A BRIEF HISTORY OF

Neighbor lodge

An attempt to form a lodge in Homewood was made in the 1920’s but it did not materialize, and during the depression and war years the idea was not forgotten. In 1948 a small informal meeting was held in Charley Moore’s restaurant, then on Ridge Road. Subsequent meetings were held in various places in Homewood and Flossmoor, and the name “Charley Olson Square Club” adopted, after a deceased prominent Mason of Flossmoor. The name “Neighbor Lodge” was suggested by George W. Jones. The Lodge by-laws were framed by R. H. Thode and R. B. Austin. Our distinctive news column heading featuring the open Bible was designed by Paul M. Sell.  To Barry C. Lennon, Jr. then the Right Worshipful District Deputy Grand Master, many thanks were due to the work he did. He acted as the Grand Master in Instituting and Constituting the Lodge. Space does not permit printing the names of the all the brethren who worked hard to get the lodge started, they are among the 112 who signed the Petition for Dispensation.  Several lodges made gifts of equipment. We bought officers chairs and two huge Fellowcraft Pillars that were once the property of Humboldt Park Lodge, including the officers pedestals that were hand made by their first Master. Our present Fellowcraft Pillars were given to us by Lowvale Lodge. The purchase of the rug in 1950 took a large part of our slender bank account. Our dues and fees were too low. For the first several years we did not always stay on the black side of the ledger.

Our first Past Master’s Dinner was held October 26, 1953 in the old Community Church basement, and was prepared and served by Neighbor Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star. Seventy-eight brethren sat down to dinner, and all except the two Past Master’s paid $1.00 each. The total for the evening was $132.00, plus cigars and postage.

This same year, we began to award the miniature gold trowel for proficiency by examination in the 3rd degree catechism.

Beginning with “Rube” Thode as Installing Officer, our own Past Master’s were able to handle the Installation of Officers without any outside assistance.

The post war move to the suburbs brought us a steady increase in membership. It practically doubled in ten years, rose to 330, then started to fall following a national trend.

Funk’s Hall was a dreary place until some of our members painted it, in time for the Instituting ceremony. It was our meeting place for more than 12 years. We were told to move during April 1962. Lodge meetings were then held in the old Harvey Lodge Hall for 6 months until our present meeting place was bought from the Salem Lutheran Church. We moved into it in time for our Annual Meeting. As the winter progressed, it became evident that the heating system of the building was wasteful and inadequate. A new heating system was the first step in remodeling to suit our requirements, and this was done the following summer.

We did as much as we were financially able to do, thanks to help from the Eastern Star Chapter. Many brethren with a knowledge of construction techniques gave of their labor, and were zealous in getting good prices on the material.

Thus the enlargement of the lodge hall by removing the center wall of the building became the 1964 project, and the kitchen work began in 1965. The uncertainty of how much real estate taxes we must pay kept us from proceeding with the work as rapidly as we would have liked. The air-conditioning unit, installed in the summer of 1966 was paid for from a special fund, of small contributions made over a period of several years.

In 1968 the old church building to the North of our present Lodge hall was torn down. Presently this area is being used for parking. In April of 1970 the mortgage was Paid In Full. In 1974, after the basement had flooded several times a back-water check-valve was installed in the incoming main sewer line. Also in 1974, the Lodge acquired an organ which was paid for through contributions by the Brothers and friends of our Lodge. In addition much remodeling was done on our present Lodge room.

Worshipful Brother Harris B. Watson removed the double entrance door and roughed in a single front entry door  and handled all of the carpentry and masonry.

In 1962 the City of Homewood granted the Lodge ‘Special Use’ status for the property and surrounding grounds.

The parking lot was seal coated in 1970. A more efficient heating, air cleaning and air-conditioning system utilizing state of the art technology was installed in 1981 during Worshipful Brother Art Jenne’s term.  An emergency, battery operated sump pump was installed in 1979 to alleviate any flooding risk.

New paneling was installed in the lodge room during Worshipful Brother David Locker’s year

The kitchen has seen many pieces of equipment come and go. Several refrigerators have been given to the Lodge over the years when the current ones have ‘conked’ out and our finances have been lean. A new ventilation and exhaust fan was installed in 1981.

In 1998, a lower level remodeling project was begun with the restrooms, dining area and old secretaries office. The dining room was carpeted and ceramic tile installed in 2000 in the kitchen to cover over the old battle ship gray paint which was worn out and unsightly. The parking lot was restricted to members only, and employees of Wilson’s Rental during the day, much to the chagrin of our neighbor’s at Lassen’s Tap.

An Outdoor 3rd Degree has been an annual post Labor Day event since Worshipful Brother Terry Moran’s year in 1986. Brother Robert Cockerill was Raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason in a low vale such as our ancient Brethren so many centuries ago.

The Brethren of Harvey Lodge No. 832 helped to support us in many of our activities at the lodge and our outdoor degrees over the years, and their continued support is much appreciated.

In 1996, the officers of Calumet Lodge No. 716 and Blue Island Chapter Order of the Eastern Star elected to move to the lodge building, and their assistance and friendship since has been a source of strength and comfort for the Lodge.

In the year 2000, Right Worshipful Brother James E. Durbin, a Past Master of the Lodge from 1979 was installed as the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of the State of Illinois.

Also, in the year 2000, the Lodge celebrated its 50th Anniversary with having the building rededicated by Most Worshipful Brother Durbin and his corps of Grand Lodge officers.

In 2002, the membership of Chicago Heights Lodge No. 851 elected to move to the lodge building, and in 2003 agreed to contribute $250,000.00 to the expansion and improvement of the Homewood property. On March 10, 2005, the membership of Chicago Heights Lodge No. 851 and Neighbor Lodge voted to consolidate.

In 2006 the Masonic family of Homewood grew again as the membership of Kosmos-Paramount Lodge No. 896 elected to move to the building, and in 2007 the members of Landmark Lodge No. 422 also voted to join our growing Masonic family. On August 21, 2009, the membership of Kosmos-Paramount Lodge No. 896 and Neighbor Lodge voted to consolidate and unfortunately, the members of Landmark Lodge voted to move to Joliet.

2008 was a very big year for the Lodge. In September the whole building was tuck-pointed to prevent loose bricks from falling, and in November, after having owned the lodge building since 1962, the lodge finally saved enough money to have the parking lot paved. Both projects depleted the lodge treasury, but helped our presence in the neighborhood by beautifying the building and increasing the attractiveness of our home.  In 2009, a fence was installed around the parking lot to prevent un-authorized vehicles and increase the safety of the property.

2012 was a trying year for the lodge. A severe rain storm blew off the rubber roof membrane causing a flood in the building. The resulting damage to the building allowed us to complete much needed renovations to  the lodge room including a new ceiling, paneling and carpeting which brought the room up to date and gave it a little class.

Neighbor Lodge continues to grow and looks forward to its next 50 years with enthusiasm and excitement.