Blackwood Lodge No.311

Founded 1874

Installation November

Official Visit April

Meeting on 1st Tuesday of the Month
(except July and August) at 7:30 PM at the
Vaughn Masonic Hall

Click Here For Vaughan Masonic Hall History

2142 Major Mackenzie Drive, Maple


Officers for 2011/2012
Worshipful Master R.W. Bro. Bro. Norman Funnell
Immediate Past Master W. Bro. Dan Decan
Senior Warden W.Bro. John McDougall
Junior Warden Bro. Stephen Case
Chaplain W. Bro. Guenther Schacht
Treasurer R.W. Bro. John MacKenzie
Secretary W. Bro. William DeJesus
Senior Deacon Bro. Adamo Parete
Junior Deacon Bro. Jody Leavoy
Director of Ceremonies W. Bro. Mark Willer
Inner Guard Bro. Marcel Hernandez
Senior Steward Bro. Don Cipollone
Junior Steward Bro. Martin Basurto
Tyler Bro. David Gonzalez Jr.
Assistant Secretary Bro. David Eccles
Organist Bro. Jens Baun

History of Blackwood Lodge #311 G.R.C.
Named After
RT. Wor. Bro. T.F. Blackwood
First Lodge Master In 1874

The first meeting of Blackwood Lodge #311 was held under a dispensation from Grand Lodge in March 1874 and the lodge was warranted on July 9, 1874. The first meeting room was located above the hardware store of Joel Reaman in Woodbridge and the members met there regularly until 1898. What would now be considered unusual in these days of modern electric lighting, the meetings of the Lodge were held at 7:30 pm on the Friday on or before the full moon. This was not done because of any astrological significance. It was just that traveling the back roads of rural Ontario for evening lodge meant that having the light of the moon was a distinct advantage.

The Lodge grew and prospered from its beginning until 1886, but as happens with many Lodges, the departure of a local manufacturing company where a number of the lodge members were employed, had an adverse affect on the organization for several years. There were even fears that it might be forced to give up its charter. However, led by W.Bro. Dr.P.D. McLean, the members weathered the storm until better times arrived . In 1898 the meeting place was moved temporarily to the north side of Pine St. (now Woodbridge Ave.) near the Humber River. In 1899 a site on 8th Avenue (now Kipling Ave.) was donated to the Lodge by Bro. Albert Harris. A Lodge building was completed and the official opening of that building took place on January 25, 1901. An expansion of the premises was completed in September of 1961.


From The 100th Anniversary Booklet
Blackwood Historical Committee<

The Keele St. Masonic Hall
Of Blackwood Lodge
- 1901 -
Drawing by E. Snow

In the year 2000 the membership decided to move from their building on Kipling Avenue and the property was sold. The Lodge moved to the Vaughan Masonic Temple in Maple where it presently resides.


Contact Us | All images are property of York District AF&AM GLOCPO © 2009