100 Year History of Williamstown Lodge # 166

Williamstown, New Jersey USA

At the end of the nineteenth century, the town of Williamstown was a growing and thriving community. Craftsmen were locating in and around town for employment in the local industries.

Many of these Masonic brethren who desired to attend lodge and have fellowship with their fellow workmen belonged to Lodges in surrounding towns and found it difficult to attend their lodge. They began to think of starting a local lodge, and began plans to form one in Williamstown.

On Tuesday October 19, 1893, in a local meeting hall  the brethren assembled to hold the first communication of Williamstown lodge under dispensation from the Grand Lodge of New Jersey.

The dispensation was delivered under the direction of MW James H. Durand

Grand Master, by RW Joseph W. Ewing DDGM to WB William H. Eldridge, the first Master of Williams town Lodge.

Tuesday February 27, 1894 was a historic communication, as Williamstown Lodge was constituted, the charter was received and the officers installed in their stations by MW James H. Durand Grand Master of Masons of New Jersey.

The lodge started to grow right from the beginning, as many new members were received in the first few years.

The lodge moved many times over the years, until in July of 1947 the officers were empowered to lease an old bank building. In March of 1957 the Grand Lodge authorized the lodge to buy the bank building. Settlement on the building was September 3, 1957. The lodge met for several years in the bank building until in 1983 it was decided the building was getting too costly to operate and we should look for a new building. In the spring of 1985 the building was sold, and Williamstown lodge made an agreement with Glassboro lodge to rent their building while planning for a new building. During the year 1991 while plans were being made for a new building, a church building in Williamstown became available. After due consideration by the members, and approval by Grand Lodge, our new lodge was purchased on August 28, 1991.

After a year of refurbishing by the members, Williams town lodge held it's first meeting under dispensation, in the new building on September 2, 1992.

On Tuesday October 24, 1992 the new building was dedicated by MW George S. Martin Grand Master of New Jersey.

On Tuesday June 7,1994 Williamstown Lodge celebrated it's 100th anniversary, the Grand Master Earl F. Sutton and many grand Lodge officers and visitors were in attendance.