History of 491  

               The Valley Mills Story

     During the year 1896 several Masons in the Hominy Valley area saw a need to have a Masonic Lodge in their community. They petitioned the Grand Lodge of North Carolina and set into motion the process to form a new lodge.

     According to the minutes of Pigeon River Lodge No. 386 A.F.& A.M. located at the then Pigeon River, now Canton, dated December 24, 1896 reads as follows:

     Several bretheren residing in Hominy Valley requested that Brother T.C. King, Mark Goldsmith, and John Henry Holcombe be examined to asceratin their proficency to be Worshipful Master, Senior Warden and Junior Warden respectfully for the purpose of forming a new lodge. After examination they were, on motion, recommended to the Grand Master as being proficient.

     After receiving the recommendation of Pigeon River Lodge No. 386 the Grand Lodge of North Carolina under the leadership of Most Worshipful Brother Walter E. Moore, Grand Master, did on March 20, 1897, grant a dispensation to form a new lodge in Hominy Valley, to be known as Hominy Lodge U.D. According to the dispensation the following were members: T.C. King, Mark Goldsmith, J.H. Holcombe, R.A. Jones, R.W. Holcombe, R.D. Buckner, S.C. Owen and I.B. Roberson. T.C. Kinkg was appointed Master and J.H. Holcombe, Junior Warden.

     Hominy Lodge is not listed in the Grand Lodge Proceeding of 1897. During the year of 1897 Hominy iniated J.C. Bird on May 15, 1897 and A. L. Morgan on June 19, 1897. Raised were J.C. Bird on August 14, 1897 and M.P. Courtney on November 20, 1897.

     Hominy Lodge U.D. held regular communication of the lodge Saturdays at 2:00 pm before the third Sunday of each month.

     *****On January 12, 1898 the Committee on Charters and Dispensations recommended the Hominy Lodge U.D. be granted a charter and it then became Hominy Lodge No. 491 A.F. & A.M.

     Hominy Lodge No. 491 continued to meet at Hominy Institute and to grow in membership. On March 17, 1900, a report was given by the committee appointed to select a site to build a Masonic Hall. The place selected was near Hominy Post Office. A building committee was appointed consisting of R.A. Jones, J.W. Rutherford, R.M. Holcombe, L.E. Davis, and D.L. Welch.

     On April 14, 1900, a report was read by the building committee listing the necessary material to be used in building a lodge hall. It was adopted, with the understanding the J.W. Rutheford, J.H. Holcombe, and R.D. Buckner and J.A. Penland build the first story including the joists for the second story where the lodge is to be built. The Brethren above named are to deed the second story to the lodge community. Appointed to draw up obligations as to the deed of the hall were L.E. Davis, J.W. Rutheford, and R.A. Jones.

     On April 20, 1901, the master ordered summons to be sent to all members of Hominy Lodge No. 491 for the purpose of considering the removal of the lodge from Hominy Institute to Hominy Creek a distance of 1 1/2 miles to a new lodge created by our fraternity. The meeting was to convene May 4, 1901 at 2:00 P.M.

     On May 4, 1901, at a special meeting of the lodge a motion was made and vote taken on the removal of the lodge from Hominy Institute to Hominy Creek a distance of 1 1/2 miles. The vote was unanimous. In July of 1902 the Lodge changed it's meeting time from the 3rd Saturday of the month to the first. The time time of the meeting to remain at 2:00 P.M. In December of the same year the Master appointed a committee to take out insurance on the lodge and furniture not to exceed $300.00. The same committee was to get a title for the lodge.

     On September 27, 1904 a special meeting was called of Hominy Lodge No. 491 for attending the funeral of Brother C.P. Netherton who became a Mason in September 1903 and died on September 26, 1904. He was 32 years old. This was the first member of the Hominy Lodge to Die.

     On October 20, 1907 a motion was made and carried that the lodge assume the burial expenses of Brother Ed Warren amounting to $18.00. By motion it was ordered that Brother Warren's children be sent to the Masonic Orphanage at Oxford, N.C. as per his dying request. A committee consisting of G.R. Warren, C.N. McFee and W.M. McFee was appointed to see if the orphans of Brother Ed Warren were in need of special aid.

     On January 23, 1909 the application papers for sending the Lofton Warren children to Oxford Orphanage were read and approved by the lodge. Lofton Warren was the first child that Hominy Lodge helped place at the Orphanage.

     October 4, 1919 Brother J.A. Penland was appointed to see Mr. R.J. Gaston to find out what it would cost to light the lodge hall. The lodge voted to raise the dues to $2.50 per year on July 2, 1921.

     On July 4, 1927 a special meeting was called for the purpose of paying the last Masonic Rites to Worshipful Brother John Henry Holcombe, a charter member and much beloved by Hominy Lodge. He received his degrees in Morgan Hill Lodge in 1876. He was born December 4, 1851 and died July 3, 1927.

     On February 2, 1938, Brother L. McKee Morgan reported that he had talked with the State Highway Commission in regard to repairing the wall under the building and had been advised the the State would pay half of the cost of moving the building but would not agree to building a wall to support the building in the present location. The following committee was appointed to work out details necessary to move the lodge building across the highway: L. McKee Morgan, A.K. Queen, and Otis Duncan.

     At the June 1, 1938 meeting, Brother Bradshaw voted $4.00 to pay for a stone marker inscribed "Hominy Lodge 491 Candler N.C." to be placed in the Masonic Memorial at Soco Gap. Brother A.K. Queen reported for the committee about moving the lodge building across the highway. After much discussion it was moved that the lodge building be left in its present location until the State agrees to bear all expenses occurred in moving it.

     The Masonic Shrine at Black Camp Gap Entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park was dedicated July 11, 1938. Stone No. 312 North Carolina granite quarried near Asheville, N.C. inscribed: "Hominy Lodge No. 491, Candler, N.C." was contributed by the above named lodge. W.A. Robbins, Master, Rupert Crowell, Secretary. This information was furnished by the Grand York Rite Bodies of North Carolina.

     On July 6, 1938, a motion was passed the Brother L. McKee Morgan supervise the moving of the lodge building across the road. It will be placed on temporary locust posts to be furnished by the lodge. The lodge is to pay $30.00 and the State Highway Department to pay $60.00 for the moving. Brother Alf Queen was appointed to see Alan Luther and purchase a lot for the building after it is moved. It is to be paid for from rent of the first floor. The lodge was moved across the highway during the weeks of July 18, 1938.

     On December 4, 1940, an invitation from the D. D. G.  M. was read asking Hominy Lodge to participate in the public installation of officers to be held on St. John's Day, December 27th. Mt. Herman Lodge will host. John A. Nichols Lodge will furnish light refreshments. Most Worshipful Brother Thomas J. Harkins, Grand Master, is to preside. The Lodge voted to accept the invitation.

     On March 1, 1944, a motion was made and carried to invite our wives, daughters, mothers and sisters to come to the lodge hall to discuss the probability of organizing an Eastern Star Chapter on Monday night the 13th.

     On May 3, 1944, a motion was made and carried to rent the lodge to the Order of the Eastern Star free of charge.

     On February 6, 1946, Brother Clarence Knighten spoke his appreciation of Brother Guy Pruitt and Brother W. Wallace McDowell in doing the rewiring and arrainging the new lights in the lodge hall.

     On March 6, 1946, the lodge voted to buy costumes for the South Gate Degree Team and for the lodge. A committee of three was appointed to see Brother Noble in regard to the costumes and invested him with the power to buy same. The committee is Brother W.A. Peebles, Sr., Brother Clarence Knighten, and Brother F. Gudger Cabe.

     On March 5, 1947, Brother Early presented the lodge with the whistle that West Asheville Lodge No. 665 presented to the South Gate Degree Team on Monday March 3, 1947.

     On Saturday, September 20, 1947, a special meeting was called for the purpose of conferring the third degree for Brother J. T. Chappel. Members of Flag Pond Lodge No. 408 and Centennial Lodge No. 491 of Erwin, Tennessee conferred both sections of the degree. The degree was conferred in its entireity by the rituals of the Grand Lodge of Tennessee.

     On July 7, 1948 the lodge gave the trustees permission to securre a right of way for a water line and grant Mrs. Brown permission to tap the line. This was at the request of the ladies to have water in the lodge hall.

     On September 1, 1948, it was reported the the August communication was canceled due to the polio conditions.

     On April 6, 1949, Brother Reah Poore reported for the water committee that the water has been installed in the lodge at a cost of $600.00.

..................More to come soon................