DuPont Lodge History

In 1912, the E. I DuPont de Nemours Company, aware of City Point’s excellent rail and deepwater transportation possibilities negotiated a real estate transaction that would forever change the area.

DuPont purchased about 800 acres of Hopewell Farm, which had for generations formed a part of the Eppes estate. By 1914 a large dynamite plant was ready for operation. DuPont named the facility, ”Hopewell” at the request of the Eppes family who wished to perpetuate the identity of the ship Hopewell, which brought their ancestor Captain Frances Eppes to City Point in 1613. The name was soon attached to the community developed by DuPont.

When World War I broke out in Europe, the DuPont Company received huge orders for smokeless powder from the British and Russia governments. It was logical that Hopewell plant would have to be expanded. An additional 1600 acres of Eppes land was immediately purchased and extensive plans were drawn up for what became the largest guncotton plant in the world (eventually during World War I, 1 and ½ Billion pounds of guncotton was shipped from Hopewell to ammunition plants around the world).

In 1914, after the cornfields and pine groves were leveled, an entire development was built to house the workers at the plant and their families. Most of the workers came from other parts of Virginia, other parts of the United States or other countries. DuPont erected facilities for 1850 families, dormitories, schools, hotels, churches, and clubs. They laid out streets, sidewalks, and installed water and sewer lines. They opened a commissary, that employs might buy food at cost.

Since the Company had no control over land other than its own, DuPont’s planned community was marred, by the onslaught of peddlers, gamblers, speculators, thieves, and others. People flocked in by the thousands and Hopewell became as wide open as any wild west town. An article in Hopewell News several years ago stated, “with over 30 nationalities present, few men yelled “help” in the same language.

On December 9, 1915, fire destroyed over 300 buildings in the central section of the town, leaving thousands homeless. The rebuilding started immediately. This time many of the buildings were constructed of brick and concrete and Hopewell took on a more permanent outlook. Over 40,000 people were employed in Hopewell during this time.

It was only natural that with a large labor group moving into Hopewell, there would be included many men who were Master Masons and it was only a matter of time before someone would take it on themselves to do something about organizing a Masonic Lodge. Lyman Stutz and H. E. Watterson started the movement by posting notices throughout the DuPont plant inviting Master Masons to a meeting.

The first organized meeting of Master Masons in Hopewell was held in a tent in the City Point area on August 7, 1916. Twenty-six Master Masons attended (twenty four from Virginia, one from Pennsylvania, and one from Ohio). At this meeting they decided that they would call themselves the DuPont Masonic Club. This club met over the Underselling Store, and elected E. D. Lucas, President, J. C. Vava, Vice-President, and Lyman Stutz Recording Secretary. For refreshments at the meeting, Bro Stutz ordered ice cream, which had to be delivered from Richmond.

The following week, August 14, 1916 the DuPont Masonic Club adopted a set of by-laws in order to govern the club. According to the by-laws the DuPont Masonic Club was to meet every Monday; the membership would be composed of only Master Masons in good standing, residing in Hopewell, City Point, “A” Village, “B” Village and sections adjacent therto. All Master Masons in the area were invited to attend as guests. However, visitors who were not Master Masons could only attend with the consent of the presiding officer. Dues were 50¢ per month and, according to the by-laws, if any member became delinquent for as long as six months he would be suspended automatically.

By September 25, 1916, the members of DuPont Masonic Club started a movement to obtain dispensation from the Grand Lodge of Virginia. An application for the various forms were requested on behalf of the Master Masons who Composed DuPont Masonic Club. One of the Master Masons who deserves a great deal of credit towards obtaining dispensation was Brother Major W. Hart.

Because there was a great feeling that Hopewell was just a “boom town” many felt that DuPont Masonic Club should not request dispensation; however, there were many who felt that Hopewell was here to stay. It was decided that DuPont Masonic Club would have a banquet and invite the Grand Master and the District Deputy Grand Master as their honored guests. On November 27, 1916, over two hundred Master Masons and their guests sat down to a banquet at the DuPont Hotel located in City Point. Right Worshipful A. S. J. Wheeler, was toastmaster. Most Worshipful J. Alston Cabel, Grand Master of Masons in Virginia and Rt. Wor. Wallace D. Blanks, District Deputy Grand Master, were the principal speakers. The banquet was a huge success.

The following week, December 4, 1916, a petition was filed by the Master Masons of the DuPont Masonic Club requesting dispensation for a Masonic Lodge. This petition was approved by the Petersburg Lodges. Dispensation was granted by the Grand Master on February 17, 1917. The Grand Master appointed Brother W. I. Gilkerson as the Lodges first Worshipful Master.

The lodge met for a year under dispensation. On February 14, 1918, a charter was granted to DuPont Lodge No. 289 by Most Worshipful Earnest L. Cunningham Grand Master. The Grand Secretary was Charles A. Nesbett. The first Worshipful Master to serve under the Charter was W. I. Gilkerson, the first Senior Warden was Lyman Stutz, and the first Junior warden was S. C. Nottingham. A complete roster for the charter membership of DuPont Masonic Lodge No. 289 can be found in the report of the Grand Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of Virginia in 1918.

With the signing of the armistice in 1918, the DuPont plant was abruptly shut down and the exodus from the city was rapid. Employees left town. Merchants boarded up their shops and left. Within a month Hopewell was almost deserted. The 1920 census showed only 1,320 people remained.

DuPont Lodge No. 289 of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons began having its meetings on North 6^th Street, approximately where Gould’s Funeral Home is now until January 22, 1929 when the premises with all the Lodges personal property was destroyed by a fire. The loss of the building and the Lodge’s property did not deter the determination of our Brother Masons to have a Masonic Lodge in the City of Hopewell, and they continued to hold meetings in the Elder building until more suitable quarters could be obtained.

In April, 1929, the Master Masons of DuPont Lodge started to look into the possibility of constructing their own Masonic Temple. Worshipful Master J. W. Rosenberry appointed two committees, a building committee and a finance committee to look into the matter and report back to the lodge.

DuPont Lodge had invested some of its money in a lot on the corner of Cawson and DuPont Street which it later sold at a very handsome profit. At the same time, Master Masons within the Lodge were purchasing bonds in the amount of One Hundred Dollars so that their Temple might be built with reasonable Dispatch. The building committee had its job cut out for it since it was their job to keep construction costs within the limits that the Lodge and its members could afford. In the meantime, the Lodge’s property on North 6^th Street was exchanged for our present lots located at Broadway and 8th Avenue. On April 30, 1931, two years later C. G. Hughes, a local contractor, was given a contract to built the present Masonic Temple. On the night of December 28, 1931, the Lodge had an occasion to enjoy two celebrations on one evening, St. Johns night and the dedication of the new Temple. There was a procession, led by Right Worshipful A. S. J. Wheeler, who presided in the East that evening, wherein all Masons marched from the Elder Hall to the new Temple, at which time the new Temple was dedicated. Worshipful Master Paul Dorris completed his term of office at the dedication and J. J. Cook stepped into the chair as Worshipful Master, he being the first Worshipful Master to open and close his Lodge in the new Temple.

The years from 1931 through the 1950’s were for the most part lean years for DuPont Lodge with a few exceptions. Notably 1947, when 36 new members were raised to the sublime Degree of Master Mason!

During the 1960’s DuPont Lodge continued to improve through remolding with the installation of air conditioning and new fixtures in the kitchen, banquet hall, and Lodge room. Also during the 60’s we had two members appointed to the Grand Lodge committee on Work.

During the 1960’s and 1970’s the members of DuPont No. 289 became well known for their proficiency in the work. On May 18, 1970, Right Worshipful E. P. Henry Sr. of the Grand Lodge committee on Work and a Past Master of DuPont Lodge assisted Most Worshipful Archer B. Gay in making Senator Harry F. Byrd Jr. a Mason-at-Sight in Hiram Lodge No. 21 at Winchester, Virginia.

In December 1970, DuPont Lodge was futher honored when Most Worshipful Archer B. Gay Grand Master of Masons in Virginia personally installed the 1971 Officers of DuPont Lodge.

In June 1972, Douglas Delano, at the time Grand Senior Deacon and later Grand Master of Masons in Virginia, was the featured speaker.

In January 1977, the long history of close cooperation between DuPont No. 289 and Prince George No. 115 was exemplified when DuPont Granted Prince George No. 115 permission to meet at the Hopewell Masonic Temple until the new building they now occupy was complete.

One popular activity for meeting during the 1970’s was the practice of designating a particular stated as a “company” night with all the Masonic employee’s of a particular designated company receiving a special invitation to attend. They were then called to the alter and presented in the East, local companies recognized were Hercules, Allied Chemical and Continental Can.

During the 1980’s we were honored by having two Master Masons raised at DuPont Lodge serve as Grand Master in the same year. Most Worshipful James J. Byrnes served as Grand Master of Masons for the State of Wisconsin in 1982 and Most Wor. Lloyd U. Jefferson served as Grand Master of Masons for the Commonwealth of Virginia in that same year. This remarkable event was reported in the Virginia Masonic Herald.

In May of 1982, Most Worshipful Lloyd U. Jefferson, Grand Master of Masons in Virginia made his official visit to the 29^th Masonic District at his Mother Lodge DuPont 289. At that official visit he was awarded honorary membership in DuPont Lodge.

During the 1980’s the ancient Ritual of the Table Lodge was revived and the practice became very popular at DuPont No. 289. The Hall rang with song and fellowship as voices were raised in the ancient toasts.

Now in 1992, in the 75^th year of our charter, we continue to grow and prosper. We have a new sign in front, new doors on the front and side of the Temple and newly remodeled interiors of both entrances. At this time the Lodge has 274 members, 26 living Past Masters, 4 Living Past District Deputy Grand Masters of the 29^th Masonic District, and one Living Past Grand Master of Masons in Virginia.

Since the dedication of our Temple our Lodge has grown and prospered. DuPont Lodge No. 289 of Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons has held steadfast to the high ideals of Masonry and we are indeed proud of our past History and look to the future with the confidence that our Lodge will always be one of the outstanding Lodges in Virginia.

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