The Early years

The first report to the Grand Lodge of Tennessee by the Tullahoma Lodge was in 1857 at which time Dr. Archibald M. Holt was Worshipful Master. James Grizzard, one of the original founders of Tullahoma in 1852, was secretary. General William Moore, a veteran of the Mexican War, and also a founder of Tullahoma, was treasurer. James Buchanan was Senior Warden, and Dr. J. K. Norton was Junior Warden.

The report for 1857 shows a number of degrees conferred, and among them were: W. L. Norton, son of Dr. James K. Norton, Joel B. Smith , father of Archibald Yell Smith, who was the N. and C. Rail Road agent for several years and the grandfather of Morris Smith, Archibald Yell Smith, Jr., and Joe B. Smith, who we later made Masons in the Tullahoma Lodge. Massey Hill was also a member of the Lodge. He owned all the land where Arnold Engineering Development Center now stands.

The Lodge initially took in 9 new members and dues paid to the Grand Lodge was 25 cents per member. It met somewhere upstairs, in a building in the 100 block of West Lincoln Street. For the years 1857 to 1860, there were not any reports made, but in 1860 Dr. Archibald M. Holt was still the Worshipful Master, Dr. James K. Norton was Senior Warden; W. A. Woods, Junior Warden; John Parker, Treasurer; R. R. Enochs, Secretary; James Rufus Graham, Senior Deacon; E. C. McLaughlin, Junior Deacon; and J. C. Spillion was Tiler.

The report for 1860 listed 23 members, and they had conferred some Fellowcraft degrees and seven Entered Apprentice Degrees. From 1860 to 1866, there were not any reports due to the War Between the States. Tullahoma was the site of a temporary Confederate base and was later occupied by Union Forces.

The next report, after the War Between the States, was in 1866. It listed Dr. Archibald M. Holt as Worshipful Master, E. C. McLaughlin, Senior Warden, R.P. Gonnaway, Junior Warden; D. E. Mead, Secretary; F. W. Yell, Treasurer; George W. Richardson, Senior Deacon; G. W. Elkins, Junior Deacon; and Henry Powell, Tiler. The lodge grew rapidly and there were 28 Master Degrees conferred in 1866.

In 1867 Daniel Dillion was Worshipful Master: George W. Richardson, Senior Warden; DeWitt Bennett, Junior Warden; J. F. Thomas, Secretary; F. M. Yell, Treasurer; William Williford, Senior Deacon; George Stillman, Junior Deacon; and Henry Powell, Tiler.

The Lodge had 59 members, and one was expelled for unmasonic conduct.

In 1868 George W. Richardson was Worshipful Master; Dr. Dewitt Bennett, Senior Warden; J. W. Eggleston, Junior Warden; Geore Stillman, Treasurer; William Williford, Senior Deacon; Thomas Holt, Junior Deacon; and Henry Howell, Tiler. There was no secretary.