LEADVILLE, COLORADO
This pertains to Ionic Lodge No. 35 and Leadville Lodge No. 51, now consolidated as Leadville Lodge No. 35. Fourteen Master Masons petitioned for dispensation to form a lodge on June 1, 1878. It was granted and Ionic Lodge No. 35 was chartered October 26, 1878 by Most Worshipful Brother Roger W. Woodbury, Grand Master. The Lodge was constituted and officers installed on November 7, 1878 by Brother J. lVl. Fox who was appointed by the Grand Master to act as his representative. The following were the officers at this time; J. E. Cole, W.M.; H. C. Vaughn, S.W.; William Braden, J.W.
On December 1, 1881, 24 Master Masons petitioned for dispensation to form a new lodge, which was to become known as Leadville Lodge No. 51. On March 22, 1882, dispensation was granted by Most Worshipful Bro. Robert A. Quillian, Grand Master. First meeting U.D. was held on April 7, 1882 and the lodge was chartered on September 20, 1882, with Robert L. DeLay, W.M.; David H. Dougen, S.W.; and Robert L. Hatten, J.W.
Both lodges met in the same hall on different nights, sharing the rent. On July 28, 1931, both lodges voted on consolidation, which carried by a unanimous vote. October 1, 1931, was the first meeting of the new lodge known as Leadville Lodge No. 35; the Secretaries and Treasurers of both of the old lodges were ordered to close their books and turn all funds in to the Treasurer of Leadville Lodge No. 35.
The first meeting place of Ionic Lodge was in the Keystone Block on Jan. 6, 1881. Permission was asked and received to move to 5th and Harrison, where the Court House now stands. On July 15, 1909, a committee was appointed to arrange for a new building at 7th and Harrison, which still remains the meeting place. On October 6, 1910, the corner-stone of the new Masonic Temple was laid and on February 6, 1911 the building was dedicated.
Many important events are listed in the minutes, such as the laying of the corner-stone for the Public Library on Oct. 10, 1902; also the laying of the cornerstone of the Lake County Court House on Aug. 5, 1880. The charter of the lodge was draped for 60 days on Sept. 19, 1901 in memory of our late Bro. William McKinley, President of the United States.
Land for the Masonic Cemetery was purchased April 28, 1880. Many of the old markers are still legible. Original lodge furniture consisting of Altar, officers’ chairs, jewels, staffs, columns, and the unusual ten foot columns are still in use; also the gas lighted letter G. Early officers’ aprons were leather, with blue borders, silver tassels on three sides, emblem of office on bottom and All Seeing Eye on the flap. A gavel made from a walrus tusk and presented to the Lodge by Bro. Jas. K. Darnell of Seattle, Wash., is still in evidence.
Among the important names in the Lodge are Samuel D. Nicholson, U.S. Senator; Chas. Boettcher, Financier; Franklin Coolbaugh, Pres., American Metals Co.
No. 35 has furnished four Grand Masters, namely: M.W. Bros. Albert Branch, 1886; John M. Maxwell, 1891; A. A. Burnand, 1899; H. W. Woodward, 1911. Barney L. Whatley was Gr. Orator in 1958. H. W. Woodward was Gr. Treas. for 15 years.
Members, 1960 175.
