Canandaigua Lodge No. 294
The original lodge in Canandaigua, Ontario Lodge No. 23 F&AM, fell victim to the Morgan Affair in the 1830's; shortly thereafter, the Lodge turned in its Charter. In the early 1850s, some Masonic Brethren applied for a Charter, and in spring, 1853, they received it. The Brothers met at various places around Canandaigua until 1920, when Canandaigua Lodge No. 294 F&AM and
Excelsior Chapter No. 164 RAM purchased a building at 5 Court Street in Canandaigua. This property known as the Temple Building housed these groups until 1995, when Ontario County purchased the building. The Lodge met in numerous places until it purchased a building at 12 Canandaigua Street in Shortsville in 1998. The building has been remodeled to include a Lodge room and other appropriate rooms. The jail cell door and a lock from the jail where William Morgan had been held remains in the Lodge's possession. Rushville Lodge No. 377
On December 11th, 1854, Canandaigua Lodge No. 294 recommended the petition for Rushville Lodge. Grand Lodge granted a Dispensation February 23rd, 1855, with Ambrose S. One of its first members was Chester Loomis, who had been Master of Harmony No. 273, the first Lodge in the Rushville area before surrendering its Charter dur- ing the Morgan Affair. In 1855, the first meetings took place in Watkins Hall. The building had been a Methodist Church and at the time served as the Old Fellows Hall. Fire devastated the building and several others in 1882. The fire destroyed all records except the Lodge Register, the signature book and the ledger, which resided in the Secretary's home. The Lodge then purchased a low, one and one-half story building on the corner of Green and Main Streets and moved across the street. In 1887, the Lodge voted to raise the roof and add another floor. Due to its indebtedness, the Lodge lost the building. The Lodge then paid rent to
H. Collins Mapes and sublet the rooms to the Maccabees. In 1890, Rushville No. 377 re-pur- chased the building. As the Lodge prospered, this building became too small. With the aid of field days and other money-raising events, the sale of the old building and generous contributions from the member- ship, the Lodge erected the present building 1922-23 on the corner of Main and Gilbert Streets. Nelson Sawyer laid the cornerstone in December 1922. Fewer than 10 years later, a fire damaged the north side of the building. In 1937, the Trustees voted to purchase the lot on the north side of the Temple, moved the Temple to this lot and built a gasoline station on the vacated corner lot. In 1943, a flash flood destroyed the north wall, tipping the building to the creek. After raising or lifting the building and rebuilding the wall, the work of the Lodge continues to this day. and the Lodge turned in its Charter in 1829 during the Morgan Affair. The hunger for fellowship and Brotherhood, which grew in the armies during the Civil War led to a resurgence of Masonry during the 1860's. Many soldiers joined Military Lodges during their time of service and, upon war's end desired to continue their Masonic ties. Such was the case in Honeoye when, in 1866 a group of area Masons signed a petition to organize a Lodge in the Village. The petition was recommended by Naples Lodge No. 133 and Union Lodge No. 45 on April 7, 1866. A Dispensation was granted on July 30, 1866 by Robert Holmes, GM. The first Oficers of Eagle Lodge U.D. were: Ami Stevens, Master; Amos Hilborn, SW; Gardner Marble, JW;John Wilson, Treasurer and Ransom McCrossen, Secretary. The first meeting of Eagle Lodge was held U.D. on August 4, 1866 in the rooms over E.W. Gilbert's Store, which stood in a block of frame buildings. This cluster of buildings was destroyed by fire on April 30, 1930. On June 4, 1867, a Charter was granted to Eagle Lodge No. 619 by Stephen H. Johnson, GM. The first meeting held under the new Charter was on July 15, 1867. Over the years, many fundraising events were held which, in 1966, allowed the Lodge to pur- chase land on West Lake Road. Many more fundraising events and sacrifices by all of the Brothers resulted in the er****on and dedication of our present building in 1981
