ALBERT PIKE NO 237
A.F.& A.M.
907 Mainstreet
P.O. Box 5618
Hopkins, MN 55343

Telephone: 952-938-9207

The Early Years

At the beginning of the Twentieth Century, Hopkins, or as it was known at the time, West Minneapolis, was a bustling
community of 1650 citizens.

There were 34 businesses, one grade school with 300 pupils, and five railroads. A streetcar service operated between
Minneapolis and Hopkins. Several fraternal organizations were a part of the community; however, a Masonic Lodge
was not included in that number.

A number of Hopkins men belonged to various Masonic Lodges in the surrounding area. Wayzata Lodge No 205 was attended
by 66 men from the Hopkins community.

In those days travel between Hopkins and Wayzata could be very difficult at times. This became one of the
principal reasons this group of men became interested in organizing a lodge in Hopkins.

A petition for a lodge in Hopkins was presented to the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota for a charter
for this proposed lodge. The Grand Master granted a temporary charter on October 15, 1900. The first meeting
of the new lodge was held on October 20, 1900 at Campbell's store. On January 24, 1901, a permanent charter was
granted for a lodge in Hopkins.

The lodge is named in honor of Albert Pike, a Freemason during the nineteeth century and author of the ritual
work for the Scottish Rite, Southern Jurisdiction. His volume of work, titled 'Morals and Dogma,' is a hallmark
among Masonic literature and written history. 

Building the Lodge

The lodge had only been operating for a short period when plans were drawn up for a new lodge building.

Dr. S.S. Kilvington was instrumental in the venture. Dr. Kilvington, along with a small group of men, finalized
plans for the building. Donations of equipment, material and countless hours of labor brought the dream to
fruition. The building became a reality. Campbell's store fell victim to a fire before the new building
was completed. This meant lodge meetings began prematurely in the new building on October 15,1902. Once
completed, the new Albert Pike Lodge and members had established new roots in the City of Hopkins. The lodge
has operated continously from that time to the present. In 2001, the lodge celebrated its 100th Anniversary.

There have been several major renovations to the building during the past 100 years. In 1949 the building was
extensively refurbished with new furniture, drapes, carpeting, and lights. In 1955 a basement was constructed
under the building and a reception area was added to the rear of the building. During the 1960s other improvements
were made including painting the exterior of the building white. In 1987 restoration to the original brick
was undertaken and the paint was removed from the front of the building bringing back the original brick texture
and color. New front steps and the wrought iron fence were also added. In 2002 renovation to the exterior and
interior of the building began. This included sprucing up the front of the building and planting shrubs.
The interior received extensive work with repainting most of the interior, new carpeting installed, new platforms constructed
in the lodge room, culminating with the installation of a new heating and cooling system. This work continues
as of the publication of this information.