Former Masonic Lodge - Claremore, OK
Posted by: 
hamquilter
N 36° 18.738 W 095° 36.916
15S E 265200 N 4021762
Located in downtown Claremore, this building once housed Masonic Lodge No. 53.
Waymark Code: WMNMJC
Location: Oklahoma, United States
Date Posted: 04/04/2015
Views: 3
The current home of the Will Rogers Masonic Lodge No. 53 is at 102 S. Cherokee in Claremore, but this building in downtown was the original masonic lodge.
This is a two-story painted brick building with four single-hung windows on the second level, and a corbelled slightly projecting brick cornice. On the upper wall, an indented area has the inscription: "A.F. & A.M. / 53". The building is currently occupied as a tack shop. The ground floor entrance is a single aluminum and glass door with sidelights. The original display windows have been covered over with a wall of glass brick. The large clerestory is exposed.
A granite plaque dedicated in 2012, and located at the Will Rogers Memorial Museum tells the story of Will Rogers and his connection with Lodge 53. It reads:
"Brother William Penn Rogers - The best loved man in the world /
Will petitioned Claremore Lodge No. 53, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, to become a member on January 21, 1905. On March 13, 1906 he became a Master Mason. On the 100th anniversary of his birth, Claremore Lodge No. 53 officially changed its name to Will Rogers Lodge No. 53 in commemoration of his service to mankind. Brother Rogers lived the Masonic values of honor, integrity, virtue, and compassion. There s no way to estimate the number of lives he touched..."