ArDmore Tennessee Lodge #24

To Be One - Ask One

Lodge History

Previous to 1920, Ardmore did not have a Masonic Lodge.   Members would travel to either Elkton Lodge #24 chartered in 1868 or Blanche Lodge #305.  Jan 20^th, 1920 16 masons from Ardmore signed a petition for a new Lodge to be opened in Ardmore.  The 16 masons were: R.C. Rogers, J.T. Brown(cashier @ Bank of Ardmore), S.S Hacker(preacher @ 1^st Baptist Church), L.W. Currin(Luke), Thomas W Kelly, A.L. Moore, E.B. Whitt, G.N. Merrell, J.G. Wallace, J.R. Thomison, E.C McCormick, W.D. Printz, T.E. Tatium, S.J. Brown, John T. Holland, and Ray Sesler.   Along with the Petition, was a letter written by R.C. Rogers on United States Railroad Administration letter head, he was the Depot Agent for several years in Ardmore.  It states in the letter that Elkton Lodge #24  ok’d the new lodge in Ardmore but Blanche Lodge #305 did not ok the petition claiming the new lodge in Ardmore was to close, and would pull to many people away from their lodge.  One year later Ardmore received its charter for a new lodge.   At that time it was Ardmore Lodge # 699.  The first officers were: John T. Holland as Master, R.C Rogers as Senior Warden, John B Holland as Junior Warden, Ray Whitt as Senior Deacon, M. A Smith as Junior Deacon, Sims Smith as Tyler, L. W Currin as Senior Steward,  S.S Hacker as Chaplain, Matt Lewter as Secretary, and J. W. Kelly as the Treasurer.  The Lodge met in the old Bank building; what is now the Chinese restaurant, until Sept 19, 1960.  From October 19, 1960 to November 27, 1961 they held their meeting in the Lodge in Elkton.  During that time, they held their December meetings in the upper room of the Ardmore Methodist Church.   In 1961 The Lodge bought land and built the building that we are currently in now.  The first meeting in the new lodge was Jan 19, 1962. February 5, 1979 the Elkton Lodge consolidated with the Ardmore Lodge.  At that time the lodge # was changed to 24.