Iowa Park Lodge No. 713, A.F. & A.M.

Duane's take

Here's my telling of what the official marker has to say about Iowa Park Lodge Number 713. Now settle in, because this is one of those stories that starts with a railroad and ends with a century of community, and there's a lot of ground to cover in between. The town of Iowa Park was platted in 1888, right along the route of the Fort Worth and Denver City Railroad.

The railroad was coming through, the town was taking shape, and somebody, somewhere, decided that what this place really needed was a Masonic Lodge. So they got to organizing. In 1891, the Grand Lodge of Texas, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, granted a warrant of dispensation to the lodge being formed in Iowa Park.

And before that year was out, in December of 1891, Iowa Park Lodge Number 713 received its charter. Now that is movin'. They had their charter, they had their brothers, and they needed a place to meet.

A building owned by Kriedler and Windle served as the first lodge hall, and it did the job until 1892, when Birk Hall was secured as the meeting place. Then in 1896, they moved up, literally, to the second floor of the First National Bank building, and that arrangement suited them just fine. For decades, the lodge continued to meet in that bank building, all the way until 1969, when the members completed their own building at 700 West Washington Street.

Their own house, built by their own effort. And all along the way, through every address and every era, the Iowa Park Masons kept doing what they came here to do. They laid cornerstones for local public schools, once in 1901 and again in 1923.

They've given an annual award named for Republic of Texas President Mirabeau B. Lamar to a deserving high school student, year after year. And charitable causes across the community have received their assistance too, more than anyone could easily count.

More than a century of showing up. That's the story the marker tells, and friend, that's no small thing.

What the marker says

The town of Iowa Park was platted in 1888 on the route of the Fort Worth and Denver City Railroad. A Masonic Lodge was also being organized in Iowa Park, and in 1891 a warrant of dispensation was granted by the Grand Lodge of Texas, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. Iowa Park Lodge No. 713 received its charter in December 1891. A building owned by Kriedler and Windle served as the first lodge hall until 1892 when Birk Hall was secured as a meeting place. In 1896 the second floor of the First National Bank building was obtained for lodge meetings. The organization continued to meet in the bank building until 1969 when the lodge completed a building at 700 West Washington Street. Iowa Park Lodge members maintain a strong tradition of supporting community education, and have laid cornerstones for local public schools in 1901 and 1923. An award named for Republic of Texas President Mirabeau B. Lamar has been given annually to a deserving high school student. Many charitable causes have received assistance from the Iowa Park Masons, who continue to serve the community as they have for more than a century. (1997)