Places in Which Communications of Ark Lodge, No. 39 A.F. & A.M. Were Held
As near as can be determined by the records, which did not always state with accuracy the places of meetings, the several communications of the Lodge were held as follows
Weston
The first meeting was held June 20, 1797 at the home of Brother Lockwood DeForest, and it is supposed the Lodge continued to meet their until January 2, 1798, twelve meetings being held in Weston during that time. The Lodge was then removed to Burr Gilbert’s, where they continued to meet until August 13, 1799, seventeen communications being held there. The next move was to Nehemiah DeForest’s, where eighteen communications were held, the Lodge removing from there January 12, 1802, when it was established at the residence of Levi Wheeler, where they stayed until December 31, 1805, twenty communications being held there. The next move was to Nathan Wheeler’s. There were but four meetings held at this place, the last being September 23, 1806, after which date no more communications were held in Weston until December 20, 1814. Between that date and February 21, 1826 ten communications were held in Weston, but at what house is not stated on the records. February 21, 1826, the Lodge was removed to the residence of Albert Turney, where two communications were held. September 12, 1826, the Lodge was established at the residence of Eli Adams, but only two meetings were held there. December 12, 1826, the last recorded meeting in Weston was held at the Academy.
Redding
The first meeting in Redding was held at Thomas Davis’ house, November 8, 1797, a communication was held in the School House below the Church. The next meeting in this town was August 26, 1798, when the residence of Lemuel Sanford was selected as the Redding home of the Lodge, and the brethren continued to meet there until May 31, 1803, twenty-nine communications being held. The Lodge then returned to the house of Thomas Davis and held three meetings, and November 22, 1803, took up their abode with Ephriam Wheeler. After holding two meetings there they removed, February 7, 1804 to the residence of Thomas Peck, where they remained until October 21, 1806, holding nineteen communications there. The next move was to the home of Daniel Betts, where forty-nine communications were held. November 6, 1810, the Lodge Moved to the residence of Eli Sanford, remaining there until May 19, 1818, and holding sixty-one communications. The next move was to the residence of Sturges Fanton, where nineteen meetings were held, the Lodge removing February 22, 1820, to the home of Thaddeus Abbott. They held twenty-nine communications in this place, and November 11, 1823, left it for their permanent home, the Masonic Hall. This continued to be their meeting place for the remainder of their history, sixty-two meetings being recorded there, the last of which was held December 22, 1836.
Meeting Place After The Lodge Was Revived
The first communication of Ionic Lodge U.D. was held at the home of Brother Lewis Northrop, in the Town of Weston, December 27, 1869. Four communications were held there. February 12, 1870, the first communication was held in the new Lodge Room, which was over the meat market owned by Charles Olmstead, in the Town of Redding, on the site of the present Storm Agency. This Lodge Room was used until January 2, 1876, when the first communication was held in the Lodge Room we now occupy on Main Street, Georgetown, in the Town of Redding, and all communications since that date have been in that building.