MONTROSE, COLORADO
On March 4, 1885, M.W. Bro. James H. Peabody granted a dispensation to a group of 17 Masons in Montrose. A charter was granted to the lodge on September 16,1885 and on October 13, 1885 the lodge was constituted. There were 226 members on November 30, 1960.
In January, 1911, a contract was given for the construction of the present Temple at 511 Main Street. The corner-stone was laid by M.W. Bro. Albert B. McGaffey on March 11, 1911. As with practically all the early day lodges, many financial difiiculties had to be overcome during the ensuing years, until finally in 1947 the final payment was made on the indebtedness and the Temple was free of debt.
The lodge took part in many social and civic functions in the earlier days. The records show that on February 22, 1886, the lodge held a banquet and ball and the Rio Grande Western Railroad ran a special train from Cimarron to Montrose for accommodation of guests from points east of Montrose.
The lodge boasts two Past Grand Masters: T. Harvey Cox, now a member of Olathe Lodge No. 157, Grand Master in 1939 and S. Stuart Krebs, Grand Master in 1948.
