EDGEWATER, COLORADO
While several of the craft were attending a P.T.A. meeting at Edgewater in the Little Red School House on the Hill, one of them advanced the brilliant idea: “Say fellows, why wouldn’t this room make a good place to hold a Masonic Lodge?”
Accordingly, on the night of December 27, 1923, thirteen Master Masons met at the home of James H. Hopkins in Edgewater, where a committee was appointed to request a dispensation to form a Lodge in Edgewater. The dispensation was granted by Most Worshipful Brother Jesse c. Wiley on April 9, 1924 and was signed by thirty-four Master Masons with Leslie D. Bruce as Worshipful Master.
The first regular communication of Edgewater Lodge U. D. was held in the Edgewater School House, April 18, 1924, with thirty members and thirty-three visitors present.
A petition for a charter, signed by 37 members was presented to the annual meeting of the Grand Lodge, September 16 and 17,1924, and on September 17, 1924 a charter was granted to Edgewater Lodge No. 159 with Leslie D. Bruce as Worshipful Master. The first Stated Communication was held in the School House October 3, 1924 with thirty members who signed the petition for this charter and forty-four visitors present.
Up to March 4, 1932, the Lodge met in the Edgewater School House. Subsequently, it became necessary to obtain more suitable quarters and on March 18, 1932, it moved to the I. O. O. F. Building, West 25th Avenue and Eaton Street.
Special recognition should be given to Brother James H. Hopkins, the first Secretary of the Lodge, for his clear and copious minutes covering the early days of the Lodge.
The record of the Grand Lodge as of November 30, 1960 gives the present membership as 429.
