Lake Victor Lodge No. 1011, A. F. & A. M.

Duane's take

Here's my telling of what the official marker has to say about Lake Victor Lodge Number 1011. Now settle in, because this is a story about a lodge that's been keeping its word for a long, long time. It starts with a sponsor.

The nearby Robert E. Lee Lodge lent its backing, and with that support, Lake Victor Lodge Number 1011, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, was formally established in December of 1909, during the 73rd Annual Grand Communications of the Grand Lodge of Texas. The 73rd.

That means this fraternity had already been at it for quite a stretch before Lake Victor ever knocked on the door. And knock they did. The very first meeting of the Lake Victor Lodge took place in a rented building on January 1, 1910.

New Year's Day. Make of that what you will, but those men were not wasting any time. Now, renting is fine for a start, but a lodge with ambition builds its own house.

And in 1914, that is exactly what they did, right here on this site. The officers who first stood in that new building are recorded on the back of this marker, and it is quite a roll call. W.

W. Barrett served as Worshipful Master. E.

C. Glimp, Senior Warden. A.

J. Hahn, Junior Warden. T.

H. Hahn held the treasurer's post. C.

P. Warner served as Secretary. M.

H. Walden, Senior Deacon. A.

A. Hahn, Junior Deacon. W.

A. Farris stood as Tiler. W.

J. Adams, Senior Steward. And H.

G. Risinger, Junior Steward. Ten officers, one building, and a whole century ahead of them.

They met on that site throughout the entire 20th century. The high-water mark for membership came in 1953 and 1954, when the lodge reported its largest numbers. By 1999 the rolls counted 36 members, and three of those members had more than 50 years of service between them.

Think about what 50 years of showing up means. Decade after decade, in that same building, upholding the same traditions. As is Masonic custom, the Lake Victor Lodge contributes to charitable causes, and the lodge continues to uphold the traditions of its founders.

That is the through line, from a rented room on New Year's Day 1910 to a building that has stood on this ground since 1914. The names change. The commitment does not.

What the marker says

Sponsored by the nearby Robert E. Lee Lodge, Lake Victor Lodge No. 1011, A. F. & A. M. was formally established in December 1909 during the 73rd Annual Grand Communications of the Grand Lodge of Texas. The first meeting of the Lake Victor Lodge took place in a rented building on January 1, 1910. The lodge built its own meeting place on this site in 1914 and continued to meet on that site throughout the 20th century. The largest membership of the Lake Victor Lodge in the 20th century was reported in 1953-1954. In 1999 the lodge had 36 members, three of whom had more than 50 years service. As is Masonic custom, the Lake Victor Lodge contributes to charitable causes. The lodge continues to uphold the traditions of its founders. (2000) Incise on back: The first officers in the 1914 building were: W. W. Barrett, W. M.; E. C. Glimp, S.W.; A. J. Hahn, J.W.; T. H. Hahn, Treas.; C. P. Warner, Sec.; M. H. Walden, S.D.; A. A. Hahn, J.D.; W. A. Farris, Tiler; W. J. Adams, S.S.; H. G. Risinger, J.S.