Lodge History

            At the turn of the century, Valley Junction was a growing community.  There were a number of ardent masons among the residents of a town who felt the need of a new lodge to be formed here.  Therefore, in December 1900, with the recommendation of Pioneer Lodge No. 22 in Des Moines, 22 Master Masons from Valley Junction petitioned the Grand Lodge of Iowa for permission to form a new lodge in Valley Junction, Iowa to be called “Gnemeth”.

            On January 11^th, 1901, Willard L. Eaton, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Iowa, A.F. & A.M., granted dispensation to the above mentioned masons to meet as a regular lodge until May 1^st of that year.  Stated meetings were to be held on the first Thursday of the month.  The Grand Master appointed W.G. Neafie as Worshipful Master. Thomas Kilpatrick as Senior Warden, and C.E. Diehl as Junior Warden.

            The first meeting of record U.D. was on February 7^th, 1901, at which time Herman Raaz was elected Treasurer and C.W. Lyon elected as Secretary. Also at this meeting six petitions for membership and thirteen petitions for the degrees were received.  The lodge was located in the First Valley Junction Bank building.

             On June 6^th, 1901, a Charter was granted to Gnemeth Lodge by Grand Master Eaton.  At the first meeting after the charter was granted, C.E. Diehl was elected as Worshipful Master for the balance of the year.

            Lodges were not without problems in those years too.  In May, 1903, meeting nights were reduced to the first and third Thursday of each month, and with attendance and enthusiasm continuing to dwindle, mention was made on July 7^th, 1904, to surrender our Charter.  Such resolution, however, was soundly defeated at the September 6^th, 1904, Regular Communication.  At this same September meeting the lodge voted to begin holding their meetings at the International Order of Odd Fellows (I.O.O.F.) hall, with the meeting night changed to the first Tuesday of the month.

            It is noted with interest that December 2^nd, 1913, the Trustees were instructed to confer with the I.O.O.F. lodge regarding the use of electric lights.

             On March 31^st, 1914, lodge was opened in a new location in the Raaz Block, lease from Valley Junction Realty Company.  New furnishings, including a piano, for the new hall had been purchased in the proceeding weeks.  Finance Committee reports in the ensuing years show the lodge subleased this new hall out to other organizations, including the Order of the Eastern Star, and the K.P. Lodge.

             In January, 1917, as a result of the efforts of Gnemeth Lodge, the Grand Lodge was invited to lay the cornerstone of the new Valley Junction High School. The actual laying of the cornerstone by Grand Lodge officers took place on January 13^th, 1917. Temple Commandery No. 4 of Des Moines served as escort.

             The third decade of the lodge’s existence is probably one of the most eventful periods.  On April 5^th, 1921, it was moved to appoint a building committee to secure a suitable location for the erection of a Masonic Temple in Valley Junction, Iowa. In October of the same year the building committee was instructed to buy a lot North of the Lutheran Church for $1,200.00.  In November, same year. The lodge instructed the building committee to incorporate and form a Masonic Temple Association.

            The year 1924 saw plans for building a new temple, and methods of financing it, proceeded at full speed.  Brother Charles Ashworth donated to the lodge a lot (where the temple now stands) in memoriam to his late brother, James Ashworth.  The November 4^th 1924, meeting reported the sales of the lot North of the Lutheran Church.

            The Building Committee reported in January of 1925 that all preliminary work for the building of the Temple was completed.  The actual construction followed soon and was culminated by the laying of the Cornerstone by the Grand Lodge Officers on August 14^th, 1925, and the dedication of the new Temple by Grand Lodge Officers on December 15^th, 1925.

            Gnemeth celebrated its 25^th anniversary on June 8^th 1926, and the records show we were host to 600 to 700 visitors who joined in the festivities.

            Many of the years following were hard years financially for many of our members.  There are many instances, from the time of the granting of our Charter, where the minutes have spoken of lodge charity for a member or his family.

            In the early morning hours of February 23^rd, 1946, a disastrous fire severely damaged our temple. On April 16^th,1946, plans were approved to rebuild it as a two story building.  During the planning and actual reconstruction period of many months that followed the fire, the I.O.O.F. lodge offered their facilities for our use, for which we were sincerely grateful.  The re-dedication of the building took place on May 4^th 1949, with the Grand Master and his officers officiating. Following the re-dedication an important feature of the evening was the burning of the mortgage.

             Gnemeth celebrated its 50^th anniversary on September 25^th, 1951, with a turkey dinner followed by  social activities.  One of the highlights of the evening was the awarding of a 60 year certificate to a member of the class initiated in 1901.

            Having served the lodge well, the Masonic Temple Association was dissolved by action of the lodge as of December 31^st, 1964.

       On June 6^th, 1976, the lodge celebrated its 75^th anniversary exactly 75 years to the day from when our Charter was granted.  It  included a dinner for members and their families, with other social activities.