History of Plainfield Lodge
A strong desire to organize the second Masonic Lodge in Plainfield become quire clear during the late months of 1902. Brethren most dedicated to this effort were members in good standing of Belleville Lodge No 65 and Bridgeport Lodge No 162. Some previous effort had failed to obtain jurisdictional boundary approval to the east of Belleville Lodge. With the assistance of the Grand Lodge and neighboring Masonic Lodges ten dedicated Brethren organized Plainfield Lodge UD on June 2, 1903. By the end of the year under dispensation, meeting in the K of P building, the membership had reached a total of 27. The charter was granted to Plainfield Lodge No 653 on May 25, 1904 by the Grand Lodge of Indiana. By-laws were adopted and officers installed. This was a full year after the dispensation was granted on May 4, 1903.
Plainfield Lodge has had only three meeting places during its history. When the Lodge was organized the K of P building facilities were temporary used. There were no degrees conferred there. The building is only three doors down of our present Masonic Temple built and occupied in 1915. The interim facilities are rented on the second floor of the Symons Building, 102 West Main St, on the northwest corner of Main and Vine Streets. The meeting places have all been within a one-block area, which constitutes the center of the downtown business district. The present facility on the southeast corner of Main and Center Streets replaced the Heringlake Brothers farm implement store located on that corner for many years.
The entrance used by the Brethren of the Lodge facilities has the address of 107 S Center St. The building includes four rental units which have been occupied through the years for family apartments, beauty shops, sporting goods, hobby ships, electrical appliances, doctor offices, utility offices, shoe repair, a music store, and dry cleaning. A fifth rental unit on the second floor was converted to Lodge facilities in 1961.
Continuously since 1938 our Lodge has opened a called meeting on the Master Mason degree in the early morning hours of July 4th. This annual meeting has become a tradition. Worshipful Brothers Harvey A. Hessler and Horace J. Ballard organized it. The meeting has become the largest in attendance of the year with genuine fellowship among the Brethren. The early activity begins with coffee and donuts around 4am and the Lodge is opened around 5am. Breakfast, traditionally prepared by the ladies of the Order of the Eastern Star Chapter 414, begins about 7:30am and is followed by a speaker. Many distinguished Brethren have attended these meetings.
In 2015, a 100 year re-dedication of the building took place with many guests and visitors present. The lodge continues to hold it's over 100 year tradition of monthly stated meetings on the first Tuesday of every month at 7pm and as been joined by the Order of the Eastern Star Chapter #414 in 1917 and Job's Daughters Bethel #99 in 1956, which meet on the second Thursday at 7:30pm and the second Wednesday at 7pm respectively.