CHEYENNE WELLS, COLORADO
Cheyenne Wells Lodge No. 132, A. F. & A. M. was instituted at Cheyenne Wells, Colorado in the spring of the year 1908 with Brother James A. Jenkins, who belonged to Missouri jurisdiction as its first Worshipful Master. He also was its first Worshipful Master after the lodge was chartered on September 21, 1909. It is said that he knew the complete ritual in the Missouri work and it was often difficult for him to remember the Colorado work; and many times he would pause when giving a lecture and say, “As we say it in Missouri” and then go ahead. He was known here as Daddy Jenkins. He was an ordained Presbyterian Minister.
The minutes and correspondence relative. to the instituting and chartering of this Lodge were lost.
The Lodge held its meetings for the first two years in the I. O. O. F. Hall. It then rented the upper floor of what was then known as the Forker Building. Ten dollars per month was paid for the use of this building for a few years and then the rent was raised to fifteen dollars. During the years from 1934 to 1937 which were depression years, and also years of drouth and dust storms, the lower part of this building became vacant and badly run down. Also during this time the two Forkers had died leaving the estate to Della Forker Chrysler, wife of the late Walter P. Chrysler. Mrs. Chrysler informed us that we could buy this building by paying all back taxes and expenses of transferring title to us.
The Cheyenne Wells Lodge No. 132 was just about as destitute for money as the people in the surrounding country but the brethren of the Lodge decided to buy it. Five of the members of the Lodge borrowed fifteen hundred dollars from the Kit Carson State Bank at Kit Carson, Colorado, by giving the bank their personal notes. About three hundred dollars of this amount remained after the purchase of the building and this remainder was used for flooring and other material on the ground floor. Other supplies were donated and several of the members worked nights for several weeks remodeling. After completing the work both sections on the ground floor were leased. Since that time the debts have been paid and at the present time the Lodge has several thousand dollars on hand. So it is hoped that within a few years Cheyenne Wells Lodge No. 132 will be financially able to erect a new Temple.
Membership November 30, 1960 97
