Built by Mississippi riverboat Captain John Scudder in 1895 as a summer residence, the building was locally known as "Scudder’s cottage." Every room had a fireplace. Distinguished guests included Samuel Langhorne Clemens (Mark Twain), songwriter Alfred Robyn, composer Percieval Thorne, and local opera star William Wegener. It was sold to the Kohl family, a theater chain family, in 1920 and acquired by Oconomowoc Lodge #42 F & AM in 1922. The veranda on the west and south sides was removed, the original narrow clapboard siding was replaced, and the oval window in the triangular gable survived. It is the meeting place for all masonic groups in Oconomowoc.