odin

Mason Lodge No. 503, A.F.&A.M.

By D.M. Frimel, P.M.

Odin Lodge 503, A.F. &A.M. was instituted in 1866 under dispensation from the Grand Master. E.B. Wilcox was the first Worshipful Master; E. Sidwell, Senior Warden; and O.F. Ball, Junior Warden. The Lodge was very active and had a large membership. A fire destroyed the three story building and their records.

They rented a room in the Woodward Store building and started anew. In 1941 the Eastern Star Ladies served a banquet in the school gymnasium, at which time fifty year jewels were presented to Brothers W.H. Farthing and Charles e. Sloan. In the 1940’s lodge was being held in the I.O.O.F. building that was owned by the Odin Fire department. Membership in 1960 was 130.

In 1962 the Lodge bought the Sugg Building that once housed Wooters Insurance Office, Odin Drug Store and Odin Kroger Store downstairs and the Grand Theatre and a bowling alley upstairs. It was rebuilt into what now is the Lodge upstairs, accessed by a chair lift, and downstairs a dining room and two rental spaces.

The Lodge holds a Biscuit & Gravy Breakfast fundraiser twice a year to support their High School Scholarship, Scholar Bowl, Kids Drug Prevention, Easter Egg Hunt, Santa Claus, and Families in Need. Membership now stands at 65, with many 50 year and Life Members.

Past members of the last 50 years were David J. Fivecoate, Robert L. Stevenson, Jesse A. Sinclair, Otto J. Frimel, James M. Smith, David M. Frimel, Loren Donoho, William Schubert, Donald R. Decker, Vernon L. Schackmann, Sr., Richard D. Jackson, Sr., Jesse B. Walker, Vernon E. Hall, Virgil E. Wasser, Kenneth L. Webster, Leslie R. Bailey, James V. Henson, Stephen C. Sanders, Duane C. Engel, Jason M. Soulon, Jeffrey K. McDaneld, Larry E. McDaneld and Randy K. Williams. Meetings are the first and third Tuesdays. They have won several awards for being the best lodge in Illinois.