If you’ve spent any time in Greenwood or PhinneyWood, chances are you’ve driven or walked past the stately brick building at the corner of Greenwood Avenue and 80th. You may have admired its architecture, wondered what happens inside, or simply thought of it as one of those neighborhood landmarks that’s always been there.
This year, we decided it was finally time to step inside.
Founded in 1922, the Greenwood Masonic Lodge is part of one of the world’s oldest fraternal organizations, but its members describe themselves in much simpler terms: neighbors from all walks of life who gather for fellowship, personal growth, community service, and a shared appreciation for history and tradition.
“We’re grounded, working-class Masons,” members told us. “We enjoy ritual, history, music, meals, and spending time together.”
That sense of fellowship extends well beyond the lodge itself. Locally, members support organizations like Greenwood Elementary through the Bikes for Books program, contribute to the Greenwood Food Bank, and are participating in the upcoming PhinneyWood Art Walk. Members have always held a long-standing commitment to serving the neighborhood they call home.
A Century of Greenwood History
The lodge’s story began in April 1922, when a small group of local Masons met in Woodland Park Presbyterian Church with the goal of creating a new lodge to serve the growing Greenwood community.
Within a few months they had received permission to organize, but they still needed a permanent home.
Members raised funds to purchase the property where the lodge stands today, then embarked on the ambitious task of constructing the building. Along the way they encountered challenges that could easily have derailed the project. Before financing was fully secured, materials had already been ordered and construction was underway. To keep the project moving, the lodge’s first treasurer, James L. Batley, personally borrowed $5,000—a considerable sum at the time—so construction could continue.
The lodge’s founder, Charles J. Wyman, passed away before the building was completed, but his legacy remains. Before his death, he donated the Bible used during lodge ceremonies, and more than 100 years later it is still in use today.
The Greenwood Masonic Lodge was officially dedicated on June 2, 1924, and has remained a neighborhood fixture ever since.
Separating Myth from Reality
Freemasonry has long been surrounded by mystery, something the members are happy to laugh about.
Among the most common misconceptions? That Freemasonry is a secret society, a religion, or something far more sinister.
In reality, members describe it as “a society with secrets rather than a secret society.” While certain ceremonial traditions and methods of recognition remain private, the organization’s values, charitable work, and meeting locations are all public. Freemasonry is also not a religion, and discussions of religion and politics are intentionally left outside lodge meetings.
Perhaps the biggest surprise is that members aren’t recruited. Instead, anyone interested must take the first step themselves.
“People join of their own free will,” members explained. “What they find is fellowship, mentorship, and lasting friendships.”
Today’s membership reflects the diversity of the surrounding community, including college students, young professionals, retirees, construction workers, attorneys, musicians, painters, tugboat operators, salespeople, and many others.
More Than a Lodge
One thing many neighbors don’t realize is that the historic building also serves as an event venue.
With its century-old character, commercial kitchen, and welcoming gathering spaces, the Greenwood Masonic Lodge hosts everything from weddings and birthday celebrations to corporate trainings and community events. For those looking for a venue with local history and personality, it’s one of Greenwood’s hidden gems.
Curious about learning more? The lodge hosts a Fellowship Night on the third Monday of every month at 6 p.m., inviting prospective members to meet the Masons, ask questions, and share a steak dinner in an informal setting.
As the lodge looks toward its next century, its goals remain remarkably similar to those of its founders: strengthen the organization, welcome new generations of members, and continue giving back to the Greenwood and PhinneyWood community through service and neighborhood involvement.
For a building that many of us pass every day, it’s reassuring to know that behind those historic brick walls is something refreshingly simple: neighbors gathering together to build community, preserve tradition, and find ways to make the neighborhood just a little bit stronger.