Palmetto Masonic Lodge 74

THE HISTORY: Palmetto Lodge No. 74 has been the history of the South and of our Nation. The members of our Lodge have played a prominent part in its peace and in its wars.

During the War Between the States, we fought with distinction and during the days of Reconstruction, the wisdom of our members was devoted to solving the problems of those dark days.

From Palmetto have gone our men to fight our wars on foreign soil. The Battle of Atlanta, the Battle of Marne, the island battles of the Pacific, Normandy Beach and even the horrors of German Prisons, have been the experiences of our men.

Among us, doctors, lawyers, preachers, merchants, farmers, statesmen and teachers have lived out their days in service beyond the call of duty, and with distinction.
Through the years, our members have gone quietly about obeying the laws of God and of their government, keeping their heads in troubled times, and always ready to lend a hand to those in distress. At no time has it been said that here was fertile ground for sowing the seeds of disloyalty or rebellion. Democracy and Christianity have always been strong enough in our Lodge community to choke out the undesirable weeds of unrest, subversion, and isms. Here, in the shadow of our Lodge have lived and worked, for a century, men and women who were guided and protected by its principles.
Indeed, the history of America has been the history of Palmetto Lodge No. 74.

Unity Lodge No. 74 F&AM was born on November 7, 1848, and its officers were: W.P. Kellog, WM, C.B. Taliaferro, SW, and Willis P. Menefee, JW. The Lodge met in the “upstairs room” of the home of Samuel Lewis Arnold, near what is now McCollum, Georgia. After five or six years the meeting place was moved to a building erected by Dr. Cabe Johnson, near the home of Winston Eberhart.

In 1877 the Lodge home was moved to Palmetto and on November 1, 1877 the name of the Lodge was changed to Palmetto No. 74. After the Battle of Atlanta stragglers of Sherman’s army destroyed the physical properties of the Lodge.

During the days of Reconstruction a group of Masons met in a back room of Brother Sim Zellar’s store and kept the Lodge alive. These men were: Brothers J.M. Hopkins, Robert Astin, Sim Zellars, Dr. Zellars and Arthur Hutcheson.
The Lodge met in a brick building, built by Garrett and Walthal in 1873, from about 1875 until about 1880. At that time, it moved into the Reid building from which it moved to its present location.