Cobleskill Lodge #394 F & AM

A Brief History of Cobleskill Lodge #394 F & AM

   On December 25, 1855 a group of Schoharie county Free & Accepted Masons gathered at the Summit Lake House to organize a new masonic lodge in the area. A provisional warrent was issued by Grand Lodge to create Summit Lake Lodge #394. According to the minutes of that meeting the following Mason's names were submitted to Grand Lodge to serve as officers for this new lodge: Worshipful Master: Isaac Mann, Senior Warden: E.M. Comstock, Junior Warden: E.Boies, Secretary: T.B. Van Alstine, and Treasurer: John Westover.

Wor. Bro. Isaac Mann, first Master of Cobleskill Lodge #394 F & AM

   Meetings were known to be held there for a few months, but by April of 1856 the meeting location had been moved to the upper floor of Worshipful Master Mann's Bakery shop located on Main Street in Richmondville. At this point the Lodge name was changed to Richmondville Lodge #394. On June 24th, 1856 Grand Lodge granted a charter to Richmondville Lodge #394 and on July 10th a great public ceremony was held with parades, church services and the public installation of officers. Membership grew rapidly, taking in candidates from all over the county. On August 23rd, 1859 the meeting minutes indicate that they examined some Brothers who had petitioned Grand Lodge to form a new Lodge in Schoharie. In 1860 we find it recorded that a delegation was sent to Grand Lodge to procure a dispensation to hold meetings alternatelty in Cobleskill and Richmondville. In June of 1861 a petition was sent to Grand Lodge to move the Lodge to Cobleskill. The Lodge was actually moved to a house in Warnerville then owned by Martin Fries. On June 7th, 1862 Grand Lodge passed a resolution to change the name of the Lodge to Cobleskill #394. In June of 1864 Brothers of the Lodge petitioned to form a new Lodge in the town of Jefferson.

In July of 1865 the Lodge was moved again to a new building on the corner of North Grand Street and Chapel Street.

In February of 1867 Brothers of the Lodge petitioned to form a new Lodge in the village of Middleburgh. On November 8th, 1891, the Brothers of Cobleskill Lodge paid their last respects to their first Worshipful Master, Brother Isaac Mann.

At some point between 1891 and 1919 the Lodge moved again to the upper floor of the Courier House, now known as The Bull's Head Inn, and then later to the third floor of the Selkirk Harware Building on the corner of Union and Main. This floor no longer exists due to a fire in later years. Here is a picture of that building.

Past Masters of Cobleskill Lodge #394

Past Grand Lodge Officers from Cobleskill Lodge #394

   Seward H. Van Ness, Grand Director of Ceremonies, 1912

   George M. Palmer, District Deputy Grand Master, 1912

   George E. Fake, Grand Sword Bearer, 1927

   William C. Ruland, District Deputy Grand Master, 1933

   William H. Golding, Grand Representative to Paraiba, 1935

   Harry M. Greenwald, District Deputy Grand Master, 1942

   James L. Warner, Grand Representative to the District of Columbia, 1946

   Robert Northrup, Assistant Grand Lecturer, 1955

   William R. Packer, Grand Sword Bearer, 1957