History of Juniata Lodge 282

The Origin of the Ancient and Honorable Fraternity of Freemasonry is clothed in obscurity. Known records date to 1599, those being the minutes of Lodge No. 1 of Edinburgh , England . The Mother Grand Lodge of the World is that of England , inaugurated in London on St. John the Baptist Day 1717.

Freemasonry came to Pennsylvania as early as 1730 and continued west  of the Susquehanna River in 1780 when Lodge No. 26 was Warranted in Carlisle . In Blair County , Portage Lodge No. 220 was constituted on December 1, 1846, and became  the Mother Lodge of several Lodges, one of which was Juniata Lodge No. 282.

The minutes of Portage Lodge,under the date of June 7, 1853 read: "A Petition to the Grand Lodge, signed by Brothers Aristide Rodrique and Alexander M. Lloyd, and Recommended by Brothers Michael Kelly and Joseph Hollinshead, asking for a Charter for a new Lodge to be held in Hollidaysburg, to be named Juniata and asking the Brethren of Portage Lodge No. 220 to recommend them to the Grand Lodge was read. After considerable discussion between the members, it was agreed that they should have the necessary recommendation".

This building, then known as Gardner's Hall, also was used as a meeting place, siyuated at the southwest corner of Montgomery and Blair Streets

Juniata Lodge No. 282 was constituted at Hollidaysburg in the Lodge room in Gardner 's  Hall, located on the corner of Blair and Montgomery Streets, on December 8, 1853. The District Deputy Grand Master, John H. Berryhill, acting for the Right Worshipful Grand Maste, Anthony Bournonville, installed Alexander M. Lloyd as Worshipful Master;   Aristide Rodrique, Senior Warden; James G. Baily, Junior Warden; Michael Kelly, Treasurer; and Joseph Hollinshead, Secretary.

During the past one hundred fourty five years, Juniata Lodge has met in four locations. In Gardners Hall until November 1873, in a three story building at the corner of Wayne and Mulberry Streets, (now known as the Opera House Appartments), until October 1889, in the Plymouth Snyder Building at 315 Allegheny Street, (now the Beerbower building) until September 1975, and since then at the Hollidaysburg Masonic Hall, constructed at 1008 Edgar Street. The present Hall was officially dedicated on November 1, 1975 by Right Worshipful Grand Master Rochester B. Goodall at a Special Communication of the Grand Lodge.

Two Past Masters of Juniata Lodge have served as District Deputy Grand Masters. Alexander M. Lloyd, the first Worshipful Master, was District Deputy from 1869 to 1883.  Harry A. Jacobs, Worshipful Master in 1898 and 1902, was the District Deputy from 1922 to 1938.

The Fiftieth Anniversary of Juniata was celebrated on December 8, 1903, when the Lodge met in Extra Session, following a banquet at the Opera House. The Worshipful Master was Robert W. Smith, Esq.

The Seventy Fifth Anniversary was observed on December 8, 1928, with a Grand Visitation by the Right Worshipful Grand Master J. Willison Smith, at a special Meeting.

After the closing of the Lodge, the Brethren attended a turkey banquet at the Penn Alto Hotel, Altoona . The Worshipful Master during the Lodge's 75th year was Norman G. Holsinger.

From November 1873, until October, 1889, Portage and Juniata Lodges and Mount Moriah Royal Arch Chapter met in this building at the south-west corner of Wayne and Mulberry Streets.

The One Hundredth Anniversary of Juniata Lodge was observed on December 8, 1953, begining with a Special Meeting in the Lodge Room which was attended by the Right  Worshipful Grand Master Albert T. Eyler. A Centennial Dinner was served at 6:00 PM at the Jaffa Mosque, Altoona . The speaker at the Dinner was Rev. G. Mason Cochran, D.D., of Hiram Lodge No. 616, Altoona and Grand Chaplain of the Grand Lodge. The Worshipful Master during 1953 was Robert B. Smith, Esq., whose father was Master during the Lodge's 50th year.

The One Hundred Twenty-fifth Anniversary was held on Saturday December 9, 1978 at the new Masonic Temple in Hollidaysburg with the Right Worshipful Grand Master, Walter P. Wells attending. The Anniversary Banquet of roast turkey was also held at the Temple .  The Worshipful Master for 1978 was R. Gene Rabenstine.

Juniata Lodge was visited by a Right Worshipful Grand Master on one other occasion. On April 9, 1896, the Lodge was visited by Matthias H. Henderson. Our Lodge is now One Hundred Forty Five years old, and in reviewing the history of Juniata Lodge since its origin, we can with pride andpleasure record that these years have been years of action and service, during which, almost 1400 applicants have knocked at the door and been admitted. Of this number, 450 are living and assisting in the preservation of the Landmarks of Freemasonry.

As we advance into the future, may Juniata Lodge continue to do those things which are expected of it, that no cry for help will come to us in vain, that we practice out of the Lodge those principals we are taught within, so that this Lodge, under the guidance of the Right Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Pennsylvania, may continue to serve mankind

( From the 125th Anniversary Program of Juniata Lodge, Updated to September 1998)

The Hollidaysburg Masonic bodies have met in this building at 313-15 Allegheny Street since October 1889