History

Union Grove Lodge 320

History

In the mid-1800s and after the Civil War an influx of settlers that came to the picturesque valleys and mountains of Marshall County, Alabama that were members of distant Masonic Lodges were in need of a place to meet. A group of Masons went before the Masonic Lodge at Walnut Grove , Alabama , September 1, 1865 for recommendation to apply for a charter under the Alabama Grand Lodge. The Alabama Grand Lodge granted dispensation September 14, 1865 for those men to form a new lodge at Warrenton , Alabama , which would be named Warrenton with the number of 320.

Warrenton, the county seat, had been laid out in lots back in 1848, and commissioners had been appointed to sell them. So the new Masons bought a lot from the commissioners to construct a lodge. The minutes indicate that Peter Kilfoyle rented rooms to the Masons to use until their lodge hall was completed in 1867. They set their meeting times for “early candle-lighting time” on the second and fourth Fridays of each month. It seems most of the men were tobacco chewers because they bought six spittoons. It was agreed that any members caught spitting on the floor or ceiling were to be fined .25 cents.

The community was in need of a school and the lodge having two floors, it was suggested that the lower floor be used for school purposes. An agreement was reached with the lodge members to appoint the trustees. The first trustees were to serve until September 1, 1868 were: A. S. Harris, Henry Hall, Gardner C. Ledbetter, James L. Sheffield, Alonza S. Mitchell, Thomas W. Whitman, James F. Bailey, William G. Smith and Thomas A. Street . In January 1868, an uproar by one of the influential members of the lodge caused the school to be closed. After a lapse of time the lower room was again used for school purposes and the school room needing heat, a stove pipe was extended outside the building, Then, Thursday, December 1, 1887 ; the lodge building was destroyed by fire. The roof caught fire from the stove pipe. It was discovered while school was in session but too late to save the building.

The members were scattered over the countryside and by moving to newer farms with the influx seeming to be towards Brindley Mountain . The rumbling of wanting to move the lodge to Ragsdale Falls or Union Grove was rampart amongst the lodge members. They reached an agreement to move to Union Grove on Brindley Mountain with the last communication being held in Warrenton on May 30, 1891 . The first communication at Union Grove was to be on or before the full moon in June 1891.

After a few years at Union Grove rumblings began in the lodge to move to Arab, Alabama . This was accomplished in January 1897 with the lodge furniture being moved by W. S. Wiles at a cost of one dollar. This move proved to be unsatisfactory and the lodge returned to Union Grove in 1904 where it remains at the present time. The named of Warrenton was dropped in 1944 and named for the community, Union Grove.

Our lodge has continued the community service as set forth by our brethren in 1867 when they allowed the lodge hall to be used for a school. We continue to assist those that needs assistance in their daily life as well as other community projects by assisting whenever needs arise.

Today, the U. S. Post Office occupies the first floor of the Union Grove Masonic Lodge building. The basement is used by the local senior citizens, which meet there each weekday to enjoy themselves by visiting and playing games, such as rook, dominos, checkers or even watching their favorite TV programs. Some of the women sew and quilt on an old-fashioned quilting frame. At other times, the community is allowed to make use of the basement for various gatherings.