Some Famous Masons

Silver State Lodge #95 owes its inception and early existence to Bro. George W. Roe. In 1889 he came to Pueblo and after being a residence for four years he found that although there were two Lodges already in Pueblo a considerable number of sojourning members of the fraternity here had not affiliated with either of those Lodges. Considering the existing Masonic situation and the then rapidly increasing population he believed that there was room for one more Lodge. Heading a petition, 28 Master Masons signed a petition to form a new Lodge. On April 12, 1893 a dispensation was issued by the Colorado Grand Lodge authorizing the formation of Silver State Lodge #95.

From April 1893 to 1894 the lodge held its communications in the Masonic Temple at the corner of Broadway and Evans.

On Feb. 22nd 1894 the Lodge moved to the Pioneer Building at 119 S. Union Ave where it continued to meet until 1899.

On June 15, 1899 the Lodge met in on the 3rd floor of the Hobson Building at he Northeast corner of Santa Fe Ave., and 3rd Street. 

One of Pueblo's finer buildings erected in the early 1890's was the Mechanics Building at 207 N. Main. In 1910 Pueblo Masonic Lodge #17 and Silver State Lodge #95 and three other Masonic bodies jointly purchased the building and used the top floor for lodge rooms.

In 1951 Lodge moved to the Scottish Rite Temple at 15th and Elizabeth.

In 1999 Lodge moved back to the Masonic Temple at Broadway & Evans.

Late in the year 1858 a number of gold-seekers had gathered at the junction of Cherry Creek and the Platte River, on land which was then a part of the Territory of Kansas, but which now is within the State of Colorado. This settlement was known as Auraria, and by the first of November a number of cabins had been erected there.

On the evening of November 3, 1858, seven Masons, including William M. Slaughter, held an informal meeting in one of those cabins; and throughout the following winter these brethren and others continued to meet from time to time, having in mind the formation of a new Masonic Lodge at Auraria, provided the proper authorization could be obtained from some Grand Lodge.

At least nine of the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence were Freemasons. These include: Benjamin Franklin, John Hancock, Joseph Hewes, William Hooper, Robert Treat Paine, Richard Stockton, George Walton, and William Whipple. There is also some evidence suggesting that William 

Graham Masonic park is located at mile marker 22 between Rye and San Isabel Colorado. Each year on the 4th Saturday of June, Silver State hosts its annual St. Johns Picnics at the Graham Masonic Parks possible.