A
HISTORY
of
Broad River Lodge
No. 377 AFM
Columbia, South Carolina

The idea for a new Masonic Lodge in the Denny Terrace community began to take form in the minds of a group of Masons in the late 1940s.

By 1950 a lot of hard work began to pay off. The lodge was granted a charter on March 10th of 1950 and its charter members included brothers from 15 different lodges, (See list below).

Worshipful Brother James W. Derrick, Past Master of Boyleston Lodge No. 123, was elected to be the first Master. The Senior Warden was Hazel Paul Le Grande of Columbia Lodge No. 326 and the Junior Warden was William Boyd Jordan, Sr. of Eau Claire Lodge No. 344.

~ Click on picture for a larger image and better detail ~

The original forty-nine brothers of this new lodge met on the property on Monticello Road that is now the site of Fraley & Quattlebaum, Co. Broad River Lodge continued to work and grow under this arrangement for the next three years.

Ground Breaking 1953 ~ Click on picture for a larger image and details ~

In 1953 a lot on Donna Drive was purchased for the purpose of building a permanent Lodge building. The ground breaking for this new building commenced in November of 1953. The New Lodge Building was completed and dedicated in 1964 by Most Wor. Brother Joel W. Franton, Jr. Our beautiful lodge furinture was donated and built by brothers A. W. (Drew) Sabagha and Tom Royson.

This Lodge has served as home for not only the brother Masons, but other affiliated bodies, such as the Order of the Eastern Star Chapter 218, Eau Claire Assembly No. 25 of Rainbow Girls, and the Walter F. Going Chapter of the Order of DeMolay.

Worshipful Brother Collins C. Belle, for many years the lodge Secretary, was honored by being appointed District Deputy Grand Master for the 10th Masonic District for the years 1979 to 1981.

From 1980 till 1990 the Lodge put on a well known and well attended annual "Out Door Degree", with stage sets, music, full costumes, other props and a dedicated degree team.

The lodge kitchen was officially named "Uncle Ernie's Kitchen" in December of 1983 in honor of Brother Ernest J. Frick, (a charter member), for his many years of service as Chief Chef. Brother Frick was famous for his Chicken Bog and Catfish Stew which are still lovingly prepared in his memory from his reciepts.

Two lodge member received honors in 1984. Worshipful Brother Barney F. Brewer was elected Potentate of Jamil Shrine Temple and Worshipful Brother A. R. (Randy) Winesett, Jr. was appointed Junior Grand Deacon of the Grand Lodge of S. C.

Over the years many members of Broad River Lodge have been active members and leaders in allied masonic bodies including; The Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, The York Rite, The Nobels of the Mystic Shrine, Knight Masons, Masonic Rosicrucians,(SRCF) and various Masonic Research Socities.

Worshipful Brother George B. Senft was honored by being appointed District Deputy Grand Master for the 10th Masonic District for the years 1995 to 1997.

Worshipful Brother L. Layne Waters was honored in 2004 by being appointed Director of Work for the Columbia bodies of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite.

If any one has any stories or information on the early years or can fill in any of the above blanks, please contact the Web Master...
email... lwaters2@sc.rr.com

CHARTER MEMBERS: (by previous lodge)
===================
Richland No. 39 (2)... Wm. Rodger Watson and Eugne Howell Willard.
Claremont No. 64 (1)... Charles Thomas Stephen Boone.
Acacia No. 94 (6)... Steve Chalmer Broom, Ernest Jacob Frick, Lloyd Alva Frick, John Oren Hatchell, James Samuel Lyles, and Charles Wesley Old.
Boyleston No. 123 (1)... James Walter Derrick.
Sinclair No. 154 (2)... James Gordon Roof and James Charles Graves.
Lake City No. 193 (1)... Joseph Theodore McAlister.
Mount Joy No. 203 (1)... Willie Cheatham Edmonds.
Ruff No. 240 (1)... Robert Guy Sutherland.
Tucapau No. 253 (1)... William Duva Nixion.
Ducan No. 309 (1)... Robert Wilber Bailey.
Columbia No. 326 (3)... Walter Lee Gunter, Hazel Paul Le Grande, and Frederick E. Nichols.
Hammerton No. 332 (1)... Glen Price.
Eua Claire No. 344 (25)... Barney Frank Brewer, Sr., Curtis O'Neal Buchanan, Frederick Jeremiah Buyck, Sr., Fred Harmon Clark, Forrest William Conley,Sr., John Winston Davis, Charles Willard Dennis, Charles Vance Hendrix, Leslie Wheeler Howard, Joseph Clarence Jay, William Boyd Jordan, Sr., John Gleaton Lavender, James Russell McClary, Delphin Delmous Murphy, Homer Sheppard, Robert Columbus Shook, Dorsey Murdock Taylor, Redden Kirby Timmons, Fred E. Turnipseed, Sr., Fred E. Turnipseed, Jr., Alex Homer Walling, Henry Richard Williams, and Francis Warren Wood.
Shandon No. 370 (1)... James W. Webb.
Earlewood No. 371 (2)... James Needom Johnson and George Dewey Smith.