Help Restore our Lodge

Proposal to the Brethren

Exciting plan for our Lodge Restoration

In April 2011, remodeling of Halifax Lodge #81 F. & A. M was started.  Now a proposal is being put forward to continue the restoration of the Lodge building.  The plan includes a completion date for the restoration to be on of before January 11, 2014.  This will coincide with our Lodge’s 126^th Anniversary at its current location, and the Lodge’s 137^th year in existence since being chartered in 1877!

In preparation, and hope, for our Lodge being totally restored, we have started by getting support from our Brothers and Sisters and now are asking for support from the Brothers and Sisters that don’t come to the Lodge on a regular basis or Brothers that have the means to help.  We now, respectfully, request your help.  In the continuation of the Lodge restoration we will need physical help, and monetary donations.  Grants will be sought so if you have experience with grant writing that also is needed.  These grants will be sought from Historical Preservation and City of Daytona Beach.  With all of the Brothers and Sisters who call Halifax #81 home working together in assisting the returning of our Lodge to its former glory, failure will not be an option.

The restoration of the Lodge will take a minimum of 1 to 3 years which will include planning, grant application process, and construction. Again, with the help of our Brothers and Sisters, our hope is a completion of the project by 2014.  This effort of our will end with our Lodge being restored to its 1924 appearance.  By doing this, we can all be proud of helping to preserve the history of our Masonic Lodge, Brotherhood, and City, Daytona Beach, for ourselves and Halifax #81 posterity.

www.halifax81.com

This plan is intended to provide general information, to the Lodge members, Brothers and Sisters, and grant agencies, regarding the Daytona Beach Lodge #81 restoration project.  The plan presents some reasons for restoring the Lodge, a glimpse at the project’s history thus far, the vision for the Lodge restoration and plans for funding the project.  A donor list, of contributing Members, will be added at a later date forever commemorating their efforts and generosity.  The plan will be updated as progress is made toward the ultimate goal of the Lodge’s restoration and preservation.  The plan will change from time to time reflecting conditions found during the restoration efforts.  Comments regarding the restoration project can be made to the Lodge’s building committee.

A Grant information package was downloaded and review from the Florida Department of Historical Preservation and the Daytona Beach Re-Development Grant Program (Deanne M Tolley).  This should be a good start for us to inquire about financial assistance in the restoration and preservation project Our Lodge is located in the Beach Street district and are currently on the National Historical Registry as a contributing structure.  We are also listed within a local Historical District for Daytona Beach.  This opens numerous doors of possibilities, for grant funding for our Lodge.  Our Lodge is one of the few in this state that is on the historic registration.  Contact has been made with Mr. Thomas Weitnauer, historical planner for Daytona Beach, to get our building listed also as a local historical structure and to help us with the historical presentation for who assesses the worthiness of the grants.

Thought: Just imagine if we could travel back in time and preserve a part of King Solomon’s Temple, what would it be worth to you as a Mason? Is our Lodge any less valuable to us as Masons? Imagine what our efforts could be worth to our future Brethren and the amount of respect it would show For us in the future in the form of homage to the Brothers of this Lodge that had the passion, desire  who  provided their hard works and donation completing our Lodge. We have the ability to restore our Lodge to its formal glory of 1924 but it will take all of us working together to complete it..

Why Restore the Lodge?

The reasons to restore and preserve the Lodge are numerous.  First and foremost is that it has been, and can continue to be, a highly visible, recognizable and historic Daytona Beach landmark.  The Lodge building was built in 1888 with various additions and alterations thereafter.  In 1924 a large addition was completed to the now current Lodge Room  and it has remained essentially unchanged—except modern needs like an elevator, air conditioning, drop ceilings and paneling.  The Lodge, if restored, can be used by appending bodies for work and instruction, fund raising and the enjoyment of all

Our proposed restoration plan is not only for preserving the historic Lodge building, but also help preserve a significant piece of local history.  The Lodge, when built in 1924, and restoration of the Grotto Room (The Old Lodge from 1888) connected the local community with the Mason’s as we best can tell from the historic documents. The modern community does not even know our Lodge exists or of its rich history.  The restoration of our Lodge should spark the community’s interest in our local presence in the area.  Perhaps we may also see a larger turn out at the stated meetings from Brethren.  Or even, perhaps we would see a surge in new members with all of the exposure while under restoration.  Not to mention, a re-energizing of the older Brethren to see a re-awakening of our Lodge.

The Lodge’s historical significance needs validating.  The federal and local governing bodies will be helpful in determining its eligibility so that any and all applicable grants or funding that we are eligible for can be used, while being listed on the prestigious National Register of Historic Places.  Restoration of a building with so much historical significance for this area will provide Daytona Beach with a permanent and recognizable landmark.  Preservation of the Lodge can become a source of civic pride for the Beach Street area and its residents.  Therefore, when shared with others traveling to and through the area, it can help stimulate heritage tourism.  Also, bring in Lodge members and their families, giving members a reason to stop in and will help make our Lodge a destination just think Halifax # 81 a Place to See.  Further, it can aid with economic development by demonstrating to prospective businesses a place to visit and residents an example of community pride.  A remembrance of all our past Lodge members since 1877 and how our member contributed the early Daytona Beach Community.

What better building than the historic Masonic Lodge #81 to tell the story of Daytona Beach area’s history of the Lodge, the Brethren, the community interest in the past, Daytona’s Downtown History, and the people that made the Lodge what it is today – and what it will be for tomorrow.  Honoring our past Masters of our Lodge and the past community and business leaders. So that our Lodge can Continue Making Good men better.

The Lodge is one of the few historically significant commercial buildings in Daytona Beach – its preservation will be a great project for the Daytona area – its restoration will be a great community project!

PLEASE MEMBERS HELP SUPPORT OUR EFFORTS!

www.halifax81.com

Project Perspective:

This list is small now but it will grow rapidly with your help not unlike the growth we experienced as the newest entered apprentice in the north east corner Lodge.

PHASE 1 (A) – Interior restoration to our Lodge Room.  Minor restorations have begun.  Removal of carpet, that was installed in 1976, exposed wood flooring in poor condition.  Much work was done by many members of the lodge, their efforts restoring the floor to its original glory.  Removal of old termite riddled plywood from the east wall exposed 6 beautiful windows that have not been exposed since the 1970’s or earlier.  A plaster coating that covered the east wall has been removed exposing a brick wall.  A checkered floor has been added – look at the difference already.

 Prior to Remodeling  

 More Light

TO BE COMPLETED:

PHASE 1 (B) – Finishing of the wood floor is planned.(Completed) Exposing the brick alcoves in the south and north walls. Painting of the walls in the Lodge should be done soon.  30 gallons of paint has been donated by Color Wheel Paints. (Completed)

 Imagine how the Lodge would look with its arch windows exposed and Its Balcony and Arch ceiling restored

PHASE 1 (C) – We have hopes to remove the suspended ceiling that, through the years, is discolored and damaged by water and age.  This will expose a hand framed arch ceiling and the arch part of 6 windows in the east.  To do this, much work must be done with limited funds.  With the removal of the ceiling, all the old florescent lights will need to be removed and all of the existing A/C ductwork will need to be relocated.  New lighting and some new duct work will be required to see the glory of our old ceiling. The plaster in the old ceiling will require repairs due to old leaks, age and neglect.  The Lodge Room has no insulation in it nor does the rest of the building.  We had a FPL energy audit completed on the building and FPL offered to pay $0.15 per SF towards the insulation.  Best guess estimate to complete the renovations to restore our Lodge Room to its 1924 glory is between $15,000 and $20,000, depending on lodge member participation.  Brothers, please help in restoring your Lodge to the gem she once was!!

PHASE 1 (D) – KITCHEN – , Repair rotten Roof trusses in ceiling supporting roof over the kitchen, Installation of new suspended ceiling, tile the floors, new cabinets, add stainless counter on preparation table, Paint the walls. It would be great to get a commercial stove/oven and microwave.  Any Brother that can help with funds or donations of labor or materials would be greatly appreciated.  Once again, it is our Lodge and it will be ours to enjoy and be proud of.

PHASE 1 (E) – THE GROTTO ROOM   Our Original Lodge from 1888– We have talked about demolishing the suspended ceilings  (Completed) and all the A/C ductwork exposing the arch ceilings and ribbed arches supported by columns.  Re-locating the ductwork and adding some fans.  We have hopes to use the antique lighting fixtures that are currently there.  The walls in the Grotto Room will require some repairs due to old water damage, but the repairs are minor in nature.  The ceiling will require plaster repairs again, due to post water damage, age and neglect.  The old exterior windows (glass area) will be covered with plywood or board of some type, leaving the window frames.  The plywood in the glass area, we have hopes of being painted with Masonic paintings when complete.  They will look like framed pictures when complete.  It would look fantastic!!  The floors in the Grotto Room are again, Heart of Pine floors and refinishing would be required.  The floors are in no way or form as bad as the Lodge Room was, and the room is smaller. So restoration of the floor should be a fraction of the cost and labor needed for the Lodge Room.  This room would great as a reference room, a room to be used for a collection of our Lodge’s history, or just a great area for lectures or instruction.  This too, can be accomplished with donations from our Brothers and Sisters.

(Just Imagine how many Brothers of old walked and worked in this old Lodge Room.)

PHASE 1 (F) – Paint and repair plaster and ceiling tile in Dining Room, Sitting Room, Stairway and Tyler’s Room. (Painting Completed) These are labor-only projects since the paint has been donated and we can use salvaged tile from the Grotto Room for ceiling repairs.  The paint was donated not by a Brother, just by simply going out and asking for a donation.  The more Brothers that ask, who knows what could be donated.

PHASE 2 (A) – FRONT STORM FRONT WINDOWS AND FAÇADE RESTORATION – This is an area of focus for future grants from Daytona Beach and/or the Historical Preservation Society.  The windows are at best in a terrible condition and do not meet the original historical condition. Painting and caulking the exterior window frames is needed as well as pressure spraying the front of the building. It would be great to return the original canopies that existed above the store fronts. The restoration would be great for all those that pass our building and those that walk or visit all the buildings in the Federal Register of Historical Buildings.

PHASE 2 (B) – Open for member input and Grant or member donation.

PHASE 3 (A) - BALCONY – After completion of the ceiling in the Lodge Room and the electrical and A/C have been re-located, we could begin on restoration of this area. The floor needs re-finished.  Lighting needs to be added.  And the plaster is in a horrible condition, again, due to neglect, water damages and age.  After the Lodge Room is completed, we have hopes also of possible grants to restore the balcony. 

Just imagine it being done.  See your Lodge completed.  Help us to get it done.  Your time, your money and your sweat is required.  As Masons we should work the good work.  Imagine the new potential, with Brothers walking into our old Lodge restored to her old glory!  Imagine what all the old Masters that have been long gone would say.  Imagine what all the future Brothers would say about us.

Brothers and Sisters, please help in any way you can. We are now pulling on our Brother’s cable tow.  But we believe it to be for a worthy purpose.  Pick a project to champion, or help fund.  You are needed and will be appreciated!

BROTHERS FOR THE RESTORATION OF HALIFAX # 81 LODGE!