Verulam No. 268
Grand Lodge of A.F. & A.M. of Canada in the Province of Ontario
90 Bolton St. Bobcaygeon, ON
K0M1A0
Meetings Every 3rd Friday, 8:00pm.
Closed July and August.
Official Visit 2019Contact: verulam@victoriadistrict.com
About the Lodge:
In the late 1700’s, Bobcaygeon didn’t have a Lodge and many brethren
had to travel to surrounding towns. A dispensation
was granted on Feb.10, 1872 with the first meeting
held on March 4 of that year. The first candidate was Samuel Newman,
aged 25 years, a merchant from Fenelon Falls, who was initiated that night.
Verulam Lodge # 268 was issued a Charter under the date of July 11, 1872, with W.Bro. John Kennedy, its first Master. It is thought that the first meeting was held in a sample room in one of the nearby hotels in town. A suitable building on Mansfield St. was purchased and for a period of 20 years this is where the Lodge then met. Verulam’s first bylaws were written down and published in 1890.
About 1893 it was thought that the Lodge would be better located near the center of the village and quarters were obtained over Cain’s General Store on the corner of Boulton St. and Canal St. In 1904 The Bank of British North America, which had opened in the Iroquois Hotel, purchased the lot from Dan Cain and built the beautiful limestone bank building.
In September 14, 1913, fire destroyed the building along with all the records. The first meeting after the fire was held on Nov.9, 1913 in the True Blue Hall, now the Nesbitt’s Funeral Home located at 75 Boulton St., which was rented for $2.00 per night. There were 12 members present. The Bank of Montreal erected a building at the site to replace the one destroyed in the fire.
After rebuilding and refurnishing the old site, the newly renovated lodge room over the bank held it’s first meeting on July 2, 1915. Member’s fees were raised from $25 to $30. In the autumn of 1918 The Bank of British North America, which was run from London England was taken over by the Bank of Montreal. In 1922 the hope of possessing a Masonic Temple was heating up.
Again in 1927 the motion came up and a property on Bolton St. was purchased at a cost of $2,200. It was then rented out and kept up, but never occupied as a Lodge. It was sold on March 1, 1945.
On Feb. 23, 1940, a committee secured an option to study plans to convert the Kenosha Inn to a Masonic Hall located at the corner of Bolton and King Streets. It was originally built in 1871 from limestone quarried beside the river behind Case Manor by Scottish Masons, who were brought in especially for the work. The building had a rich heritage starting out as the Alexander Orr Temperance House, which later became the Kenosha Inn.
Due to a generous bequest by the late brother Sidney C. Cluxton, the lodge was able to purchase this beautiful stone building and on Feb.7, 1941 a motion was passed that the building be known as the Cluxton Memorial Masonic Building.
The first meeting in the new Temple was held on August 28,1941. It has survived since then. Plans are now underway to add an elevator and new stairs to the inside of the building to make it completely accessible to all.
2022 makes Verulam's sesquicentennial, celebrating 150 years of masonry.
A brief history and highlights of Verulam Lodge as compiled by W. Bro. Colin J. Croxon.
Verulam Lodge # 268 was issued a Charter under the date of July 11, 1872, with W.Bro. John Kennedy, its first Master. It is thought that the first meeting was held in a sample room in one of the nearby hotels in town. A suitable building on Mansfield St. was purchased and for a period of 20 years this is where the Lodge then met. Verulam’s first bylaws were written down and published in 1890.
About 1893 it was thought that the Lodge would be better located near the center of the village and quarters were obtained over Cain’s General Store on the corner of Boulton St. and Canal St. In 1904 The Bank of British North America, which had opened in the Iroquois Hotel, purchased the lot from Dan Cain and built the beautiful limestone bank building.
In September 14, 1913, fire destroyed the building along with all the records. The first meeting after the fire was held on Nov.9, 1913 in the True Blue Hall, now the Nesbitt’s Funeral Home located at 75 Boulton St., which was rented for $2.00 per night. There were 12 members present. The Bank of Montreal erected a building at the site to replace the one destroyed in the fire.
After rebuilding and refurnishing the old site, the newly renovated lodge room over the bank held it’s first meeting on July 2, 1915. Member’s fees were raised from $25 to $30. In the autumn of 1918 The Bank of British North America, which was run from London England was taken over by the Bank of Montreal. In 1922 the hope of possessing a Masonic Temple was heating up.
Again in 1927 the motion came up and a property on Bolton St. was purchased at a cost of $2,200. It was then rented out and kept up, but never occupied as a Lodge. It was sold on March 1, 1945.
On Feb. 23, 1940, a committee secured an option to study plans to convert the Kenosha Inn to a Masonic Hall located at the corner of Bolton and King Streets. It was originally built in 1871 from limestone quarried beside the river behind Case Manor by Scottish Masons, who were brought in especially for the work. The building had a rich heritage starting out as the Alexander Orr Temperance House, which later became the Kenosha Inn.
Due to a generous bequest by the late brother Sidney C. Cluxton, the lodge was able to purchase this beautiful stone building and on Feb.7, 1941 a motion was passed that the building be known as the Cluxton Memorial Masonic Building.
The first meeting in the new Temple was held on August 28,1941. It has survived since then. Plans are now underway to add an elevator and new stairs to the inside of the building to make it completely accessible to all.
2022 makes Verulam's sesquicentennial, celebrating 150 years of masonry.
A brief history and highlights of Verulam Lodge as compiled by W. Bro. Colin J. Croxon.
Verulam Lodge No. 268 Centennial
Saturday September 24, 2022
Verulam Lodge Celebrated of their 150th Sesquicentennial.
Verulam Lodge No.268 A.F. & A.M
150TH SESQUICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION
On the 24th September 2022 we held our 150th anniversary celebration at the Arts Barn in Bobcaygeon. There was about 120 masons and their spouses in attendance.
Verulam Lodge was honoured to have Past Grand Master Terence Shand, his daughter, R.W. Bro. Christopher Ray Handley District Deputy Grand Master of Victoria District and his lively mother join us during this auspicious time.
The night started by the head table consisting of present and past Grand Lodge masons being piped in to the room. The evening went well and was enjoyed by all.
Our Historian, W.Bro. Colin J. Croxon spoke on Verulam Lodges 150th history through the ages which was well received by all. The night was rounded off by R.W. Bro. William McKee who sang a half dozen songs in acapella.
A new Platinum Book depicting an abridged version of our history was published along with lapel pins for the membership.