CRESTVIEW — Brothers from a local Masonic lodge have influenced local progress, education and the economy for 130 years and pledge to remain positive influences on the city’s future.
Thursday evening the lodge’s long and prominent position was recognized with the Crestview Historic Preservation Board’s third historic marker. It was the second Free and Accepted Masons lodge to receive the recognition.
“The Crestview Historic Preservation Board thought it was very fitting to honor Concord Lodge No. 50 F&AM during the city’s 100th anniversary, since the history of the lodge and the city of Crestview is so deeply entwined,” board president Ann Spann said.
“The Concord Lodge predates the city by 30 years,” she said. “It played an important role in the formation of Crestview over the years.”
DISTINGUISHED BROTHERS
“Many distinguished citizens are, were and continue in the making of the history of Crestview as members of Concord Lodge No. 50,” Worshipful Master Chester Willis said.
Granted its charter on Jan. 23, 1886, the lodge was originally a two-story wooden building located alongside the Yellow River Railroad line—today’s Industrial Drive—where the Garden of Memories cemetery is now.
When the Crestview Community School burned down, the Masons welcomed classes into their lodge, which itself burned down in December 1916.
In 1919 a new lodge opened in the building that currently houses S.E.A.S. Engineering on the north end of Main Street at U.S. Highway 90.
71 YEARS ON MAIN STREET
It, too, was originally wooden, but was later clad in brick to match nearby prominent civic and commercial buildings that included the original Okaloosa County courthouse, which it faced, the Rice Building and the First Presbyterian Church.
Concord Lodge remained at the Main Street location 71 years until building its current lodge on Garden Street in 1990.
“The lodge chose to place the marker at the original building and (building owner) Kermit George was pleased to work with us to place the marker there,” Spann said.
The Historic Preservation Board has placed two previous markers recognizing local sites’ historic importance and cultural significance.
The 1904 J.R.L. Conyers Lodge No. 364 F&AM PHA, marker was placed June 12, 2012, and Old Bethel Cemetery received a marker on Nov. 20, 2013.
One of the city’s more unusual boards, the Historic Preservation Board, composed of citizen volunteers, was formed in 2001 and is tasked with preserving and remembering Crestview’s past.
“Board members are appointed by the mayor and City Council,” board President Ann Spann said. “The board does independent fundraisers that we use toward historic preservation projects and historic markers.”
One of the board’s first accomplishments was preserving the historic Alatex Building from demolition for a proposed parking lot.
“It has become the centerpiece of our historic district and now houses the Florida A&M University school of pharmacy,” Spann said.
Spann, a Crestview native who is also the director of the Baker Block Museum, said now that the board has mounted its third historic marker, it is working on recognition for several more historic sites.
The board recently received rights to “Crestview: The Forkland” from its authors, historians Betty Curenton and Claudia Patten. The board has republished the comprehensive history book with a special Crestview Centennial Celebration cover.
“We work to preserve historical structures as well as historic traditions in Crestview,” Spann said. “Our service to the board is very much a labor of love.”
CRESTVIEW HISTORIC PRESERVATION BOARD
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: 130 years of service honored