“The Mother Lodge of Dallas”
Before Dallas was a city, before its first public schools and churches took root, six Master Masons gathered with a vision—to bring the principles of Freemasonry to a young frontier town. In 1847, they petitioned the Grand Lodge of Texas for a charter, and by 1849, Tannehill Lodge No. 52 held its first official meeting. That moment marked the beginning of the oldest continuously operating Masonic Lodge in Dallas, and one of the most influential in Texas history.
Known as The Mother Lodge of Dallas, Tannehill Lodge became more than just a meeting place. It was a foundation for civic leadership, community development, and moral guidance. From its early days above general stores and makeshift temples, the Lodge shared space with the city’s first school and church services, quietly shaping the educational and spiritual infrastructure of Dallas.
Through fires, relocations, and decades of growth, Tannehill endured. In 1881, when flames consumed the Kain & Campbell Building, Brother William Folsetter risked his life to save the Lodge’s records, preserving a legacy that would span centuries. In the decades that followed, Tannehill helped establish new lodges across the region, mentored generations of Masons, and served as a cornerstone of Dallas’s Masonic life.
From the Masonic Temple on Main and Pearl to its current home inside the Scottish Rite Cathedral, Tannehill Lodge has remained a beacon of tradition, fellowship, and service. Today, over 175 years since its founding, the Lodge continues its sacred work; linking the past to the future, and reminding us that strong cities are built on strong values.
Timeline
- 1847: Six Master Masons petitioned the Grand Lodge of Texas for a Charter.
- January 1848: A Dispensation (Warrant) to form a lodge was granted but not exercised that year.
- 1849: First meeting of Tannehill Lodge held under the Warrant. The original officers were:
- John M. Crockett, WM
- William O’Gwinn, SW
- Nat Burford, JW
- Perry Dakin, Treasurer
- John McCoy, Secretary
- Samuel G. Newton, Tiler
- 1850–1853:Lodge occupied the second floor of the A&M building at Main & Jefferson.
- 1853: Moved into its first permanent home at the southeast corner of Carondelet and Houston Streets. Second floor housed the Lodge; the first floor hosted church services and the first school in Dallas.
- 1870–1872: Rented the second floor of the Cochran & Walters Building at Main and Jefferson.
- Post 1872: Moved to the John Tennison Building on the south side of Courthouse Square.
- 1881: Rented the third floor of the Kain & Campbell Building at Main and Murphy Streets. Temporarily relocated for five months to Akard and Pacific after a fire. Brother William Folsetter heroically rescued all Lodge records.
- 1914–1919: Resided in the new Masonic Temple at Main and Pearl Streets, co-owned with Dallas Lodge.
- October 13, 1941: Moved into the Masonic Temple at Harwood, Young, and Canton Streets, owned by the Masonic Temple Corporation.
- June 2013: Held its final meeting at the Harwood location before relocating to the Scottish Rite Cathedral, where it continues to meet today.
