DENVER, COLORADO
The early history of Joppa Lodge is closely identified with the Bureau of Reclamation, U. S. Department of the Interior, at Denver. That Bureau has had engineering, technical, clerical and other professional employees from all parts of the United States and from some foreign countries.
It is only natural that when more than 400 Masons are at one time employed by one employer they should form a Masonic club, particularly when all are working in a fairly closely knit group. The Bureau Masons were originally known as the Reclamation Club, and later as the Reclamation Craft.
Finally, after many years of degree work by the club members, on May 10, 1950, an organizational meeting was held at 1614 Welton Street. Nearly a year later.. on April 13, 1951, M.W. Bro. C. Wheeler Barnes presented a dispensation to Joppa Lodge U. D. before a large crowd. A charter was granted on January 23, 1952.
Again P.G.M. C. Wheeler Barnes was present, acting as Grand Master in lieu of M.W. Bro. Olin P. Lee who was attending the Grand Masters’ Conference in Washington, D. C. The lodge was duly constituted before a very large assemblage of Masons. There were 65 charter members.
The lodge has enthusiastically supported its St. John’s Fund, its Blood Bank, it has a good start toward a Masonic library, and is proud of its Choral Society. Appearing on the trestleboard and on the letterheads is a drawing depicting three men accosting another at the port of Joppa, in Israel. This drawing was the work of one of the members of Joppa Lodge.
At the time of the charter, 89 percent of the members were employees of the U. S. Bureau of Reclamation, while in August, 1960, only 47 percent were so employed.
On November 30,1960 there were 134 members.
