The original charter for Oak Grove Lodge #293 was issued on the 23rd day of January in the year of our Lord 1867. The Grand Secretary was D.P. Walton was the inaugural Worshipful Master, W.W. Tapscott filled the the role of the original Senior Warden, and L.J. Mann was the first Junior Warden. The original building for the lodge was not erected in Olive Branch, MS. Due to the loss of historical in
formation to fire and the passing of time, it can only be estimated that the lodge stood somewhere between the neighborhood of Center Hill in Olive Branch and Barton, MS. The assumption could be made that this building was damaged by a fire on the date of January 11th, 1893 due to a side note on the current charter which explains that a copy of the charter was issued due to destruction of the original by fire and gives the above listed date.
