Since June 4, 1875, Knob Creek Lodge No. 401 Ancient Free & Accepted Masons has met continuously in Bell County and remained true to its ideals of fraternity, charitable works, and public service. Masonic District 11 Deputy Grand Master Archibald Johnson Rose of Salado assisted in establishing Little River Lodge No. 401, the predecessor to Knob Creek Lodge, at Little River Academy, an agricultural community eight miles south of the Temple area. In December 1876, the brethren began meeting in the gin owned by Early Greathouse, Sr., son of charter member John Greathouse. Reflecting the progress of freemasonry statewide, Little River Lodge remained committed to education, and in 1879 arranged to build a second story onto the Pleasant Valley Schoolhouse to use as a new meeting place. At the same time, the lodge changed its name to Knob Creek Lodge No. 401 after the creek running near the school. As membership rose and the area grew, Knob Creek Lodge moved to Temple in 1885 and occupied the second story of the Hurley Building. After a fire in its third building, the brethren built a lodge hall that opened in 1906 at 16 East Central Ave., where they continue to meet after more than 100 years. By 1960, the lodge had grown to more than 700 members from all strata of Bell County residents and had built a legacy of public service, with members supporting churches, businesses, education, government, and social programs in Bell County while providing civic leadership to Temple, Bell County, and beyond.