EARLIEST HISTORY OF PALATINE, ILLINOIS
About 1835, Mr. George Ela is believed to have been the first "settler" to build a cabin and clear a field in the area known as Deer Grove in Township 42, Illinois. In 1838 Clarinda Cody became the first "Non Native American child" born in the area, where letters were delivered three times a week by stage coach to the address: "Salt Creek Precinct, Chicago for Settlers living in Deer Grove, Illinois".

On April 2, 1850 the "principal men" of Township 42, Illinois met to name the Township, as required by the new law passed in 1850 by the Illinois Legislature. The name chosen was Palatine, after a City in New York State, where one of the men had lived prior to moving to the Township.

In 1853, when the Illinois and Wisconsin Railroad (now the Illinois and North Western Railroad) began to move west of what is now the town of Arlington Heights, Il., Palatine Township won a competition to have a "side track" built to their small unincorporated village.

In June of 1855 the "side track" opened for daily freight use, followed in December by passenger service as well as the freight service. Also in 1855, a Train Depot was built and opened in the small Village of Palatine, in Palatine Township. A train depot has therefore been in operation in Palatine since that date in various locations in the village, including the newly built depot that was opened in 2003.

Prior to 1859, there was no Masonic Lodge or Masonic Hall in or around Palatine, IL. The men who were Masons in the area had to walk to Wheeling, IL. to attend Masonic meetings at Vitruvius Lodge. To aid the Masons in their walking, the Masonic Meetings were always held on a night when the moon was full.

BRIEF HISTORY OF THE FIRST PALATINE MASONIC HALL 1859-1903

On January 15, 1859 eight Masons from the area, met to form a Masonic Lodge in Palatine.
As a result of their organizing meeting, Palatine Masonic Lodge #314 A.F. & A.M. was formed and the first meeting was held on February 1, 1859. The early meetings of the lodge were held on the third floor of a building located on the southwest corner of Wilson and Bothwell Streets.

A few years later, the lodge members purchased the third floor of that building for $800.00. and changed their meeting night to; " The Saturday on or before the full moon, to accommodate the brethren of the area on their walk to lodge" . On December 31, 1881, the members of Palatine Lodge voted to purchase the lower half of the building in which they had been meeting for the last twenty two years, for "$500.00 or as much less as possible", thus making the members of Palatine Lodge the owners of the entire building. Both Palatine Masonic Hall buildings have therefore been totally owned by members of Palatine Lodge #314 members since January 1,1882.

One of the unique things about the first Palatine Masonic Hall was that the brethren of the Masonic Lodge had the entire ceiling of the Lodge painted to represent the "canopy of heaven".

In 2004 when the former Masonic Hall building was being renovated, the painted ceiling was found under many coats of paint, and some members of the Lodge were able to take see the original ceiling and take some pictures of the original artwork.

In 1884, the lower part of the first Palatine Masonic Hall was leased by the Lodge, to Hunneberg and Kuebler Barbers for $100.00 per year. The records of the Lodge show that the taxes on the building for that year were $18.35.

For forty-six years, from February of 1859 to March of 1905, the Palatine Masonic Hall was located at Wilson and Bothwell Streets, where the original building remains today, as the newly renovated and remodeled Lamplighter Inn. The building is the oldest commercial building in continuous use in the Village of Palatine.

On March 19, 1866 the small Village of Palatine, IL. became an incorporated village. In 1893 the Palatine Chapter of Royal Arch Masons #206 was organized and began operations in the Palatine Masonic Hall as: "renters with one year of free rent, and that they should furnish their own fuel and light and keep the hall neat and clean". Prior to that date, any Mason who wanted to add to their degrees, traveled to either Elgin or Chicago for their work.

HISTORY OF THE SECOND PALATINE MASONIC HALL -1904 TO THE PRESENT

On January 17, 1903 the members of Palatine Lodge #314 voted to dispose of the Masonic Hall at Wilson and Bothwell Streets.

On May 16th, 1903 the members of Palatine Lodge voted to purchase the land on the northwest corner of PlumGrove and Chicago Ave. (now PlumGrove and Palatine) for the purpose of erecting a new Masonic Hall in accordance with Masonic location and construction guidance. The land for the new Masonic Hall was at that time the site of Meyer's Horse Stable. This was the location where the farmers left their horses as they visited The Meyer Tavern, which was located in the downstairs of the Meyer Home. The Meyer Tavern was located across the street from the Meyer Stable. Mrs. Henry Meyer was paid $400.00 for the new site of the Palatine Masonic Hall.

Also on May 16, 1903, the members of Palatine Lodge voted to sell the first Palatine Masonic Hall for $1600.00 and put the dollars into 32 shares of stock to begin the process of financing the construction of the new Masonic Hall. The members of Palatine Lodge also on that date, formed The Palatine Masonic Lodge Building Association, as the holding company for the purpose of building and operating the new Hall. The cost of the construction and early operation of the current Masonic Hall was budgeted at $5,000.00, for which, one hundred $50.00 shares were to be sold.
On June 6, 1903, Brother Matthew Richmond, Treasurer of Palatine Lodge, bought 32 shares of stock for $1600.00 with the stipulation that " the money could only be used to help in the construction of the new Masonic building, of which a portion would be a suitable and permanent assembly room for the Lodge".

On June 4, 1904, Palatine Lodge established a "Committee of the Officers of the Lodge to be constituted as a Committee on the building of a new Masonic Hall Building".
On June 18, 1904, the members voted that "only Masons could be shareholders in the new Masonic Hall", and the members were asked to begin buying shares. A number of those Shares are still in the Safe of Palatine Lodge.

The new Masonic Hall was designed and constructed by Walters and Gobel of The City of Chicago, with Mr. Charles Gobel, as the "active architect". The building was to be operated by the members of the Palatine Masonic Fraternity, which it has been from its inception.

On November 5, 1904, a committee from Palatine Lodge was formed to purchase a cornerstone for the new Hall, which was to be used in the November 20, 1904 dedication.

On November 19, 1904 in accordance with Masonic Ritual, an Occasional Grand Lodge was convened and a Masonic Cornerstone Ceremony was held at the construction site of the new "Palatine Masonic Lodge Association Building". The ceremony took place on the corner of PlumGrove and Chicago (now Palatine) Avenues, with the officers of Palatine Lodge acting as pro-tem Grand Lodge Officers. The Worshipful Master of Palatine Lodge, Brother Robert Mosser, acted as proxy for MW Brother William Wright, Grand Master of Masons in Illinois. As part of the ceremony, the following items were put in the Time Capsule that was then placed "in the Cornerstone" and "Not to be opened until November 20, 2004": A Roster of the Past Masters, Officers and members of Palatine Lodge #314 and Palatine #206 Royal Arch Masons; a copy of the Grand Lodge and Palatine Lodge By Laws; a Mark Masters Penny; a silver dollar, 50 cent, 25 cent, nickel, and a penny of the time; A Roster of Officers and Directors of The Palatine Masonic Lodge Association; A copy of the Enterprise Register and The Palatine Review, News Papers of November 18, 2004; The Business cards of the Architect and Contractor of the new building; and the Business cards of the merchants of the Village and members of Palatine Lodge.

It was decided that the new lodge would meet on the first and third Saturdays at 8:00 PM in April to October and at 7:30 PM in November to March, to take advantage of the full moon. The dues were to be $3.00 a year, paid in advance for the year.

On April 29, 1905, an Occasional Grand Lodge was again convened. This time the ceremony was held in the "banquet room" (downstairs area) of the newly completed "Palatine Masonic Lodge Association Building" for the purpose of dedicating the new Masonic Hall. Brother R.R. Jumpolis, was appointed by the Most Worshipful Grand Master of Illinois to serve as "special proxy of the Most Worshipful Grand Master, Brother William Wright and therefore as the Grand Master for the event". The Officers of Palatine Lodge served as pro-tem Grand Officers for the dedication ceremony of the new Palatine Masonic Hall.
To insure continuity and tradition, many items from the original Masonic Hall were transferred to the second Hall. Among the items that are still in use are two officers Chairs that were originally used in the first Masonic Hall.

On August 5, 1905, Palatine Lodge #314 voted to lease space from the Palatine Lodge Association in the new building, for $100 dollars per year to be paid semi-annually.

It is of importance to note, that on October 5, 1943, the Title of the current Palatine Masonic Hall, was transferred by The Palatine Masonic Lodge Building Association to The Palatine Masonic Lodge #314 A.F & A.M.

MASONIC GROWTH IN PALATINE, 1904 TO THE PRESENT

In March of 1907, Palatine Chapter #585, of The Order of The Eastern Star (O.E.S.), was instituted by The Grand Chapter of The Order of The Eastern Star of Illinois, in the newly erected Masonic Hall.

Earlier in the year, The Palatine O.E.S. Chapter had been organized in the home of Mrs. Burlingame at Wood and Bothwell Streets, where her original home still stands.

As the youth of our Nation are a very important part of Masonic teaching, The Palatine Masonic Hall was home during the 1960's to all of the various youth groups which have Masonic roots, such as: DeMolay for boys, Boy Builders for boys, Jobs Daughters for girls and Rainbow for girls. Unfortunately, none of the groups are still active in the Palatine Masonic Hall.

Over the years several other Masonic Lodges and Masonic Bodies, such as the Order of the Amaranth, and others have held their meetings in one of the two Palatine Masonic Halls. Some of those lodges and bodies either left to meet in another Masonic Hall as a new lodge or a new Masonic body or merged with another Masonic lodge or body, to become a part of that unit.

In addition, several Lodges have been given permission by Palatine Lodge to form a unit in the surrounding geographic area, such as DesPlaines Lodge on November 4, 1905 and several others in the surrounding communities.

Of the newly formed lodges and other bodies, Arlington Heights Masonic Lodge and The Arlington Heights Chapter of The Order of the Eastern Star met in the current Palatine Masonic Hall for several years, before moving to their own Temple. In November of 1961, the new Masonic Temple in Arlington Heights, Ill. was dedicated, and the two Masonic bodies moved into their own new home.

In 1991, the York Rite Masonic bodies which had been meeting in Elgin, IL. had to relocate when the Masonic Building in which they had been meeting was sold. These bodies were L.L. Munn Chapter of Royal Arch Masons # 96, Cryptic Council #46, and Bethel Commandary #26. These bodies asked permission to come to Palatine and moved into the Masonic Hall. These three bodies are an active part of the current Palatine Masonic Hall.
Square and Compasses Lodge # 1174, began in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, in 1976 with 60 Masons meeting in the basement of a local bank. After meeting in several different locations in their existence, including several years in the current Palatine Masonic Hall; Square and Compasses Lodge members voted to merge with Palatine Lodge #314 in 2003. As a result of that merger, which was the first lodge to merge with Palatine Lodge in its 145-year history, the combined lodge showed a membership on September 1, 2004, of 226 active members.

NEW LOOK AND RENOVATIONS FOR THE PALATINE MASONIC HALL

In 1961, the brethren of the current Palatine Masonic Hall voted to renovate the building by replacing the roof, and transforming the original brick facade to a more modern look by painting the bricks (gray), and the shutters and trim (white). In addition, the inside of the Hall was renovated by having it completely repainted, and adding new floor coverings, a new kitchen and bathrooms, as well as completely redecorating the Lodge room.

In the intervening years, in addition to normal routine exterior painting and interior painting, the members have added to the building several new roofs, a chair lift, a new furnace, window unit air conditioners and many other modern ammoniates.

In 2003 and 2004, additional renovations were undertaken to insure the continued updated appearance of the Hall prior to the 100th anniversary of the building. Among those items were: new outside signage; painting the outside of the Hall (blue) with (white) shutters and trim; repairing and painting the walls of the lodge; painting the dining room, kitchen and bathrooms; the installation of a new sound system and constructing a ramp to the front porch of the Hall.

In addition, in preparation for the 100th Anniversary of the placing of the original cornerstone of the current Masonic Hall, a scale model of the building was constructed by Brother Eugene Fifielski, PM which was used in the annual July 4th Village of Palatine Community Days Parade, in a display at the Palatine Public Library, and will be used in the Public Rededication Cornerstone Ceremony, to be held on November 20, 2004 at 2:00 PM, at the Cotillion Banquet Hall in Palatine, Illinois.

The current "blue building at Palatine and PlumGrove Roads" may be 100 years old, but the brethren have worked hard to keep it up to date and modern.

MEMBERSHIP INVOLVEMENT IN THE COMMUNITY OF PALATINE

Throughout the 144 years of operation of the two Masonic Halls in Palatine, Illinois, its members have been active in the life and growth of the Village of Palatine.

Its members have been involved in the areas of: education, government, health, law, real estate, architecture, banking, computer technology, mortuary science, business, science, mercantile and commerce as well as the crafts and trades of the Village of Palatine and Metropolitan Chicago, to name just a few areas.
In addition, the members of the various Masonic Bodies, which meet in the building, have been key members of the many voluntary, church, civic, and professional organizations and groups, which have made the Village of Palatine such a vital force in Metropolitan Chicago.

One piece of interesting history, is that one of the members, Brother George Bergesser, who was the Organist of Palatine Lodge in the early 1960's, was also a lawyer and part of the team who helped put Al Capone in prison for tax evasion.

One of the members of Palatine Lodge and his wife, prior to their deaths in 2003, established an Estate Fund to provide funding to several churches, animal organizations, health related organizations, and also to The Palatine Masonic Lodge. Their money was designated to assist in maintaining these organizations as a viable force in the community. The members of Palatine Lodge wish to thank the Adeline Zeidler Estate Fund for its assistance in not only assisting our lodge, but also for the services which their funds will provide for the community.

THE COMMUNITY INVOLVMENT OF THE TWO MASONIC HALLS

TOWN HALL MEETINGS:
From 1855 to 1860, the original Palatine Train Depot allowed its small waiting room located next to the main depot building, to be used one day a week for Palatine Village Town Meetings.

In 1860 when the Palatine Masonic Lodge moved into the building at Wilson and Bothwell, the members of the lodge voted to allow their area to be used one day per week for Palatine Village Town Meetings. However, after a few years, the brethren of the lodge felt it necessary to charge the new village government $10.00 rent for each day the building was used. The village officials in turn decided to transfer the weekly Town Meetings to a hall adjoining one of the taverns in town, where the rent was free, because of the business attracted to the tavern. However, the records of the history of the Village of Palatine show that the original Palatine Masonic Hall served the Village of Palatine as the home of its weekly Town Meetings prior to the incorporation of the village.

PUBLIC EDUCATION:
In addition to providing a home for the Palatine Village Town Meetings in the years after 1860, the Palatine Masonic Hall also was used as space to house public education classes for one of the early Public School Districts in the Village during the Civil War Period.

In 1850, there were eight School Districts in Palatine with 409 children enrolled in the public school system. In 1860 the first school was built in Palatine, which was located at the present site of a current school on Wood Street.

The first building was a one-story frame building that was torn down and rebuilt in 1869 as a two- story building, then enlarged to be a four-story building.

The school building remained in that configuration until 1912 when it was replaced by the present building.
During the Civil War Period, the one-story building became overcrowded, and the older children of the area held their classes in the original Palatine Masonic Hall. The children continued to attend school in the Masonic Hall until the new two-story Public School Building was erected in 1869.

Public School education is an important part of Masonic thinking. Therefore, it was a logical part of Masonic teaching for the early owners of the Masonic Hall to offer its space to the Village when it needed public school classroom space in those critical war years.

PALATINE ATHLETIC CLUB:
To assist in paying off the bonds issued to pay for the construction of the current Masonic Hall to its members, as well as to continue be a part of the village's social and health programs; the members of the Masonic Hall built the new building with the Masonic Lodge on the second floor and with space to be available to rent on the first floor of the two story building.

From the beginning in 1905, the first floor was rented to the Palatine Athletic Club, which was made up of many of the members of the Masonic bodies and other members of the Village. The Athletic Club installed in the new building, in addition to its meeting room, a two lane bowling alley, which was said to be the first one in the area, outside the City of Chicago.

PALATINE PUBLIC LIBRARY:
The Village of Palatine has had a Library within its borders since September 8, 1923. In that year, the village opened its first one room facility in the rear of The H.C. Matthei Store with 300 books to borrow.

The Library remained at its first location until December of 1946 when it moved to 55 Wood Street where it remained until 1951.

In 1951 the Library moved to "larger quarters" on the first floor of the current Masonic Hall. In this larger facility, the Library was able to be open every day except Sunday and Monday from 2:00 PM to 8:00 PM with approximately 6,000 volumes to lend to an annual circulation of 28,000 borrowers.

The Palatine Library remained at the Masonic Hall until June 8, 1958 when it moved to its next location in the remodeled and renovated Ost House.

The Palatine Library has since moved twice more to 500 N. Benton and now in its current location on North Court. However, there are still many people who visit the current Masonic Hall and tell us, "I remember when I came here to get my first library book".

In November of 2004, The Palatine Library hosted an exhibit of the items taken from the Time Capsule removed from the Cornerstone of the Palatine Masonic Hall, along with the Cornerstone itself, a scale model of the current Masonic Hall, and many historical Masonic items.

LOCAL SHOPPERS NEWSPAPER:
When the Palatine Library moved out of the Masonic Hall, in 1958, the space was divided, and half of the space was taken over by a local shoppers newspaper called the LEADER, and the other half by The Christian Science Reading Room of Palatine, where both remained for many years.

RELIGIOUS GROUPS-CHURCHES AND OTHER:

While Masonry is not a religion, its tenets and values of Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth are the bases for a strong moral foundation within its members.

As such, the members of the various bodies that meet in the Palatine Masonic Hall have always been strong supporters of all religions.

From the beginning, both Masonic Halls have been available to provide meeting space for various religious denominations coming to Palatine, and needing space to meet until they were able to move into their own facilities.

LUTHERAN:
In the years 1868 to 1870, when the first Palatine Masonic Hall was still very new, the Masons of Palatine Lodge #314 provided space for services every Sunday to the newly organized congregation of The Palatine Immanuel Lutheran Church. The members of the new church met in the Masonic Hall until they were able to purchase a building of their own in 1870.

METHODIST:
The First United Methodist Church of Palatine had its beginnings in 1835 when a "Circuit Rider" Preacher was assigned to "come to the Deer Grove Settlers on a routine basis".

The first Methodist Church Building was built in 1858 on the present location of the current church on Plum Grove Road, which is located two blocks north of the present Masonic Hall, and two blocks east of the original Masonic Hall.

In 1895, while a new brick church was being built for the congregation at that location, the members of the First Methodist Church met in the original Palatine Masonic Hall from July to October, after which the congregation was then able to move into its new building.

In addition to providing space for the church in 1895, there has been a long history of cooperation between members of the Palatine Masonic Lodge and the Palatine Township Food Pantry that is housed in the basement of the First Methodist Church. At least four times a year, members of the Palatine Masonic Lodge #314, provide many pounds of food to the Township Food Pantry, Northwest Suburban Hispanic Ministries for use throughout the community.

EPISCOPALIAN:
In June of 1947, The Mission of Saint Philips Episcopal Church was given space in the Palatine Masonic Hall to hold it first services in the Village of Palatine.
The members met each week in the Palatine Masonic Hall for both church and Sunday school services for the next two years.

During those two years, The Mission Church continued to grow, until in March of 1949, the new congregation was able to purchase its own building and move into their own facility.

BAPTIST:
The South Baptist Chapel of Arlington Heights was a small group of members who met in The South School of Arlington Heights, Ill. in August of 1955.

In October of 1955 a new minister came to the Chapel, and on February 1, 1956 he asked permission to relocate to the Palatine Masonic Hall. When it relocated to Palatine, the South Baptist Chapel also changed its name to The First Baptist Church of Palatine.

In 1958 the renamed First Baptist Church of Palatine acquired three acres of land in Palatine. On May 16, 1959, after little more than three years of using The Palatine Masonic Hall for their services, the members of The First Baptist Church of Palatine dedicated an Auditorium and Sunday school, and moved into their new home.

CHRISTIAN SCIENCE READING ROOM:
When the Palatine Public Library moved to its new facility in 1958, the First Church of Christ Scientist of Palatine asked permission to establish a Christian Science Reading Room in half of space on the first floor of the Palatine Masonic Hall. The Reading Room remained in that location into the 1960's.

OTHER COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT:
In addition to the Masonic Bodies, Organizations and Churches, which have been outlined above, there have been many other small community groups, which have used the facilities of both Masonic Halls on a limited or short term basis over the past 144 years.

Several of the other tenets have been: The Good Sam Travel Club, a local real estate agency, The Palatine Senior Center, and the Palatine Election Board Polling Precinct, to name but a few.

THE FUTURE OF THE CURRENT PALATINE MASONIC HALL:
The current Palatine Masonic Hall is the oldest non-residential and non-commercial building in continuous use in the Village of Palatine, and as such is on the Palatine Historical Register. The first Palatine Masonic Hall, while no longer a Masonic facility, is still located at its original location, and is the oldest commercial building in continuous use in the Village of Palatine.

The history of the two Masonic Halls and their involvement in the life and growth of the Village of Palatine will forever be intertwined.

THE CORNERSTONE AND TIME CAPSULE

On November 20, 2004 the original Tin Time Capsule that was placed in the Cornerstone of the Palatine Masonic hall on November 20, 1904 will be replaced by a new Stainless Steel Time Capsule and filled with important Masonic items from 2004 and a few items from 1904.

This ceremony will be conducted at a Cornerstone Ceremony held as part of an Occasional Grand Lodge convened by the Most Worshipful Grand Master of Masons in Illinois, Brother David W. Miller, and his Grand Lodge Officers. The Corner Stone Rededication Ceremony will be conducted at the Cotillion Banquet Hall in Palatine, Ill., followed by an Open House at the current 100-year-old Palatine Masonic Hall.

As part of the Cornerstone Ceremony the Grand Orator of the Grand Lodge will read the following list of items that will be placed into the new Time Capsule on November 20, 2004:

ITEMS
· A copy of the Standard Work of the Grand Lodge A.F. & A.M. of Illinois, used in 2004;
· The Official Monitor of The Grand Lodge A.F. & A. M. of Illinois, used in 2004;
· The three books of Masonic Catechism used in Illinois by new brethren in 2004;
· A copy of the Bylaws of Palatine Lodge, and a copy of the Constitution of the Grand Lodge A.F. & A.M. of Illinois from 1904 and also a copy of the Bylaws and Constitution from 2004;
· A listing of all Past Masters of Palatine Lodge from the beginning of the Lodge in 1859;
· A listing of all current members of Palatine Lodge #314, as of Sept. 30, 2004;
· A listing of all living Past Masters of Palatine Lodge and living Past Masters who came to Palatine Lodge from other lodges and affiliated with Palatine Lodge as of Sept. 30, 2004;
· A United States Mint Proof Set of coins minted in 2004; and selected coins from 1904;
· An historical penny from The Palatine Chapter # 206, R.A.M from 1904 and one from 2004;
· Business Cards and information cards from the members of Palatine Lodge, who were active in the Lodge in 1904 and also from 2004;
· A copy of the History of The Two Palatine Masonic Halls, which was written in 2004, to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the Palatine Masonic Hall;
· The front pages of the three local papers in the greater Chicago Metropolitan Area, printed on Veterans Day, 11-11-04; The Chicago Tribune, The Chicago Sun Times, and the Daily Herald.
· Pictures from 2004 of: The removal of the Cornerstone on October, 11, 2004; The opening of the Time Capsule of Palatine Lodge on October, 12, 2004; The Masonic Hall in 2004; A picture of
· the scale model of the Masonic Hall and Time Capsule; & assorted other pictures from the year.
· A copy of the Program for the Installation of Officers for 2005, which was held on 11-07-04;
· A copy of the Program of the Cornerstone Ceremony and Luncheon held on 11-20-04 and one of the Lucite mementos given to all guests at the Luncheon and Ceremony.

The new Time Capsule is not to be opened until November 20, 2104 when it will be for the members of Palatine Lodge #314 to write the next segment of the story of the current or next Palatine Masonic Hall, and it's place in the history of the Village of Palatine during the years 2004 to 2104. Only time will tell what the history of the next one hundred years will be for the building where Masons in Palatine have called their "home" since November 20, 1904.

The Historical Committee of Palatine Lodge #314