TELLURIDE. COLORADO
The Grand Lodge of Colorado granted a Charter to Telluride Lodge No. 56 on September 17, 1884. It was an outgrowth of Free Gold Lodge U. D. in the town of Columbia (Telluride Post Office). Rooms suitable for lodge purposes being scarce in Telluride, meetings were held in log cabins, the County Court House and the second floor of a log blacksmith shop.
In 1889 the Lodge moved into its own building, a large and unusually elaborately equipped building for that period. It still is in constant use.
Its fortunes fluctuating with the ups and downs of metal mining camps, Telluride Lodge is still active but with comparative small membership. Resident members are few in number. Telluride 56 has a disproportionate number of non-resident members scattered over the world, who still retain their memership here.
The hospitality of Telluride brethren in early days was renowned. M. W. Bro. Horace T. DeLong praised as follows: “The brethren at Telluride never know when they have been kind enough for it is their invariable rule to crowd the hours full of entertainment until the guests have departed for home.”
M. W. Bro. Greenleaf concurred: “We have been in Telluride and know how truly he speaks. There are no locks on the doors in Telluride and the fatted calf is always in readiness for the visiting brother.”
Membership November 30, 1960 72
