Avery Lodge # 493

Located in Historic Old Hilliard, Ohio

Avery Lodge No. 493
A Brief History

     On May 31, 1871, a petition to establish a new Masonic Lodge at Hilliard, Ohio, was presented to Urbania Lodge No. 311, signed by Brothers Davidson, Hatton, White, and Avery.  The motion was defeated.  Two additional petitions were presented in 1871 and both were defeated as well.  Finally, on July 9, 1873, a petition was presented to Urbania Lodge, calling the new lodge Avery Lodge, signed by Brother seeds of Lockbourne Lodge No. 232 and Brothers Avery, Glover, Black, and Hatton of Urbania Lodge.  As Brother Avery was the oldest of the group, it is assumed that the Lodge was named Avery in his honor.  The motion passed, and in August, the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Ohio, F. & A. M., was petitioned for dispensation to open a Lodge of Masons in Hilliard, Ohio. 

     On August 19, 1873, the M.W. Grand Master Asa Battin granted the petition and named J.T. Black as W.M., Wm. Hatton and S.W., and J.E. Moling as J.W.  In due form, the balance of the officer stations were filled, and those officers server until the official Charter was granted.  On October 21, 1874, the Lodge was granted a Charter, and constituted a Lodge of Master Masons, by name and title of Avery Lodge No. 493, F. & A. M.  At the time of Charter, there were 15 Brothers, 4 of which had petitioned for membership during the period of dispensation.

     The first meeting place for the Lodge was in a building on the northwest corner of Main St, where the railroad tracks crossed.  The Lodge built the second story, and used it as a Lodge room until July 1919.  In December 1918, the Lodge purchased the property, which is their current location from the Local Board of Education.  The four-room school building was remodeled and converted for the use of Masonry during the spring and summer of 1919.  The building was dedicated to the use of Masonry on July 1, 1919.  At that time, membership in the Avery Lodge stood at 101 Brethren.

      Membership in Avery Lodge has never been exceedingly high, but the following listings of the membership rosters show steady increases over the years.  Rosters for the years 1943, 1961, 1969, and 1972 show 143, 269, 393, and 416 Brethren respectively.  There are currently 381 Brethren in membership, and a building fund is in place to purchase land for the purpose of erecting a new Temple in the future.