The First Home of Masonry in Western Massachusetts Built 1750. Orange, Mass.

From the collections of PVMA • Digital image © Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Assoc. • Image use information

About this item

The Masons are a fraternal organization that began in England in the 17th century. Its origins are murky, but it might have had its roots in organizations created by stonemasons. The first lodge in America was founded in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1733. Orange, Massachusetts, was sparsely settled and would not become a town until 1810. It is improbable, although not impossible, that a branch of the Masons had been founded there as early as 1750, as this postcard claims. The first verified charter for the Orange Lodge was made in June, 1825. It closed down in 1831 during a period of persecution against Masons, but was re-established in October, 1859.

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Details

Item typePostcard
Documentary Photograph
PhotographerMetropolitan News and Publishing Company
Date1977
PlaceOrange, Massachusetts
TopicOrganizations, Associations, Societies, Clubs
EraColonial settlement, 1620–1762
Revolutionary America, 1763–1783
The New Nation, 1784–1815
National Expansion and Reform, 1816–1860
MaterialPaper
Process/FormatPhotography; Printing
Dimension detailsHeight: 3.50 in Width: 5.50 in
Catalog #1999.03.0061
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Metropolitan News and Publishing Company, photographer. The First Home of Masonry in Western Massachusetts Built 1750. Orange, Mass. Photograph. 1977. Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association, American Centuries. https://americancenturies.org/collection/1999-03-0061/. Accessed on October 15, 2024.

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