chapter No. 24. The appendant bodies deeded their interest to Clifton Forge Lodge with the right of providing a meeting place for them as long as necessary.

On March 1, 1960, an option was secured on a lot on Commercial Avenue, which is the present site of the Lodge. The property was purchased on July 2, 1960. The first meeting in the new Lodge was held on December 5, 1961.

Brother D. R. Bostic, a locomotive engineer with the Chessie System, was switching on the old belt line close by the Masonic Theater. He discovered the old cornerstone, which had been forgotten for more than sixty years. This was brought to the attention of the Lodge. It was agreed that arrangements should be made with the present owners for the removal of the cornerstone. Since no records exist regarding the laying of the cornerstone, it was believed that some information might be contained therein of importance to the Craft.

The stone was removed on July 5, 1973. Inside was found a box that had placed there more than sixty years before. After removing the box, the cornerstone was again set in place. A meeting was called on July 17, 1973 to open the box. Low Moor Lodge No. 166 had placed it in the stone on July 4, 1905. After opening the box it was found that water had seeped in, causing deterioration of many of the items contained therein, especially those made of paper.