Our History

On June 17, 1926 twenty Master Masons met in the Coral Gables Construction
Company building in order to discuss forming a Masonic Lodge. Not long after on June 22, 1926 the first meeting aimed at planning for this endeavor was held at the Coral Gables Country Club with Harry S. Lord presiding. After several meetings definite steps were taken on December 9, 1926 when twenty Master Masons in the Coral Gables area signed a petition for dispensation from The Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free & Accepted Masons of Florida requesting the formation of Coral Gables Lodge. Their request was granted by the Most Worshipful Grand Master of Masons in Florida, Cary B. Fish, on January 7, 1927. On January 15, 1927 District Deputy Grand Master Cecil Watson called a meeting to be held on the 2nd floor of the University Baptist Church at 3306 Ponce de Leon. At this meeting, Coral Gables Lodge U.D. was opened under dispensation with Harry S. Lord elected as Worshipful Master.

The first meeting of Coral Gables Lodge U.D. was held on January 27, 1927 in 217 Avenue Palermo. Eight petitions for the Entered Apprentice Degree were received and the Lodge was on its way. On February 21, 1927 the first Entered Apprentice Degree was held with six candidates being initiated. The first Fellow Craft Degree followed soon after on March 21, 1927 with five Brothers being passed. The first Master Mason Degree was held subsequently on May 5, 1927 with four Brothers being raised to the Sublime Degree.

On March 19, 1928 the Lodge met for the purpose of electing the officers for the remainder of the year and petition the Grand Lodge of the State of Florida for a Charter authorizing them to work as a regular Masonic Lodge. The meeting was attended by Deputy Grand Master Fred W. Delaney and Past District Deputy Grand Master Cecil Watson. Finally on May 8th, 1928 with the Most Worshipful Grand Master of Masons in Florida, Leroy Brandon, presiding, Coral Gables Lodge No. 260 was instituted. For their monumental assistance in procuring a Charter, on May 21, 1928 Leroy Brandon and Fred W. Delaney were made honorary life members. At the time, Lodge annual dues were $6 and Degree fees were $50.

Soon after its founding, major disasters began to cripple the Lodge. On the eve of the Great Depression economic conditions in South Florida had already been on the decline because of the Mediterranean fruit fly invasion which caused the citrus industry to suffer, then on September 17, 1928 the third deadliest hurricane in United States history, the Category 5 Okeechobee Hurricane, battered South Florida causing 2,500 deaths and $25 million dollars in damage. The damage to the 217 Avenue Palermo building was considerable and so the Lodge moved to 2309 Ponce de Leon on September 24, 1928. At the time, the Lodge had 150 members in its rolls.

As the Great Depression roared across the United States, on June 11, 1930 the Bank of Coral Gables failed and without agencies like today’s FDIC insuring deposits the Lodge had lost most of its funds. With membership being cut down to 75 members due to many Brothers having to move away in search of economic opportunities, the Lodge became indebted to the Grand Lodge and began to fall behind on rent payments. By 1935 the Lodge once again had to move, this time to 2334 Ponce De Leon.

In the Summer of 1935 the storm clouds began to dissipate, the worst was over for the Lodge, with conditions in South Florida slowly improving and membership seeing a gradual uptick, the Coral Gables Fraternal Association was founded on July 19, 1935 with the intention of building a permanent Masonic building for the Lodge. The location was chosen and a lot was purchased on 41 Valencia Avenue. In 1938, the Lodge reached a deal with the Grand Lodge to pay 10% of its debt each year until it was fully repaid and moved to 800 Ponce De Leon which would be the last place it gathered until finally moving into its permanent home.

The following two decades saw the Lodge and Freemasonry through its modern Golden Age. With the economic boom which followed the end of the Great Depression and World War II, Lodge membership skyrocketed to 455 members and the Coral Gables Fraternal Association at last acquired enough money to finance the erection of the Lodge’s current home. In the Spring of 1954 the decision was reached to begin construction, on September 2, 1954 the Sparks Construction Company broke ground. The building’s cornerstone was laid with Most Worshipful Grand Master of Masons in Florida James L. Mixon serving as Acting Grand Master during the Cornerstone Laying Ceremony on December 4, 1954.

Coral Gables Lodge No. 260 moved into its final home on 41 Valencia Avenue on January 17, 1955. Its walls have witnessed over 60 years of Brotherly Love and affection. The building has seen generations of Brothers tread its hallowed ground and warmly embraced visitors from all over the world. Today it is the home of a diverse group of men and Masons, it serves as a beacon for those seeking that narrow path which many great men have walked in ages past.