Audubon Park Lodge #272
History Page
On June 15, 1926, the Grand Lodge of F. & A.M. of Washington
held its Annual Communication in Spokane. Grand Master Morton Gregory announced
he had granted dispensations for six new Lodges:
Nov 20, 1925 Charleston Lodge 269 (now at Bremerton),
Dec 4, 1925 Ryderwood Lodge 270 (at Ryderwood),
Jan 21, 1926 John Paul Jones Lodge 271 (at Gig Harbor),
Feb 5, 1926 Audubon Park Lodge 272 (in Spokane),
Mar 8, 1926 Concord Lodge 273 (at Aberdeen),
May 1, 1926 West Haven Lodge 274 (at Hoquiam)
Each of these new Lodges received their Charters at Grand Lodge on June 16, 1926.
Audubon Park Lodge No. 272 began its labor with 31 charter members. Harold A. Shaw was elected as the inaugural Worshipful Master*. Many of the charter members were also members of North Hill 210. In fact North Hills 210 sponsored us when we petitioned Grand Lodge for a charter. Membership was at its height in 1957 when Audubon Park had over 500 members of record. This year (2003) marks the 77th year of incorporation as a Masonic Lodge. Membership today (2003) stands at about 117 brethren.
Stated meetings are held on the second Wednesday of every month (except June when, because of Grand Lodge, we meet on the third Wednesday.) Stated meetings begin at 7:00 p.m. We are dark in July and August.
Audubon Park 272's official newsletter is entitled The Pillars. It is published monthly (except July and August) and mailed to all members. The newsletter is also available on the Internet at our official website: http://www.audubonpark272.com/pillars.htm
*Source: Not Made with Hands, (The Centennial History of Grand Lodge Masonry in Washington and Alaska 1858-1958), by VWB Paul W. Harvey, Grand Historian. Published by the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free & Accepted Masons of Washington, 1958
First Lodge Site
For the first few years, Audubon Park 272 members met in a small one-room building (pictured below) at the corner of Audubon Street & Cora Avenue, just across the street from Audubon Municipal Park. The brethren met here from February 1926 to October 1928. Today, a private residence occupies this corner.
Current Lodge Site
Audubon Park soon outgrew its small quarters and in the fall of 1928, the lodge moved to its present site, located at 2821 Northwest Boulevard. The cornerstone was laid April 25, 1928. The new building was situated perhaps 200 yards from the old site. More than three times the size of the old lodge, the new building boasted a large meeting hall and fireside room on the main floor, with a dining & dance hall downstairs. The building and grounds have been well-maintained over the years, so that today, Audubon Park 272 projects an ambience of tranquil composure and quiet dignity. (This facility is rented for weddings and receptions. See our Rental link.)
Lodge Awards
Pillars of Progress Award given to Audubon Park 272 by the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of F.& A.M of Washington, April 2002, as the Lodge best exemplifying the Pillar of Family Involvement.
A second Pillars of Progress Award was given to Audubon Park 272 by the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of F&AM of Washington on November 2, 2002. In District 27 we were cited as the Lodge best exemplifying the Pillar of Information and Technology.
Concordant Bodies
Over the years, several concordant bodies of the Masonic family have been co-located at Audubon Park Lodge 272. The Order of the Eastern Star, Audubon Park Chapter 214 held meetings at our lodge from June 19, 1926 to June 16, 1992. The inaugural Worthy Matron was Louise Devoe and the Worthy Patron was Harold Pitts. In June of 1992, Chapter 214 left us to merge with Spokane Chapter 163 of OES. For a time, two Bethels of Jobs Daughters operated simultaneously at Audubon Park 272.
Bethel 7 conducted their meetings at the lodge beginning in (1941). Their first Honored Bethel Queen was Helen Turner. Because of declining membership, this Bethel disbanded in (1983).
Bethel 64 received their charter in April 1959 and have operated continuously since then. Their first Honored Bethel Queen was Sue Heimsjo.
Distinguished Brethren from Audubon Park 272
Past Grand Master:
MWB Harold E. Tucker (1988)
Deptuties of the Grandmaster:
VWB Dewey A. Hawes (District 27 for 1947-49)
VWB Chester M. Echelbarger (District 27 for 1988-90)
VWB Douglas E. Tucker (District 27 for 2002-04)
VWB Gaylon Arisman
(District 26 for 2002-04)
Past Masters of Audubon Park 272
1926 Harold A. Shaw 1927 Alfred M. Oldershaw
1928 John W. Pilam 1929 George E. Adams
1930 Ralph A. Chruchil 1931 Claude L. Smith
1932 Alexander McDonald 1933 James G. Burt
1934 Jacob W. Foss 1935 William Ressman
1936 Louis P. Johnson 1937 Joseph H. Sampson
1938 Robert T. Carr 1939 Wesley D. McNee
1940 Leubert A. Witters 1941 Robert A. McDonald
1942 William V. Stone 1943 Leslie V. Reckord
1944 John D. Youngman 1945 Dewey A. Hawes
1946 Paul J. Moody 1947 Will M. Strickler
1948 Joseph F. Keller 1949 Forrest H. Garrett
1950 Virgil H. Shurtleff 1951 Ray A. Fyfe
1952 Donald McGougan 1953 Glen L. Lane
1954 Joe M. Click 1955 Albert W. Doughty
1956 H. Lee Pitts 1957 John M. Lipp
1958 Orin L. Johnson 1959 John Gulbrecht, Jr.
1960 Harold E. Tucker 1961 Claude W. Smith
1962 Robert E. Lucht 1963 John D. Key
1964 Justin L. Quackenbush 1965 A. Jack Bishop
1966 John D. Key 1967 Claude W. Smith
1968 Chester M. Echelbarger 1969 Erthel M. Godwin
1970 Martin H. Echelbarger 1971 Howard W. Clifford
1972 Frederick G. Schoch 1973 Walter A. Denison
1974 John D. Wells 1975 Anthony Sandusky
1976 Willis H. Smith 1977 Andy Manolis
1978 Lloyd Hartman 1979 Howard Halpin
1980 Edward L. Barton, Jr. 1981 Robert H. Killian
1982 Charles C. Anderson 1983 Richard N. Turner
1984 Marion C. McElroy 1985 Floyd A. Morse
1986 Gordon E. Vails 1987 Eric E. Berman
1988 Dean F. Whittier 1989 Gaylon Arisman
1990 David C. Ferguson 1991 Pete Beardsley
1992 Phillip D. Harris 1993 Richard C. Roark
1994 Wm. Otis Naff 1995 Gordon E. Vails
1996 Harold E. Tucker 1997 Franz Adelquist
1998 Douglas E. Tucker 1999 Philip R. Rhea
2000 Floyd A. Morse 2001 Richard J. Hawley
2002 Paul J. Vielle 2003 John M. Smith
2004 Robert K. Good
(Editor's note: This page is still very much under construction. The webmaster welcomes your additions, corrections, or other anecdotal information with regard to the history of Audubon Park Lodge 272. Please e-mail comments to: webmaster )
Last updated 1830, 08 March, 2003