PUEBLO, COLORADO
South Pueblo Lodge No. 31 was founded in 1876.
At that time Pueblo consisted of three villages, Pueblo, Central Pueblo, and South Pueblo. Pueblo Lodge No. 17 was the only Masonic Lodge and met on the North side of the Arkansas River. With many of its members living on the South side, the travel was difficult and dangerous because of the criminal characters lurking in the district.
One day early in 1876, two Masons, Brothers Chris Wilson and Horace N. Banks, conceived the idea of a Lodge in South Pueblo. The result was that 16 brothers met and explored the idea. This meeting was held at Victoria Hotel, Corner of “13” Street and Victoria Avenue. These brothers, for the “good of the cause,” donated from $15.00 to $25.00 apiece.
On March 9, 1876 application was made to Pueblo Lodge No. 17 for permission to apply for a dispensation.
Dispensation was granted and on March 22, 1876, South Pueblo Lodge U. D. was opened. This meeting was held at 319 South Union with H. N. Banks, W.M.; J J. Thomas, S.W.; J. H. Divelbiss, J.W. Stephan A. Walley was the first man to receive the degrees. The first brother raised after charter was Brother James P. Martel.
The charter was dated September 20, 1876 and the Lodge was constituted on October 6, 1876.
In the year 1880, a bridge was erected across the Arkansas River, on Union Avenue. This induced members of No. 31, No. 17 and Commandery No. 12 to combine their efforts in the construction of a Masonic Temple. At the communication of April 21, 1881, the members authorized the purchase of the site of the present Temple at Broadway and Evans Avenue.
One year from date the Temple was completed, Grand Master Horace N. Banks dedicated the Temple on May 22, 1882. From 1882 to 1893 the Lodge prospered with no financial difficulty. On March 9, 1886 the citizens of Pueblo voted to consolidate the three villages into the City of Pueblo.
In 1893 South Pueblo Lodge No. 31 sponsored the establishment of Silver State Lodge No. 95. In this year the Temple Association erected a fire station on the rear of the Temple lot and rented it to the City of Pueblo. By March 3, 1904, South Pueblo Lodge No. 31 was completely out of debt. In the year of 1923 an Improvement Program was launched; new rooms were added, the Temple remodeled and a new elevator installed. The cost was about $20,000. This debt was cleared by 1945.
South Pueblo Lodge No. 31 has taken an active part in the proceedings of the Grand Lodge in the Laying of Corner-stones: Pueblo County Court House, 1908, Community Chest Bldg., Municipal Golf Course Building, Pueblo Jr. College, Park Hill Jr. High School, Risley Jr. High School, and the Pueblo Police Building.
In 1949 with Paul Heath, W.M., Ross Leithhead, S.W., Fred Polhill, J.W., Arthur Copley, Secty., the chairs in the Dining Hall were installed. Since that time many other improvements have been made with the Temple being in use practically every day in the week.
Membership, 1960 883.
