Masonic Lodge No. 142 was organized in 1873 with Samuel Saylor appointed master, and its first meeting was held in a new schoolhouse using boxes for the altar and jewels made of tin. Early members included Muse, Peters, Munger, Spivey, Lynch, Neal, and Ashbaugh. In 1879, a two-story 25x80-foot building was built on this site, with an upper-story lodge room regarded as a model of beauty and ornament, while the lower level was rented to the county for offices. Throngs from throughout the state attended the ceremonies, which included a grand promenade and the laying of the cornerstone by Grand Master E.D. Hillyer. In 1883, the building was enlarged at a cost of $13,000 to provide space for a courtroom and opera hall, which became the site of grand balls and concerts. Magnolia Lodge No. 231 was chartered in 1884 with Robert Collins as worshipful master, and it united with Lodge No. 142 in 1901. The building front was covered with brick in 1961, and the upper-story lodge rooms have retained their architectural beauty.