Lodge History
In 1817 a number of Masons residing at Oswego intrusted a petition to the Grand Lodge for a warrant, together with the required fee, to a messenger to deliver to the Grand Secretary at New York. Who the messenger was is unknown, but her was an impostor and destroyed the petition after converting the fee to his own use. The following year a new petition was prepared and signed by Nathan Sage, Mathew McNair, Elias Trowbridge, John Rogers, Eli Parsons, B. Spencer, Sam Carter and Peter D. Hugunin. September 21st, 1819, a warrant was issued to Oswego Lodge, No. 326 F. & A. M. by M. W. DeWitt Clinton, GM.
On January 5th, 1820, RW Emory Osgood formally instituted the lodge and installed its officers. John Grant, Jr. was the first Master and Peter D. Huguiin and Mathew McNair were the first Wardens. During the Morgan troubles and Anit-Masonry period, the lodge was forced to suspend work and on June 7th, 1832, its warrant was declared forfeited by the Grand Lodge, but was never surrendered.
Very little is known concerning the early history of the Lodge, as its warrant, records, furniture, lights and jewels are missing. The communications of the Lodge were held on the west side of the river, where it had a Masonic Hall, the exact whereabouts of which are unknown.
Oswego Lodge was revived July 2, 1847, when MW John D Willard, GM, issued a dispensation to Mathew McNair, WM; P.F. Parsons, SW; Philo Stevens, JW; and Edwin W. Clark, Elias Trowbridge, S. Freeman, Stephen Bentley, Orlo Steele, M. P. Hatch, James Bickford, and S.C. Peck, authorizing them to meet and convene as Oswego Lodge, No. 127 F.&A.M. February 8th, 1848, RW Ezra W. Barnum, JGW., presented the warrant formally, instituted the lodge, and installed its officers. Two of the charter members Mathew McNair and Elias Trowbridge, were charter members of Oswego Lodge, No. 326. Oswego Lodge was the mother of Frontier City Lodge, No. 422, instituted in 1857, and Aeonian Lodge, No. 679, instituted in 1858.
From 1847 to February 19, 1856, regular communications were held twice a month and after that every Tuesday evening. Four thousand and seven hundred twenty-four regular communications have been held since 1847.
The Lodge first had its home in a building at the corner of West First and Cayuga streets. In 1849, it met for ten nights in the Odd Fellows' Hall, corner of West First and Market Streets, and then moved into the Bickford building, 173 West First Street, where it remained until November, 1854, when it moved into the Hungerford building, 7 East Bridge Street.
On May 2, 1876, Oswego Lodge, No. 127 moved to the Masonic Temple on the corner of East Bridge and East First Streets which it purchased in 1910 for $410.
Frontier City Lodge, No. 422 held their meetings, for many years, in a building which they owned at 149 West First Street.
Aeonian Lodge, No. 679, also held their meetings in this building for a time. On February 28, 1946, Grand Master Charles A Froessel gave his permission to Frontier City and Aeonian Lodges to meet permanently in the Masonic Temple owned by Oswego Lodge, No. 127. Frontier City Lodge immediately disposed of its building and furniture. The furniture is now in use by the Hannibal Lodge, No. 550.
After much discussion during the years 1958 and 1959, Oswego Lodge, No 127, Frontier City Lodge, No 422, and Aeonian Lodge, No. 679, agreed to consolidate into one lodge. Approval for consolidation of these three lodges was granted by MW. Carol W. Peterson, Grand Master, the new lodge to be known as Lake City Lodge, No. 127.
Permission was also granted empowering Lake City Lodge, No. 127 to hold an election of officers, December 27th, 1960. The first master was W Howard D. Dice.
Because of an urban renewal development by the City of Oswego which included the Masonic Hall, a building committee was appointed on October 8th, 1963. The Lodge voted at the November 12th, 19634 meeting to purchase a five acre parcel of land on Route 104 East, in the City of Oswego as a possible site.
Many old buildings were investigated but none were found suitable. Preliminary building plans were drawn up by a Syracuse firm of architects but proved to be too costly. Notice to vacate the temple was given by Urban Renewal officials and the last meeting was held at 2 East Bridge Street on Tuesday, February 22, 1966.
Arrangements had previously been made with Oswego Lodge of Elks to rent their lodge room, where meetings were held from March 8th, 1966 until July 23rd, 1968. During this period some degrees were conferred in Fulton, Hannibal and Mexico.
Samuel G. Castaldo, of Castaldo Construction of Oswego, Inc., prepared preliminary plans for a new Masonic Temple and presented them to the building committee. After many meetings and final approval by the Lodge, a ground breaking ceremony was held at the site on November 5th, 1967. The first meeting and a Second Degree were held in the new building August 13, 1968.
After 25 years of successful fraternal operations at the Route 104 property, the Lodge was facing the twin problems of a deteriorating building and rising taxes. During the late 1980's and early 90's, a significant financial investment was made to maintain the integrity of the roof and other facets of the building. Efforts to reduce operating costs, yielded some results but by 1996, it became apparent to the active Brothers that drastic action was required.
The building was leased to Taylor Rental in 1997 and for the next eight years the Lodge met in several locations including Grace Church, Oswego; Hiram Lodge, Fulton and finally at Hannibal Lodge. During that period, efforts to sell the property were made without results. Meanwhile, the lease allowed the Lodge to continue its Masonic work. In 2004, the building at 765 East Seneca was purchased by the Trustees, led by Edwin Miller, DSA. Through the efforts of nearly 25 active Brothers a new Lodge room was lovingly constructed in Oswego.
On September 13th, 2005, W Kevin Dice presided over the first meeting in the newest Oswego Masonic Hall. Later that fall, Grand Matron Ruth Howe and her officers dedicated the hall for Lake City Chapter No. 352, O.E.S. By January 2006, Lake Ontario Chapter, No. 165, RAM had returned home to Oswego as well.
As 2006 dawned, the first class of Entered Apprentices were initiated in the new Hall. Design and early work by the Brothers is underway on the dining room, kitchen, lounge and other portions of the 21st Century Oswego Masonic Hall. On April 25, 2006, at the 5,555th communication of Lake City Lodge No. 127, the first new class of Master Masons were raised in due and ancient form.
On January 5th, 1820, RW Emory Osgood formally instituted the lodge and installed its officers. John Grant, Jr. was the first Master and Peter D. Huguiin and Mathew McNair were the first Wardens. During the Morgan troubles and Anit-Masonry period, the lodge was forced to suspend work and on June 7th, 1832, its warrant was declared forfeited by the Grand Lodge, but was never surrendered.
Very little is known concerning the early history of the Lodge, as its warrant, records, furniture, lights and jewels are missing. The communications of the Lodge were held on the west side of the river, where it had a Masonic Hall, the exact whereabouts of which are unknown.
Oswego Lodge was revived July 2, 1847, when MW John D Willard, GM, issued a dispensation to Mathew McNair, WM; P.F. Parsons, SW; Philo Stevens, JW; and Edwin W. Clark, Elias Trowbridge, S. Freeman, Stephen Bentley, Orlo Steele, M. P. Hatch, James Bickford, and S.C. Peck, authorizing them to meet and convene as Oswego Lodge, No. 127 F.&A.M. February 8th, 1848, RW Ezra W. Barnum, JGW., presented the warrant formally, instituted the lodge, and installed its officers. Two of the charter members Mathew McNair and Elias Trowbridge, were charter members of Oswego Lodge, No. 326. Oswego Lodge was the mother of Frontier City Lodge, No. 422, instituted in 1857, and Aeonian Lodge, No. 679, instituted in 1858.
From 1847 to February 19, 1856, regular communications were held twice a month and after that every Tuesday evening. Four thousand and seven hundred twenty-four regular communications have been held since 1847.
The Lodge first had its home in a building at the corner of West First and Cayuga streets. In 1849, it met for ten nights in the Odd Fellows' Hall, corner of West First and Market Streets, and then moved into the Bickford building, 173 West First Street, where it remained until November, 1854, when it moved into the Hungerford building, 7 East Bridge Street.
On May 2, 1876, Oswego Lodge, No. 127 moved to the Masonic Temple on the corner of East Bridge and East First Streets which it purchased in 1910 for $410.
Frontier City Lodge, No. 422 held their meetings, for many years, in a building which they owned at 149 West First Street.
Aeonian Lodge, No. 679, also held their meetings in this building for a time. On February 28, 1946, Grand Master Charles A Froessel gave his permission to Frontier City and Aeonian Lodges to meet permanently in the Masonic Temple owned by Oswego Lodge, No. 127. Frontier City Lodge immediately disposed of its building and furniture. The furniture is now in use by the Hannibal Lodge, No. 550.
After much discussion during the years 1958 and 1959, Oswego Lodge, No 127, Frontier City Lodge, No 422, and Aeonian Lodge, No. 679, agreed to consolidate into one lodge. Approval for consolidation of these three lodges was granted by MW. Carol W. Peterson, Grand Master, the new lodge to be known as Lake City Lodge, No. 127.
Permission was also granted empowering Lake City Lodge, No. 127 to hold an election of officers, December 27th, 1960. The first master was W Howard D. Dice.
Because of an urban renewal development by the City of Oswego which included the Masonic Hall, a building committee was appointed on October 8th, 1963. The Lodge voted at the November 12th, 19634 meeting to purchase a five acre parcel of land on Route 104 East, in the City of Oswego as a possible site.
Many old buildings were investigated but none were found suitable. Preliminary building plans were drawn up by a Syracuse firm of architects but proved to be too costly. Notice to vacate the temple was given by Urban Renewal officials and the last meeting was held at 2 East Bridge Street on Tuesday, February 22, 1966.
Arrangements had previously been made with Oswego Lodge of Elks to rent their lodge room, where meetings were held from March 8th, 1966 until July 23rd, 1968. During this period some degrees were conferred in Fulton, Hannibal and Mexico.
Samuel G. Castaldo, of Castaldo Construction of Oswego, Inc., prepared preliminary plans for a new Masonic Temple and presented them to the building committee. After many meetings and final approval by the Lodge, a ground breaking ceremony was held at the site on November 5th, 1967. The first meeting and a Second Degree were held in the new building August 13, 1968.
After 25 years of successful fraternal operations at the Route 104 property, the Lodge was facing the twin problems of a deteriorating building and rising taxes. During the late 1980's and early 90's, a significant financial investment was made to maintain the integrity of the roof and other facets of the building. Efforts to reduce operating costs, yielded some results but by 1996, it became apparent to the active Brothers that drastic action was required.
The building was leased to Taylor Rental in 1997 and for the next eight years the Lodge met in several locations including Grace Church, Oswego; Hiram Lodge, Fulton and finally at Hannibal Lodge. During that period, efforts to sell the property were made without results. Meanwhile, the lease allowed the Lodge to continue its Masonic work. In 2004, the building at 765 East Seneca was purchased by the Trustees, led by Edwin Miller, DSA. Through the efforts of nearly 25 active Brothers a new Lodge room was lovingly constructed in Oswego.
On September 13th, 2005, W Kevin Dice presided over the first meeting in the newest Oswego Masonic Hall. Later that fall, Grand Matron Ruth Howe and her officers dedicated the hall for Lake City Chapter No. 352, O.E.S. By January 2006, Lake Ontario Chapter, No. 165, RAM had returned home to Oswego as well.
As 2006 dawned, the first class of Entered Apprentices were initiated in the new Hall. Design and early work by the Brothers is underway on the dining room, kitchen, lounge and other portions of the 21st Century Oswego Masonic Hall. On April 25, 2006, at the 5,555th communication of Lake City Lodge No. 127, the first new class of Master Masons were raised in due and ancient form.