Newmarket’s political and business elite were counted among the membership of this organization that has played a huge part in Newmarket’s history since the early 1800s and continues to flourish today at the Masonic Lodge on Millard Avenue in the old Temperance Building.
We start our story with the arrival in 1817 of the Western Light Lodge to Newmarket, the first Masonic Lodge organized north of Toronto, comprising members from Bradford, Sharon, and Newmarket and from as far away as Lloydtown.
The first meeting was held in the home of Nathaniel Gamble, near Yonge Street and what is now Mulock Drive, about three miles from Newmarket.
The Lodge moved into Newmarket in 1822 but I have not been able to find any record as to where the meetings were held. Shortly afterwards, it met in Penfold’s Tavern at Penfold’s Corners, about 14 miles from Newmarket and a little later in Lloydtown.
Meeting at a tavern proved convenient as there was a place for accommodation, food and refreshment for the men and stables for the horses. The members were all early settlers of British ancestry who had recently arrived from the northern United States. Evidently there were Masons among them who brought their craft with them to this area.
Many people may remember that president George Washington himself was initiated as a Master Mason in Virginia on Aug.4, 1753 and that the US dollar has an inscription of a Masonic symbol on it.
Records show that early in 1858, several members of the Western Light Lodge in Newmarket and vicinity petitioned the Ancient Grand Lodge of Canada for authority to establish a Lodge in Newmarket.
We know their petition was granted as the cash book indicates that a payment of $6 was forwarded to the Ancient Grand Lodge on Feb. 23, 1858 for a charter.
A warrant, or dispensation, was then granted on March 19, 1858, as Tuscan Lodge #65. The charter members were Alfred Boultbee, Dr. John Bentley, H.S. Corryell, J.W.; W. Trent, George Hogaboom, N.A. Gamble, S.H. Peck and S.P. Ramsay.All these individuals were considered leading figures in the community.
By the Statutes of Upper Canada, the Act of Incorporation of the Village of Newmarket took effect Jan. 1, 1858 and Alfred Boultbee was the officiating solicitor for the enactment.
He was also the first Ruling Master of the Lodge and the first candidate initiated on March19, 1858 was Joseph Cawthra, uncle of Sir William Mulock.
If you look through the stories of our early political and business leaders, one is struck by the fact that many of them belonged to the Masons and continued to throughout their lifetime.
In July 1856, the Tuscan Lodge was re-numbered #99.The present Warrant is dated from March 13, 1863.
According to Erastus Jackson, editor and owner of the Newmarket Era, the Tuscan Lodge was organized in the upstairs of the house of Dr. Peck, the dentist, which had stood on the site of the former Odeon theatre.
There are suggestions that the early meetings were held in a room over the carriage works of George Hutchcroft, now a house at 106 Main St.
From the archives of the Newmarket Era we learn that the meetings were once held in the old courthouse on Timothy Street (the village hall) early in 1859.
The records designated the location as the Mechanics’ Hall, which I have referred to in earlier articles. It then moved to the third floor of the Widdifield building, on the southwest corner of Main and Botsford streets.
In 1896 it was moved to the top floor of the Era building next door to Roadhouse and Rose, which burned in 1956.Owing to an increased membership, in 1921 it obtained larger quarters in the Wesley block over what was Whimster’s store at 194 Main St.
Finally, in 1957, the Masons purchased the Temperance Hall that had been relocated to Millard Avenue, enlarging and completely renovating it and on Dec. 5, 1957, this Temple was dedicated by the Most Worshipful Grand Master, Harry L. Martyn and several Grand Lodge officers.
The building purchased was known to locals as the Temperance Hall and for many years it had been the scene of gatherings in connection with the town - social, religious, educational, and political.
You will remember from previous articles in this series that this building hosted the first moving pictures shown in Newmarket and hosted the members of the Gospel Tabernacle as a place of worship.
Architecturally, the building on Millard represents the distinctively chaste simplicity of early Newmarket. It is in addition one of Newmarket’s oldest remaining historic structures.
It was converted by the Masons for their use with the addition of a basement, the covering of the outside with red brick and an extension to the rear of the building.
If you visit you will see, over the door at the front, a brass tablet inscribed 1856-1956 and inside there is another tablet with a brief history of the hall placed there at the request of the W.C.T.U. (our Temperance Group outlined in my article about prohibition) in memory of those who were associated with that organizational movement.
In its 162nd year (since 1858), its staying power is impressive indeed.
My family was involved over the various generations. Starting with my great grandfather, my grandpa, and two uncles were charter members and my grandmother, and my mother were members of the Eastern Star, the female division of the masons. In fact, my grandmother, Amy Luesby, was the founding grand matron of the Eastern Star here in Newmarket.
Tuscan Lodge members have met regularly for approximately 162 years entwined in the social fabric of the community, embracing the talents and influence of individuals representing the basic principles of agriculture, education, business and industry, trade and commerce, the professions, the clergy etc.
I hope to highlight other longstanding organizations in future articles. Organizations such as the Orange Lodge, the Knights of Columbus and the Odd Fellows seem worthy topics I believe. If you would like to suggest an organization, please let me know.
Sources: Township of Whitchurch Records; Article by Mr. R. L. Pritchard; The Newmarket Era; Notes by G.W. Luesby; The History of Newmarket by Ethel Trewhella
************************Newmarket resident Richard MacLeod — the History Hound — has been a local historian for more than 40 years. He writes a weekly feature about our town's history in partnership with Newmarket Today, conducts heritage lectures and walking tours of local interest, and leads local oral history interviews
