The land on which this was built was owned by members of the Hopkins family (Daniel, John and Elizabeth, and J. Thomas C. Hopkins) until 1920. They sold the land to Alexander and Laura Whitfield, who sold a part of the land in 1922 to Chesapeake Lodge Number 48 Free and Accepted Masons of Havre de Grace. It appears that Alexander Whitfield (from North Carolina) was an officer in a new chapter of the Lodge. Laura Whitfield (originally Lauretta Brown) was the sister of Emma Jane Brown, who used to live at 506 Revolution Street, and whose photo appears in that entry. This building was constructed either by the Whitfields or by the Chesapeake Lodge around the time of that sale.

The 1921 Sanborn Insurance Map shows this as the location of the “Colored Motion Picture Theatre Canvas Tent,” but the 1930 Map shows “Lodge.” The building apparently was not well maintained so it was in very poor condition in 1942, when the USO Council of Aberdeen and Salvation Army together helped to establish a USO Club for Negroes in this building. It was opened on May 29, 1942, to serve as a community-run operation until February 1, 1944, when it became an extension of the Aberdeen USO who took over operations.

From 1944 until 2008 this property was owned by Chesapeake Lodge #48 Free and Accepted Masons of Havre de Grace. In 2008, however, while retaining a one-half interest in the property, the Chesapeake Lodge sold the other one-half interest to the Jessie J. Shanks Lodge #137 Free and Accepted Masons.

Retired Chief Warrant Officer 2 Jessie J. Shanks Sr. of Aberdeen first joined the Aberdeen Proving Ground community during the Korean War in 1952. He then went on a two-year assignment to Japan, near Yokohama. After that he served in Germany, coming back to APG for eight years, followed by two tours in Vietnam. Shanks and his wife settled in Aberdeen; he has 67 years to date in the APG community and he’s been a member of the chapel’s Protestant service for more than 40. He’s still active in chapel programs and as a volunteer on post and in the local community. The Lodges meet the second and fourth Wednesday of each month here.

County Records
1650 sq ft, 2 stories, fraternal building, 9,000 sq ft lot, exempt commercial.