Cambridge: SECRET ORDERS: Masonic History; Grange History. The East Somerset County Register 1911-12 Compiled and Published by Chatto & Turner Auburn, Maine Clarence I. Chatto; Clair E. Turner page 46-49 SECRET ORDERS. MASONIC HISTORY. The Cambridge Lodge, No. 157, of Free and Accepted Masons, was organized June 7, 1870. A previous attempt had been made in 1867 to organize a lodge at Cambridge to be known as Island Lodge. This petition, however, was not granted by the Grand Lodge, but a second petition, signed by twenty-two Masons, was granted and the organization took place June 7, the following officers being appointed: William A. Herrick, W. M.; John W. Cole, S. W.; J. R. D. Morrill, J. W. The remaining officers were appointed by the W. M. The first meeting was held in a small building, which was fitted up as a temporary lodge room. The hall was constructed under the supervision of a board of trustees and purchased by the lodge Sept. 26, 1871. In the great storm of 1874, the hall sus-' tained considerable damage, it being unroofed and moved bodily backward for nearly ten feet. Measures were at once adopted to repair this damage. The Worshipful Masters since the founding of 'the lodge have been as follows: William A. Herrick, 1870-71; Andrew W. Ham, 1872-73; John W. Cole, 1874-75; F. D. R. Morrill , 1876; Andrew W. Ham, 1877; Horace Ham, 1878; Harry Wat- son, 1879; John H. Mitchell, 1880; Charles C. Hale, 1881-82; John W. Cole, 1883-84; John H. Mitchell, 1885; John W. Cole, 1886-87; P. R. Kimball, 1888-89; John W. Cole, 1890-91; An- drew H. Bailey, 1892-93; J. B. LaBree, 1894-95; Chas. A. Mitchell, 1896; J. B. LaBree, 1897; Walter H. Ring, 1898-1900; Melvin Knowles, 1901-04; Fred C. Stafford, 1905-06; Melvin W. Knowles, 1907; Ora V. Stafford, 1908-09; Dr. John 11. Wilson, 1910; Henry L. Watson, 1911. The lodge is very prosperous at present, the membership being about one hundred. In connection with the lodge of Masons is a flourishing Chapter of the Eastern Star, known as Oriental Chapter, No. 153, which was constituted in 1910, with 28 charter members. The membership is now 55. The present officers are: Mrs. F. J. Hersey, W. M.; Melvin W. Knowles, W. P.; F. J. Hersey, Sec. The meeting is held on the second Thursday of each Month. GRANGE HISTORY. Cambridge Grange was organized April 13, 1899, with 29 charter members, and has had a remarkably prosperous career, the membership at present being exactly 200. The organiza- tion took place in the old church which has since been rebuilt into a hall for the use of the grange. For some years the meetings were held in the lower Masonic Hall. The present hall was dedicated JuLy 6, 1911, and contains an assembly hall with a seating capacity of 200 people, and a fine dining hall, which is located above. J. B. LaBree was the first master of the Grange, and the other charter officers were: Alonzo Brown, Chaplain; Ora Quimby, Overseer; Addie Brown, Secretary; Ivis Brown, Lady Assistant Steward; Florence Wilder, Lecturer. Other mas- ters have been: Walter Ring, Sanford Bailey, Seth Ham and Andrew Ham. (c) 1998 Courtesy of Tina Vickery of Somerset Co, Maine USGenWeb Project & The Androscoggin Historical Society ************************************************* NOTICE: Printing the files within by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter information is included. Any other use, including copying files to other sites requires permission from the submitters PRIOR to uploading to any other sites. We encourage links to the state and county table of contents. The USGenWeb Project makes no claims or estimates of the validity of the information submitted and reminds you that each new piece of information must be researched and proved or disproved by weight of evidence. It is always best to consult the original material for verification.