Eureka Lodge No. 195, A.F. & A.M.

                                                            Bridgewater, Virginia

Eureka Lodge No. 195 was granted a charter on December 13, 1864, by the Grand Lodge of Virginia for the purpose of organizing a Masonic Lodge in the Town of Bridgewater. At the time this charter was granted Most Worshipful William Henry Harman of Waynesboro was Grand Master of Masons in Virginia. Most Worshipful Brother Harman was killed on March 2, 1865, during the waning days of the Civil War in a skirmish near Waynesboro, while commanding the reserve forces from Augusta County.

The first officers were:

            Dr. T. H. B. Brown                 Worshipful Master

P. H. Snyder                          Senior Warden

G. A. Hopwell                                    Junior Warden

The original Masonic Temple was erected in 1867 and has the distinction of being the only three-story building in Bridgewater. It served the Lodge well for 120 years with improvements being made periodically; these included electric lights in 1904, repairs and carpet in 1908, and complete refurbishing in 1956.

In the 1970's the idea of a new Temple was conceived. This dream became a reality in 1980 upon the death of Mrs. Melvin G. Will, Sr., who gave the Lodge an acre of land for the purpose of erecting a new temple. A building committee was formed and funds were collected. The death of Worshipful Frank B. Wise, who bequeathed the Lodge the bulk of his estate, permitted the Lodge to begin construction. Ground breaking was held in May of 1985 with the corner stone laying ceremony following in July of the same year. Construction of the new Temple was completed and the first meeting was held May 13, 1987. By the end of the year, all debts had been retired and Most Worshipful Glover Hunter Jones, Jr., Grand Master of Masons in Virginia and the Grand Lodge Officers dedicated the temple on July 19, 1988.

Some of the outstanding leaders of Eureka Lodge include Brother Altaffer who was Worshipful Master from 1870-71 and twice Mayor of Bridgewater. Philander Herring was a charter member and served as its first secretary. He was Mayor from 1885-86 and also served as a member of the Virginia House of Delegates. Brother D. A. Bucher located in Bridgewater around 1870 to practice dentistry. He served seven terms as Worshipful Master over a 16-year period. Brother Dan S. Long served as Worshipful Master from 1893-96, secretary from 1901-1916 and several terms as District Deputy Grand Master. He was Minister of Music for Bridgewater Presbyterian Church and Director of the Bridgewater Band. Clarence C. Long, the son of Dan S. Long, bequeathed $5,000.00 to the Lodge at his death as a memorial to his father. This money was used in renovating the Lodge in 1956. Doctor J. M. Rogers served as Worshipful Master from 1897-1905, District Deputy Grand Master from 1901-08, and member of the Grand Lodge Committee on Work from 1902-1908. Brother Melvin G. Will, Sr. was Worshipful Master from 1944-47 and secretary from 1948-61. With the aid of Brothers V. G. Harlin and Blair Via, he succeeded in developing many of the leaders in the Lodge.

Bicentennial Lodge No. 1978 consolidated with Eureka Lodge No. 195 as of December 31, 1997.