Lodge History
Lodge History
On January 15, 1851, a dispensation was granted to Northville Lodge No. 47 by Grand Master
Henry T. Backus and signed by James Fenton, Grand Secretary. The petition for dispensation
was recommended by the officers and members of Detroit Lodge No. 2.
Northville Lodge remained in Northville about five years and then was removed to Plymouth
where it remained until 1864, when it was again removed to Northville, its members changed
from 47 to 186, and Plymouth retained the charter and Northville took rest of the Masonic
property, the present Lodge name, Plymouth Rock No. 47, being then adopted to designate
this Lodge.
In 1865, the I.O.O.F., being an incorporated body, secured a 99-year lease of the third story of a
building erected and occupied by Henry Fralick, on Main Street, paying $500.00.
The Masonic Lodge leased a half interest from them for the same period, assuming one-half
the expenses. The Lodge continued to hold meetings in this building, but was in a dormant
condition until 1888, scarcely ant work having been done for the past ten years.
During the ensuing two years seventeen new members were added, and in 1890 the Lodge
room was enlarged, remodeled and new furniture procured, entailing an outlay of $600.00.
On April 18, 1893, a disastrous fire consumed nearly all the business portion of the village
including everything belonging to the fraternity, not even record being saved. An insurance of
$200.00 on the building and $300.00 on the regalia was received by this Lodge, entailing a loss
of $500.00 to this Lodge alone, the Odd Fellows losing even more.
Amid these discouraging scenes, Masonry in Plymouth was not daunted, but immediately
procured dispensation from Grand Master George E. Dowling, to occupy a room until new
quarters could be built. The Knights of Pythias generously donated use of their commodious
hall, and an association was formed known as the Plymouth Masonic Association. This was
soon incorporated, and shares of $10.00 each were soon taken to the amount of $2000.00 for
the purpose of erecting a new building two storied in height, having two rooms on the first floor
for rental, and the second floor for Lodge purpose, at an estimated cost of $5000.00.
The officers of this association for the first year were: W.H. Hoyt, President; E.C. Leach,
Treasurer; J.M. Collier, Secretary; T.V. Quackenbush, A.H. Dibbls, S.J. Springer, P.B. Whitbeck,
directors. The new building was dedicated November 14, 1893. The Lodge continued to meet in
the new building and enjoyed a steady growth, increasing its membership from 79 in 1893 to
323 in 1924, at which time it was deemed advisable to erect a new temple to care for the present
and future needs of the Masonic Lodge and Order of Eastern Star. Accordingly, the “Plymouth
Rock Building Association” was formed and construction work for the new temple started on
May 1, 1924.
The new temple occupied a ground space of 44 feet on Penniman Avenue and 90 feet on Union
Street. It is a three-story brick building and is occupied entirely by the Masonic Lodge and the
Order of Eastern Star. The first floor contained the dining room with a seating capacity of 300
together with the necessary kitchen equipment. This is also used for dancing parties and as an
entertainment center. The second floor contains a beautiful Lodge room and Lodge parlors
while the third floor provides recreation facilities.
The building was dedicated by the officers of the Grand Lodge of Michigan on December 29,
1924. This was a commendable undertaking for a Lodge of our size and great credit must go to
the officers and members who gave of their time and money to make this building possible,
which became at once, both a tribute to the enterprise and progressiveness of Plymouth
Masons and a credit to our village.
A large portion of the cost of building the temple was borne by private subscription, the various
subscription committees working under the leadership of Brother Frank Rambo and Charles
Rathburn Jr., and it was expected that the balance of the indebtedness would soon be
liquidated through the medium of dues, but the future was beset with difficulties.
Our membership when we moved into the new building was 323 and during the next five years
it increased to 362; however, we soon began to experience reverses, which seemed to be in
line with the general economic conditions prevalent throughout the country during this period.
Our membership started a gradual decline reaching a low mark of 259 in 1935, a loss of 103
members in five years, with the number of initiations of 231 per year declining to an average of
four per year. The Year 1935 passed without a single new member.
In spite of these rather discouraging conditions, and faced with what at times seemed a
hopeless task, the Lodge has carried on with true Masonic spirit and we have managed to
retain control of our temple. All credit must be given to the loyalty and co-operation of our
remaining members, a great many of whom have moved away but have never foresworn
alliance to their home Lodge.
The temple has been just been completely re-decorated and there seems to be evidence of a
revival of Masonic activity for which we hope will continued for years to come. This brings our
history up to 1939.
Membership next began an upward trend, reaching an all-time high of 543 members on January
1, 1950. The six years, 1944 to 1949 inclusive, recorded 296 new members with a loss in the
same period of only 43 members-32 by death, seven by transfer, and one by suspension and
three by withdrawal, while a great many new members have been added in recent years the
high caliber of those gaining admission has been maintained, and our motto “Guard Well the
Outer Door” has been carefully maintained.
The mortgage, which stood at $10,400.00 during the “Dark Days,” 1930 to 1940, was “burned”
at a public celebration on May 25, 1944, and our temple was at that point in time, free and clear
With heavy heart, in 2005 our Lodge made the decision to sell our Masonic Temple located at 730
Penniman Ave, Plymouth, MI.
There were many issues which led to this decision, including the spiraling cost of heat, an abundance
of entrance steps, and no elevator for our more senior members. The temple was sold on April 12, 2006,
and torndown on October 25, 2006. We are very pleased with our new location at 305
Fleet St, Plymouth, MI. This location is less than three blocks from our former Penniman
address. In the move, the Lodge had all of its original furniture refurbished, and our new
Lodge has a very neat and crisp look. We are quite pleased with our new location.
We are justly proud of the past history of our Lodge which has gone forward from a humble
beginning to the beautiful building which we now occupy-but let us pause and contemplate
the future. What does it hold for our Lodge and for Masonry throughout the world? It is the
sincere hope of every member that future history will record the continual growth of our
Lodge and that it may forever be an honor to the city with whose destiny it has been linked
for over 100 years of continuous activity. May our temple continue to stand as a monument
to those who contributed so liberally to its welfare and advancement until commanded to
lay down the working tools of life.
For those of us who remain, may it also serve as a reminder of the principles for which it
stands and may it constantly admonish us to be ever grateful to the Grand Architect of the
universe for the blessings of freedom and the privilege of living in a country where we may
meet in secret and enjoy fraternal fellowship without fear of outside suppression, which
freedom, unfortunately, does not prevail throughout the world at the present time.* The All
Seeing Eye has watched over the membership of Plymouth Rock Lodge with divine
wisdom and we pray for its continued guidance.
May history further record that the tenets of our institution, as inculcated through
countless centuries of Masonic history, be instrumental in bringing order out of the present
chaos. May we see lasting universal peace and tranquility return to a troubled world and
May harmony and good fellowship, based on the true Masonic principle, again prevail
among men and nations