| History of Shidle Lodge No. 601 |
On November 29, 1893 Shidle Lodge was constituted a Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons in what is known as the Caruthers Building at 227 Main Street, Irwin, Pennsylvania. Thirty-seven Lodges were represented at Shidle’s first meeting.
The Lodge was named for a prominent Pittsburgh Mason, Geter C. Shidle. At one of the first meetings in 1893, the widow of Mr. Shidle presented the Lodge with a Holy Bible, which is still in their library.
| The Charter Officers of the Lodge were: | ||
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Worshipful Master Senior Warden Junior Warden Treasurer Secretary |
John L. Ridinger J. Oliver Bear George Sowash Charles E. Taylor Joseph M. Keister |
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| The Charter Members of the Lodge were: | ||
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J. Oliver Bear J. Oliver Blackburn John D. Brown Robert E. Caldwell William J. Caton Samuel Darrall Charles H. Datz David M. Davis John E. Evans John M. Gaut John F. Graham Lewis C. Henry |
Zachariah T. Henry Joseph M. Keister Eli L. Keister John L. Ridinger William Rodgers David A. Souders George Sowash Benjamin Steele Charles E. Taylor L. Homes Taylor Ross S. Withrow T. Frank Wolf |
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Charles E. Taylor, the first treasurer, served until his death on August 20, 1931. Joseph M. Keister, the first secretary, served until 1928, except for brief periods when he served in other capacities.
Shidle Lodge members have been represented in the service of our country during times of national emergency. One member was in the Armed Forces during the Spanish-American War, 21 members in World War I and 26 members in World War II. Since the end of World War II, numerous veterans of the Korean and Vietnam Wars have been initiated into the Lodge.
Shidle Lodge reached an important milestone in 1961, when the Aladdin Theatre building at 415 Main Street, Irwin, Pennsylvania was purchased. In 1963 the building was converted into the permanent quarters for the Lodge.
