By Brothers Jamison Kifer and Rich Rygh
Brethren, their Ladies and members of the community gathered at the Neenah Masonic Center on October 25 to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the Lodge building and the 170th Anniversary of Twin Cities Lodge’s service to the community. There was an open house from 10 a.m. till noon followed by a re-dedication of the Lodge and reinstallation of the officers. A meal and fellowship followed.
Grand Master Jeffrey S. Schoenfeldt thanked Twin Cities Lodge for the opportunity to participate in the ceremony. He asked the Grand Stewards to uncover the lodge and he rededicated the Lodge and building agreeable to the ancient usages and customs of the fraternity and reinstalled the officers of the Lodge.
The building going back to 1925 is a structure the Brethren can be very proud of — it is very well maintained including new windows, roof, carpeting and many other improvements. It is a real asset to the community.
A highlight of the day was viewing the items from the cornerstone from 1925.
What is known today as Twin Cities Lodge No. 61, was chartered on June 15, 1855. Over the years, it was named Elisha Kent Kane Lodge No. 61 after it was moved to Neenah and in 1995 merged with then John A. Bryan Lodge No. 98 and the current name of Twin Cities was born. For over 170 years Freemasonry has been in the Fox Cities between the cities of Fond du Lac, Oshkosh, Appleton, Menasha, and Neenah.
The Neenah Masonic Temple construction began and the cornerstone laid in 1924 and was finished and consecrated in October of 1925. It has been the home for many years for not only Twin Cities No. 61, but also Appleton No. 349 and just recently Fidelity Chapter No. 94 of OES. In years past, it was home to Neenah Chapter No. 88 Royal Arch Masons, Twin Cities Commandery No. 39 Knights Templar, Neenah Chapter No. 63 OES, and a Job’s Daughters Bethel.
The brethren of Twin Cities Lodge are proud to call this building their home where they can work together to better ourselves, help others when able, and grow as a brotherhood. Where they can help preserve the great image of Freemasonry that will stand for another century, so that when the Brothers open the cornerstone again, they will see what life was like for us 2025 as well as we were able to have a small glimpse of what Neenah was in 1925.
Several brothers worked very hard to help make sure this day went off well and they should be proud of their good work, square work, and dedicated work for this Lodge. The Brothers said that they celebrated not only 100 years at 241 E. Wisconsin Avenue, but 170 years as a Lodge and the Supreme Architect knows we cannot wait to see what it will look like at 200.
