Harwood Methodist Church and Masonic Lodge

Duane's take

Here's how the official marker tells it, and I'll pass it along to you straight. Out on the south Texas plain, in Gonzales County, a railroad came through and changed things. The Galveston, Harrisburg and San Antonio Railroad established Harwood in 1875, and not long after, this community got itself a meetinghouse.

One building, doing double and triple duty, the way things worked out on the frontier. The first floor held Methodist worship services and housed a school. Two of the most important things a young community could have, right there under one roof.

Then you climb the stairs, and things get a little more interesting. The Harwood Masonic Lodge No. 468 claimed the second floor, and they started meeting up there on October 7, 1876. That lodge kept its place on that second floor for a long stretch of years, right up until 1962, when it joined the Hopkinsville Lodge over at Waelder.

One era closing, another opening. But here's what I like about this story. The church didn't close.

Didn't fade away when the lodge moved on, didn't get swallowed up by time. The church continues to serve the area. One building, planted down by a railroad town, and it just kept going.

What the marker says

After the Galveston, Harrisburg & San Antonio Railroad established Harwood in 1875, this community meetinghouse was built. The first floor was used for Methodist worship services and housed a school. The Harwood Masonic Lodge No. 468 met on the second floor from Oct. 7, 1876, until 1962 when it joined the Hopkinsville Lodge at Waelder. The church continues to serve the area. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1979