Travis Lodge No. 117, A. F. & A. M.

Duane's take

Here's how the official marker tells it, and I'm just the one passin' it along. Way back in 1852, Sherman, Texas was still finding its footing. The town had only been named the county seat of Grayson County six years before, and the ink was barely dry on civilization out here.

But a group of men had something in mind. A local attorney by the name of Burrell Smith, along with fifteen other Masonic brothers, put their names to a petition on February 10, 1852, asking for a dispensation to organize a Masonic Lodge right there in Sherman. Now, petitioning is one thing.

Getting it done is another. But on August 28, 1852, Travis Lodge No. 117 was organized, and officers were installed. One of the oldest continuing institutions in the community, born in a town that was itself just getting started.

Over the years the lodge didn't have a place to call its own just yet. It shared facilities with a Union church, other lodges, and several businesses in commercial buildings. That's the kind of outfit that keeps going no matter what roof is overhead.

And they would need that resilience. Because on October 30, 1875, a major fire tore through Sherman and destroyed most of the business section of the city. The lodge lost its records, its furniture, its equipment.

Gone in the blaze. That could have been the end of the story. But on June 10, 1876, a duplicate charter was issued.

Travis Lodge No. 117 kept right on. Then in 1924, the lodge built something meant to last: a classical revival style temple on the northeast corner of Lamar and Walnut streets. That building served as lodge headquarters all the way until 1985, and it was designated a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 1988.

Through all of it, the members of Travis Lodge have been prominent community leaders, and the lodge has supported Masonic charitable endeavors ranging from hospitals to orphanages to retirement homes. Founded before Sherman had barely found its own footing, surviving fire, sharing walls with whoever had room, and still standing. Some institutions just decide they aren't finished.

What the marker says

Founded in 1852, only six years after Sherman was designated the county seat, this Masonic Lodge is one of the oldest continuing institutions in the community. Local Attorney Burrell Smith and fifteen other Masonic brothers petitioned for a dispensation to organize a Masonic Lodge in Sherman on February 10, 1852. On August 28, 1852, Travis Lodge No. 117 was organized and officers were installed. Over the course of its history, the lodge has shared facilities with a Union church, other lodges, and several businesses in commercial buildings. A major fire destroyed most of the business section of Sherman on October 30, 1875, and lodge records, furniture, and equipment were lost in the blaze. A duplicate charter was issued June 10, 1876. The lodge built a classical revival style temple on the northeast corner of Lamar and Walnut streets in 1924. It remained the lodge headquarters until 1985, and was designated a recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 1988. Through the years Travis Lodge members have been prominent community leaders and the lodge has supported various Masonic charitable endeavors such as hospitals, orphanages, and retirement homes.