DELTA, COLORADO
Prior to 1884, Masons residing in the Delta area had to go to Grand Junction to attend lodge. Because of the poor transportation facilities this was a considerable burden. Lengthy discussion about forming a lodge resulted. Thirteen of these men, sponsored by Mesa Lodge No. 55, submitted a petition to M.W. Bro. James H. Peabody, who granted a dispensation on September 23, 1884. On September 16, 1885 a charter was granted to the lodge and the signature of M.W. Bro. Peabody appears on both the dispensation and the charter. There were 18 charter members and 209 members on November 30,1960.
The lodge was constituted on September 28, 1885 by D.G.M. Thomas C. Brown, acting for M.W. Bro. George Wyman.
Delta Lodge had the usual struggles to find a suitable meeting place. For a time it met in the Court House. The minutes indicate that at one time the Methodist Church met in the court room, that being the room where Delta County dispensed justice, Masonry and religion. In 1924 the lodge acquired a building and a large indebtedness which was not paid off until December, 1951.
Delta Lodge, in the past, has been active in staging Masonic plays, the popularity of which is attested to by the many requests for performance.
At one time the Atchley family membership in the lodge consisted of a father, his six sons and two of his grandsons.
One of the Past Masters, William R. Gale, requested that his funeral service be held in the lodge room. His request was fulfilled August 28, 1938.
Allen J. Obert, P. M., was an elected officer of the lodge for a total of 37 years, 34 of them as Secretary.
Another Past Master, J. Weiland Jeffers, is also a Past Master of Research Lodge of Colorado.
