— Photo by Frank J. Kautz II

By Donald Norton

The local Masonic lodge here in Somerville, King Solomon’s Lodge A.F. & A.M., had their yearly installation this past Saturday evening on September 22. The installation was held at the lodge hall located at 125 Highland Avenue (rear) here in Somerville.

Pictured seated left to right: Stephen Post, Jonathan Bower, Zachary J.A. Atwell, John Kendzierski, and Donald Norton. Back row left to right: Bill Chambers, Jeffrey Rhodes, Stan Locke, David Byron, Christopher Cipoletta, Mark Aubuchon, Richard Nilsson, Peter Mee, Joey Lacey, and Donald Coutoumas.

King Solomon’s Lodge was chartered on September 5, 1783, just two days after the peace treaty between the U.K. and Colonies.

King Solomon’s Lodge formed in Charlestown and met for many years at the Warren Tavern, then moved to Thompson Square, and eventually to Somerville at the Masonic apartments that were built for them on the corner of Pearl and Marshall in Gilman Square.

King Solomon’s Lodge was the original owner and builder of the Bunker Hill Monument in 1794, built and dedicated in memory of Maj. Gen. Joseph Warren and his associates. It is one of the state’s and North America’s oldest Masonic Lodges in Massachusetts.

The lodge has over 200 members locally and owns the property at 125 Highland Ave. They meet every third Thursday of the month and all Masons are welcome.

For more information about Masonry and the lodge itself, there will be a statewide Masonic Open House on Saturday, October 20, and the public is invited to come and take a tour of the facility and ask any questions. The website for the lodge will soon be up and running as well at www.kingsolomonslodge.com.