Lodge History - Audubon Park Lodge No. 272

About Audubon Park Lodge

On June 15, 1926, the Grand Lodge of F. & A.M. of Washington held its Annual Communication in Spokane. Grand Master Morton Gregory announced he had granted dispensations for six new Lodges:

Nov 20, 1925 Charleston Lodge 269 (now at Bremerton),
Dec 4, 1925 Ryderwood Lodge 270 (at Ryderwood),
Jan 21, 1926 John Paul Jones Lodge 271 (at Gig Harbor),
Feb 5, 1926 Audubon Park Lodge 272 (in Spokane),
Mar 8, 1926 Concord Lodge 273 (at Aberdeen),
May 1, 1926 West Haven Lodge 274 (at Hoquiam)

Each of these new Lodges received their Charters at Grand Lodge on June 16, 1926.

Audubon Park Lodge No. 272 began its labor with 31 charter members. Harold A. Shaw was elected as the inaugural Worshipful Master*. Many of the charter members were also members of North Hill 210. In fact North Hill 210 sponsored us when we petitioned Grand Lodge for a charter.

Membership was at its height in 1957 when Audubon Park had over 500 members of record.

First Lodge Site

For the first few years, Audubon Park 272 members met in a small one-room building (pictured below) at the corner of Audubon Street & Cora Avenue, just across the street from Audubon Municipal Park. The brethren met here from February 1926 to October 1928. Today, a private residence occupies this corner.

Current Lodge Site

Audubon Park soon outgrew its small quarters and in the fall of 1928, the lodge moved to its present site, located at 2821 Northwest Boulevard. The cornerstone was laid April 25, 1928. The new building was situated perhaps 200 yards from the old site. More than three times the size of the old lodge, the new building boasted a large meeting hall and fireside room on the main floor, with a dining & dance hall downstairs. The building and grounds have been well-maintained over the years, so that today, Audubon Park 272 projects an ambience of tranquil composure and quiet dignity. (This facility is rented for weddings and receptions. See our Rental link on the Lodge’s home page.)

Lodge Awards

Pillars of Progress Award given to Audubon Park 272 by the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of F.& A.M of Washington, April 2002, as the Lodge best exemplifying the Pillar of Family Involvement.

A second Pillars of Progress Award was given to Audubon Park 272 by the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of F&AM of Washington on November 2, 2002. In District 27 we were cited as the Lodge best exemplifying the Pillar of Information and Technology.

Concordant Bodies

Over the years, several concordant bodies of the Masonic family have been co-located at Audubon Park Lodge 272. The Order of the Eastern Star,Audubon Park Chapter 214 held meetings at our lodge from June 19, 1926 to June 16, 1992. The inaugural Worthy Matron was Louise Devoe and the Worthy Patron was Harold Pitts. In June of 1992, Chapter 214 left us to merge with Spokane Chapter 163 of OES. For a time, two Bethels of Jobs Daughters operated simultaneously at Audubon Park 272.

Bethel 7 conducted their meetings at the lodge beginning in (1941). Their first Honored Bethel Queen was Helen Turner. Because of declining membership, this Bethel disbanded in (1983).

Bethel 64 received their charter in April 1959 and have operated continuously since then. Their first Honored Bethel Queen was Sue Heimsjo.