History of Franklin Lodge No. 151 A.F.& A.M.

• A fire 11/11/1853 destroyed the Lodge, charter, minutes, and took the life of Bro. Asa T. Biggs, the Secretary

The History of Franklin Lodge

Franklin Lodge No 151 is a product of four different Lodges. Mt. Olivet Lodge No. 25 (), Berlin Lodge No. 42 (), Somerton Lodge No. 99 (), and Acacia Lodge No. 84 () can each give to the history of Franklin Lodge. The distance of each of these Lodges from the Franklin area and the mode of transportation in the year 1855 gave rise to the need of a Lodge in Franklin. On February 13, 1856 Brother Stephen G. Darden, Secretary of Mt. Olive Lodge No. 25 submitted a petition to the Grand Lodge of Virginia for a Lodge in Franklin. There were eleven other signatures on the petition. All but one of these eventually joined Franklin Lodge. The name of the Lodge was left blank on the petition with the choices being Franklin or Seaboard. The charter was granted on December 10, 1856, with twenty-eight charter members.

The Lodge first met in a building, which was owned by the grandfather of Sidney Barrett, Sr., Past Master. After several location changes the Lodge appointed a building committee in 1938 and charged then with the responsibility of securing a piece of land and soliciting bids for the construction of a new temple. At the June stated communication in 1938 the committee reported that a lodge could be built for $7,773.00. On September 19, 1951, Most Worshipful Rudolf R. Cooke dedicated the temple. With dedication, physical manpower, and several donations, the Lodge debt was paid for.

• History