For more than 200 years The Masonic Temple has had a home in the center of downtown Ridgefield

Editor's note: this article appeared in Ridgefield Magazine several years ago. In honor of the anniversary of the Battle of Ridgefield, and the series of events planned for April of 2017, we thought we'd dig it up! 

Notable Ridgefielders David Wooster, General George Washington and Rochambeau were Masons

Masons have been the center of Ridgefield for centuries.  Since 1808  they have gathered in Ridgefield as Jerusalem Lodge 49 A.F and A.M (ancient free and accepted masons).  The Masonic Temple located at 396 Main Street was erected in 1817 after Brother Isaac Olmstead sold the property to the Masons for $20.00.   Part of the oldest fraternal order in the world; it is a nationwide fellowship of philanthropic individuals whose mission, according to member Walter Wieland, is to "contribute to someone’s relief as liberally as we can without doing injury to ourselves.” 

Notable Ridgefielders David Wooster, General George Washington and Rochambeau were Masons as were many of our town’s founding fathers including Governors George and Phineas Lounsbury. Twice a month, nearly 100 men from Ridgefield and surrounding towns meet at the lodge to share friendships and to  seek ways to help those in need.  According to Wieland, “Once they join, the majority of the members are members for life… it’s a fraternal brotherhood”.  Wieland adds, “…of course, our real mission is charity”.  The Masonic Temple is a non-for-profit organization that operates under the assumption of humility as Wieland quietly says, “un-like other groups, we don’t advertise our good doings and we don’t go out and solicit people to join."

The Masons donate monies raised through initiation fees to local as well as national charities.  Dorothy Day and Meals on Wheels are among the local organizations that have benefited directly from The Masonic Temple.  In addition, the masons sponsor a scholarship program at the Ridgefield High School for higher education.  On a national level, masons are volunteering their time to develop an “insurance program” for parents called the CHIP program (Child Identification Program).  Wieland explains, “We take dental impressions and a cheek swab and a video of the child and that’s all burned into a CD and given to the parents…it helps them identify the child." There is a misconception that the Masonic Temple has a religious affiliation.  Not so says Wieland, “We are not a religious organization at all” although he adds that they “do not have atheists within the group." “Our forefathers were looking to help each other.  In those days, there weren’t any government handouts or stimulus packages."

Visit the Masonic Temple website here.