Our history begins with CHEVIOT LODGE 140 which was chartered October 20, 1847. The building shown was not the original Lodge, the original being a wooden structure of which no picture exists. Designed by the noted local firm of Samuel Hannaford and Sons, it was built in 1910 and served as the home for Cheviot Lodge 140 for over 90 years. Among prominent members was James Gamble, a founding partner of Procter and Gamble and a resident of Westwood. Due to demographic changes and lack of parking and activity space, the decision was made to merge with a lodge which could better accommodate the members. This led to the merger with Western Hills Lodge 762. The old building was sold and has since been re-used as a church and most recently as a community center. In 1997, Cheviot Lodge 140 published a booklet with some historical and commemorative facts and statistics.
COLERAIN LODGE 759 was chartered October 11, 1958. Located in the vacated Bevis United Brethren Church building, this Lodge served the northwestern part of Hamilton County for fifty-five years. Again relocation was required as the area changed from a rural community to a congested shopping area virtually overnight. The Lodge building became isolated in the middle of new and widened highways, a shopping area, and a cemetery. Colerain Lodge 759 decided the best option was to merge with a Lodge with another nearby Lodge. On December, 2013, Colerain Lodge 759 formally merged with Western Hills – Cheviot Lodge 140. Several of these members have since entered and progressed, or are progressing through the Officer line, proof of the true blending of our membership and unity among all Masons.
WESTERN HILLS LODGE 762 was chartered October 17, 1959, making it technically the “youngest brother” of our combined Masonic family. Western Hills Lodge was founded on old farm land and is situated on over six acres which made it an excellent merger option for Cheviot Lodge 140 which lacked parking and any possibility for growth, With the merger western Hill adopted the older charter of Cheviot Lodge, and the combined Lodges became Western Hills-Cheviot Lodge 140 and the building was named West Side Masonic Center. Colerain Lodge merged with us in 2013. Our facility also serves other appendant Masonic bodies which meet here, such as York Rite and DeMolay. It hosts public events and it also can be rented by members of the community. Here is a short digital “scrapbook” of some Western Hills 762 Memories
INTERESTING HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS
We have a copy of the 1937 DISTRICT ROSTER which provides the names and addresses and other details on all the Masonic Lodges that were in existence in the First Masonic District in 1934. You may also find not only Masonic history in Cincinnati interesting, but the companies advertising, their products sold, and the fact that you may find some in business to this day.