Lake Drummond Lodge No. 178, A.F. & A.M.

Chesapeake, Virginia

The Grand Lodge of Virginia chartered Lake Drummond Lodge No. 178 on December 16, 1874. The original charter was destroyed by fire on March 19, 1916 and it is presumed that most of the Lodge records were lost in the same fire

The Lodge first worked in a building at Deep Creek in Norfolk County, later meeting at Gilmerton. The best information available indicates that Lake Drummond Lodge was located twice in Deep Creek and twice in Gilmerton. Early members have said that on Lodge nights, members came on foot, by boats, by carriage, on horseback and carrying lanterns.

During World War I, the Federal Government built a settlement called Cradock in Norfolk County and many of the residents were Masons. These Masons, many of whom were members of Lake Drummond Lodge, formed a Masonic club in Cradock and after the war, started a movement to establish a new Lodge in Cradock. Most Worshipful Clarence Dearborn Freeman (at that time District Deputy Grand Master of the 34^th Masonic District) knowing that the formation of a new Lodge would destroy Lake Drummond Lodge and recognizing that the majority of the members of Lake Drummond Lodge resided in the Cradock area, proposed that the Grand Lodge be petitioned for a dispensation to relocate Lake Drummond Lodge in Cradock. A petition was prepared with the endorsement of Brother Freeman and the Grand Lodge approved.

In 1921 a new Temple was built in Cradock. Worshipful Otto W. Weiss, a Past Master of Lake Drummond Lodge was the architect and Brother Herbert Hutchins (later worshipful Master of Portsmouth Naval Lodge No. 100) was General Foreman. Construction was financed in part by issuing bonds and partly by mortgage. In 1936 the mortgage was refinanced and seven years later it was paid in full.

There have been four cases of fathers and sons holding the office of Worshipful Master in this Lodge. J. W. Mitchell in 1879 and Charles W. Mitchell in 1901; J. Stroud Roper in1887 and O. Grant Roper in 1925; W. H. Creekmur in 1888 and George D. Creekmur in 1906; M. G. Gallimore, Sr. in 1934 and M. G. Gallimore, Jr. in 1962.

The possibility that shifting populations and continued growth might some day require a new location for the Temple prompted the membership to purchase a parcel of land on George Washington Highway in Deep Creek in 1960. In 1978 the wisdom of such a purchase became apparent and a committee was established to investigate the possibility of constructing a new temple on the site. In 1979 the membership voted to construct the Temple and in the spring of 1981 the foundation was poured. On November 21, 1981, the cornerstone was laid.

Meanwhile, of course, the Lodge continued its activities. In 1974 the 100^th anniversary was celebrated. James Edward Morgan, Sr., Worshipful Master, his officers, and a special committee made this an outstanding success.

In June 1976 Brother Bryant Bonner Lipscome was presented his service award for seventy years of Masonic membership. Over the years several members established long term service records; Juluis Rhodes Pierce was secretary for forty-five years; Worshipful Clarence James Lakes was Tiler for forty years and Guerdon Allyn (Beef) Treakle was a Trustee for thirty-three years.

On February 14, 1985, full-scale construction began on the new temple at 509 George Washington Highway in Chesapeake. In addition to the members, many of our Masonic Brethren and non-Masonic friends gave in abundance their time, talent, and resources in order that the building might be erected. The first stated Communication (ready of not) was held on July 11, 1985. Much of the interior work remained to be done. Furniture was moved from the old site and new seats were offered for sale to members, with the name of the donor or honoree on a plate imbedded in the arm of the seat.

In 1988 the parking lot was paved and lighted, bringing to a close the major construction, which had begun some years earlier.