More than most civic groups, the Masons really respect and honor history. This weekend, the local lodge will celebrate some annals of its own. And as usual, the Masons will do it in style.
The Liverpool-Syracuse Lodge No. 501 of Free & Accepted Masons will mark its 150th anniversary at 3 p.m. Saturday, May 11, by erecting a four-foot-tall obelisk monument in front of its building at 608 Oswego St., across from Johnson Park in the village. New York State Grand Master James Sullivan is expected to attend.
The original charter for Liverpool Lodge No. 525 is dated June 3, 1863. Its Charter Master was Richard J. Chillingworth, a 29-year-old native of Staffordshire, England. The Liverpool Masons convened at four different village locations through 1917 when they bought the lot at 608 Oswego for $800. The new temple building was financed via a sale of stock, and the building was dedicated on Aug. 6, 1918, by Grand Master William S. Farmer.
In the 1980s and ’90s, several lodges based in Syracuse consolidated with the Liverpool lodge. In 1994, Syracuse Lodge No. 501 joined Liverpool No. 525, creating the present Liverpool-Syracuse Lodge No. 501. The lodge’s current Master is Ralph Haney Jr.
Over the decades, the Lodge’s brothers have included more than 80 veterans of the Civil War and many men who served Grand Lodge, including two past grand masters, Clinton F. Paige and Findlay M. King. The brotherhood’s membership has spanned a wide spectrum from canal men to railroaders, from doctors to merchants and clergy to police officers. Two recent Liverpool mayors, Jim Moore and Al Sahm, are members.
The Liverpool Masons support the community by sponsoring the annual Easter egg hunt in Johnson Park, a couple of different Christmas observances and by providing scholarships to local students.
For more about the Masons, visit syracusemasons.com, or call 451-7524.
Future of history?
Speaking of historic occasions, the Historical Association of Greater Liverpool will host a general membership meeting at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 11, at the Gleason Mansion. Discussion of the group’s future will be at the top of the agenda, said President Joan Cregg.
Ecumenical entertainment
There’ll be free ice cream for everybody when folks from ten Liverpool-area churches gather in Johnson Park from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, May 11, for a first-ever festivity called “Parishes in the Park for Believers, Doubter and Seekers.”
“Churches are alive and active,” said organizer Kelley Romano, “and each church will have a booth where they’ll provide information about its programs and what makes that church unique.”
Live music will be performed by handbell choirs, jazz groups, brass ensembles and children’s chimes choirs, said music director Deanna Pavlacka.
“We want people to know that church-goers do not have all the answers,” Romano said, “but we do have fun!”
Sponsored by the Liverpool Clergy Association, Parishes in the Park will feature an ice cream social as well as an ecumenical worship service. Food pantry donations will be collected.
The participating churches are Immaculate Heart of Mary, King of Kings Lutheran, Liverpool Community Church, Liverpool First Presbyterian, Liverpool First United Methodist, Redeemer Covenant, St. Joseph the Worker, St. Paul’s Lutheran and United Church of Christ.
In case of rain, signs will be posted at the park directing participants to an alternative indoor location. “We’ve put too much time and effort into this wonderful event to cancel if it rains,” Romano said. “There’s a lot of enthusiasm out there!”
For information, give Kelley a call at 440-4119.
Gull prepares to Bark
One of Liverpool’s best bartenders, Dave Caramanna, is back at The Retreat after short stints with Sharkey’s and the White Water Pub. Before long, however, Dave’ll move again.
Later this month he’ll man the taps over at The Barking Gull where he’ll pour cocktails to accompany delicious wood-fired pizza pies.
For most of the past decade, the Barking Gull, at 116 S. Willow St., hosted private parties only, but now it will open to the public, said John Gormel, Liverpool’s most prominent tavernkeeper – the man with the mile-wide smile.
