Madison lodge No 126 AF&AM

Hugh Ochiltree (1820-91), George A. Pattillo (1796-1871), and other leading citizens organized this lodge on April 30, 1853. Col. Ochiltree had come to Texas in 1839, fought in the Mexican War, and helped develop the town of Madison (Now Orange). Pattillo settled in the county in 1830, was a local official of the Mexican colony of Texas, a Republic of Texas Congressman, and a Veteran public leader. The lodge was chartered under the name by which the town of Orange was known from 1842 to 1858. Officers for the first year were William Smith, worshipful master; Pattillo, Senior Warden; Ochiltree, Junior Warden; A. H. Reading, Secretary; I. H. Hutchings, Treasurer; S. Fairchilds, Senior Deacon; N. Smith, Junior Deacon; Charles Saxon, Tiler. Madison lodge sponsored the town's first public school, 1854-1879, providing housing on the ground floor of the lodge hall--where church services were also held for a number of years. In 1865, a hurricane destroyed the original lodge building. A second was erected in 1878. The present building, with banquet room, offices, and other appointments, was completed in August 1926. Supplemental Plate: Moved from second lodge site at 5th and Elm after sale of property to new, but continuing, location of original Madison Lodge #126, A. F. & a. M.