DUANE
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Duane's take
Here's my telling of what the official marker has to say about Post Oak Island Lodge Number 181, A.F. and A.M., out of Williamson County. Now, settle in, because this is a story about a lodge that refused to sit still. Post Oak Island was putting down roots as early as the 1840s, one of the earliest communities in this part of Texas.
And on September 15, 1855, five men gathered with something on their minds. I.J. Kidd, T.
Gatlin, P.A. Middleton, M. Gardner, and A.S.
Harper. Five names. One purpose.
They established a Masonic lodge right there in Post Oak Island. Then on February 2, 1856, it became official, constituted as Post Oak Island Lodge Number 181. Now here is the part that tells you everything you need to know about who these men were.
By October of 1860, the lodge members had paid the mortgage on their hall. Paid it off. Free and clear.
A small community, a determined brotherhood. But the story does not stop there. Not even close.
In 1878, the lodge picked up that hall and moved it to Sam Smith Springs, also known as Lawhon Springs. Then, in 1901, they moved it again, this time to a little place called Beaukiss. Now, Beaukiss was not exactly a booming metropolis.
The marker is politely direct about that, noting its relatively small population. And yet, despite all of that, this long-standing institution kept its membership high, drawing in folks from the dispersed rural communities spread across the surrounding area. Some institutions plant themselves in one spot and hope the world comes to them.
Post Oak Island Lodge Number 181 had a different philosophy entirely. It went where it was needed, and the people came.
What the marker says
Settled as early as the 1840s, Post Oak Island was one of this area's earliest communities. There, on September 15, 1855, I.J. Kidd, T. Gatlin, P.A. Middleton, M. Gardner and A.S. Harper established a Masonic lodge. On February 2, 1856, the lodge was officially constituted as Post Oak Island Lodge #181, and by October 1860, lodge members had paid the mortgage on their lodge hall. They moved the hall in 1878 to Sam Smith Springs (Lawhon Springs), and in 1901, they moved it again, to Beaukiss. Despite the relatively small population of Beaukiss, the long-standing institution has maintained a high membership, pulled from the area's dispersed rural communities. (2006)