ABOUT US

The History of Prospect Lodge #121, F.&A.M.

Phase1: From Whence We Came

The hard years after reconstruction brought men of all parts to Virginia face to face with reality, and those in Spotsylvania County were not an exception. After building homes for their families and churches for their spiritual worship, they recognized the fact that in order to have a well-organized neighborhood, they needed a very effective brotherhood.

Therefore, on December 22, 1905, fifteen (15) men assembled in the home of the late Mr. Henry C. Ross and organized a club for the purpose of forming a masonic lodge. This club exited for Ten months under the guidance of the late brother Solomon G. Willis of Prince Hall Lodge 61 of Fredericksburg, as District Deputy Grand Master, at which time they added Seven new members. So, with twenty-two members they were granted a Charter on November 9, 1906.

This new lodge was consecrated with the late Rev E.C. Thompson as their first Worshipful Master; the late brother Lucian Comfort (Senior Warden); the late James E. Ellis (Junior Warden); Brother Henry C. Ross, (Secretary); Brother Nelson Jackson (Treasurer); Brother Presley Graves (Senior Deacon); Brother C.B. Johnson (Junior Deacon); Brother Moses Anderson (Chaplain); Brother Willie Boggs (Tyler); Brother Samuel Woodfolk (Senior Steward); Brother John Crutchfield (Junior Steward).

Other charted members were the late Brother Henry Jackson, William F. Hart, Burton Fountain, Thomas Tyler, Joseph Brooks, Ruben Brooks, Constant N. Howard, James Foy, Isaac Meredith, Robert Scott, and Elick Taylor. They continued to meet in the homes of different brothers, paying them $1.00 per meeting for their home; during the winter months, they added $.50 extra for firewood.

As their membership began to increase, they rented the hall from the Independent Order of St. Luke. During this time, they were seeking a suitable location to build for themselves. In the month of April, 1908, a tragedy occurred in the membership with the accidental drowning of Brother Lucien Comfort, their Senior Warden. This was their first test of brotherhood and loyalty. They responded by drafting their treasury, paying for his burial and sending his widow a donation. In their regular meeting on April 24, 1908, Brother W.S. Broadus offered to lease the craft ½ acre of land on which to build their lodge hall. This offer was gladly accepted. (Note: Brother Broadus at this time was a member of Price Hall 61 of Fredericksburg. So, on June 27, 1908, he was received in Prospect 121 by demit.).

As time passed the proper agreements were written, signed and recorded, and plans for the building were made. Each member cut timber from his own land and the lodge paid for the sawing of the lumber. There were three or four carpenters in their membership, so they built their own hall with all the members helping. Those who could not help at least one day gave the price of a day’s work to the lodge. They remained at this location until it became unsuitable through the shift of population and other factors. In the 1950s this lodge purchased half interest in its present location and returned the previous land back to the Broadus Estate. Striving for greater improvement, under the leadership of Past Master William Poindexter on December 17, 1976 Prospect purchased one acre of land from Brother Leon to build a new hall which is where our lodge hall currently sits.

Groundbreaking ceremonies were held on Saturday, October 21, 1978 and building of the new lodge began December 2, 1978 and is progressing nicely at the present time.