Athens Review, Athens, Texas

Local News

Discussion

March 15, 2010

Local historic treasure recovered

Athens Masonic Lodge members retrieve items from their old building

Lauren Ricks The Athens Review

ATHENS — Athens Masonic Lodge No. 165 recovered tokens from its past — both large and small — from a building it had once called its own.

Lodge Secretary Randy Daniel, who is Athens’ mayor, said members retrieved two time capsules last Saturday with the permission of the Ginger Murchison Foundation, the current owner of the building.

The lodge, he said, met on that corner, the southwest corner of the Henderson County Courthouse square, for about 75 years.

Among the items pulled from the capsules were a 1894 half dollar, 1841, 1865 and 1892 dimes wrapped in a letter from Henderson County Judge W.R. Dickerson and community leader Tine Stirman, a Bible, 1892 and 1922 Proceedings of the Grand Lodge of Texas, 1892 Transactions for Royal Arch Masons, and an envelope postmarked from Goshen — a settlement founded near Eustace before the town relocated in 1898 to its present location.

Daniel said the capsules were placed inside two cornerstones of the old Masonic Lodge building in 1923.

“When they moved into the lodge building on the corner, they placed a new cornerstone in March of 1923,” he said. “At the same time they moved the old cornerstone to the new building.”

The old Masonic Lodge and two adjoining buildings in the central business district will be demolished to make room for the new Prosperity Bank building.

Daniel said the Athens Lodge met on that side of town for more than 120 years.

Lodge Senior Deacon Rob Risko said when the organization moved to its new building on U.S. Highway 175 in 1998, the old Masonic Lodge was sold to the Ginger Murchison Foundation.

“The Murchisons have a long tradition with our lodge,” he said.

Daniel said members have discussed retrieving the cornerstone since the move.

“In the last year-and-a-half, we had discussions about moving the cornerstones out to the new lodge,” Daniel said.

He said members will also recover a pressed tin roof with Masonic symbols from the old lodge.

Text Only
Local News
  • Youth, 19, hit and killed by truck

    The Henderson County Sheriff’s Office and Texas Department of Public Safety are looking into the death of a 19-year-old who was struck by a pickup on Farm-to-Market Road 317, Thursday night near the Leagueville store.
    Sheriff Ray Nutt said the victim, Jonathan Wade McRae, was one of four occupants of a Dodge one-ton dually that had stopped at the Exxon Station at about 10 p.m. 

    February 11, 2012

  • Churches to join with community at Cain Center

    Editor’s Note:  This story ran in the Friday edition with the incorrect time. The correct time of 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. is shown below.

    By Kathi Nailling
    Staff Writer
    Churches from across Henderson County will come together on Saturday, Feb. 11 at the Cain Center in Athens to provide services to all members of the Henderson County community. 
    “This all grew out of the community coming together during the nativity scene controversy in December,” said the Rev. Eric Graham from Sands Springs Baptist Church.

    February 11, 2012

  • 2-12 Country club cleaqnup.jpg Sprucing up the Country Club grounds

    With spring on the way, work crews at the Athens Country Club did some sprucing up, Thursday.  Pictured are workers who cut down dead branches and limbs from near the telephone lines along the 18th fairway.

    February 11, 2012 1 Photo

  • Attorney for former Seven Points mayor works out plea-bargain agreement

    Former Seven Points Mayor Joe Dobbs is breathing a little easier these days after his Tyler attorney worked out a plea-bargain agreement with the County and District Attorney’s office earlier this month.
    Dobbs is still being investigated by law enforcement agencies on a charge of abuse of official capacity while serving as mayor, with the result pending.

    February 11, 2012

  • 2-12 Athens debate winners.jpg They argued to the top

    The Athens High School Cross-examination Debate team argued its way to the top at district competition, Thursday, coach Nicole Yeakley said.
    At the event in Chandler, Juniors Chris O’Brien and Derek Davies took second place at tournament, and qualified for the state meet.
    Davies was also awarded “Top Speaker.” Yeakley said all of the students who went to Chandler competed well at the district level

    February 11, 2012 1 Photo

  • Kevin Pollock.jpg Truck traffic limited by Seven Points ordinance

    It was Thursday night that Seven Points City Council voted to adopt an ordinance promoting no truck traffic.
    The ordinance will prohibit truck drivers from taking their big rigs home for an extended period of time. According to acting Mayor Pro-tem Kevin Pollock, there are places on State Highway 334 that  truck drivers can park their trucks.

    February 11, 2012 1 Photo

  • 2-10 Rotary speaker.jpg Pirtle discusses his father with Rotarians

    Bill Pirtle told the Athens Rotary Club  Thursday that his father was not God, but to a boy growing up in Athens, there were similarities.
    Orval Pirtle was the first president of Henderson County Junior College, now known as Trinity Valley Community College. He held the position until 1972.

    February 11, 2012 1 Photo

  • Fair Park sound system gets AEDC boost

    The Athens Economic Corporation Board took formal action Thursday morning that should result in a stipend of up to $35,000   to match a Ginger Murchison Foundation matching grant for helping finance the Henderson County Regional Fair Park Complex new sound equipment.

    February 9, 2012

  • Scout big boy.JPG Scouts ready to knock doors locally

    Once again Athens will be seeing these Scouts Saturday as they knock on doors to collect food in BSA’s National Scouting for Food Drive. Shown are Tiger Cub Hunter Kaufman and Eagle Scout Michael McCluskey. Also shown is Sierra Kaufman, one of several American Heritage Girls who will be joining the boys in their efforts to collect food.  In the past few years, despite the economy, over 1,000 cans each year have been collected and donated to Henderson County’s Food Pantry.  So when you see these boys and girls in uniform this weekend, open your hearts and help feed the hungry in Henderson County.

    February 9, 2012 3 Photos

  • CROSS ROADS.jpg ‘National Red Wear on Friday’ day in Cross Roads

    It was last Friday that Cross Roads High School staff and students participated in “National Red Wear on Friday.” The first Friday in February was dedicated for heart-disease awareness.

    February 9, 2012 1 Photo