The history of the Golden Trowel Norwalk Masonic Lodge #273 is one of combining together the best of 12 separate Lodges to form one superlative Lodge. I beg the readers indulgence, as the merging of the various Lodges is a confusing path (even to me). This path consists of the combination of various Lodges together, at various times. I tried to give the history of the Golden Trowel Norwalk Lodge #273 in narrative form, but I think you will see how convoluted the formation of Golden Trowel Norwalk #273 has been. This, for the sake of clarity, I will only follow the chronological order of the various Lodge Mergers – giving the year first, and then the action that took place at that time. I had to select a logical starting place, and I felt it appropriate to begin with the formation of the Lodge from which we get our current Lodge number – Anchor Lodge #273. Please be aware that I am currently looking for more information about the founding of each great Lodge that consolidated together to make our great Golden Trowel Norwalk Lodge #273.

1884 - ANCHOR LODGE #273 FORMED

I quote here from the book "First 100 Years of Anchor Lodge #273 F&AM", published (to the best of my knowledge), in 1984 by that Lodge for the members:

"Anchor Masonic Lodge had it’s beginning on January 6, 1884, in the small farming community of Compton, located on a dirt road midway between Los Angeles and the small beach community to the south, Long Beach. In the late seventies, when Compton was first being developed, Southern California was going through a depression the result of the nation wide panic of 1873. There was little market for anything a farmer might raise, and the future of Compton looked dark. At this juncture, J.J. Harshman, the brother of one of the charter members of the future Lodge, who had settled there a few years before, determined to capitalize on his experience as a cheesemaker in Ohio. A factory was accordingly built at Compton by him and named the "Anchor Factory", which proved to be a life-saver for the entire community. Its population suggested the name for the new Lodge, which was proposed and warmly supported by Judge A.P. Bentley, one of the charter members. Doctor Amos MacFarland, another charter member who became fourth Master suggested the name Alfalfa, which was a money crop in the area, but Anchor proved to be the most favored and was adopted by the Lodge.

Nineteen Master Masons, most of whom were members of Downey Lodge #220, held a meeting in the old Fraternity Hall on Lemon Street (Compton Blvd.), to discuss the organization of a new Masonic Lodge. As a result of the meeting, a petition was drawn up. During the next four months, this group continued to meet.".

Anchor Lodge #273 received a dispensation from the Grand Lodge of California on April 16, 1884, and held it’s first stated meeting on May 5, 1884. On October 16, 1884 the Charter was granted to Anchor Lodge #273, Compton California by the Grand Lodge of California.

1893 - NORWALK LODGE #315 FORMED

The Norwalk Lodge #315 was founded in 1893. I am looking for more information on the founding of this Lodge.

1973 - THE MERGER OF THE NORWALK LODGE #315 AND EUCLID LODGE #519 TO BECOME THE NORWALK-EUCLID LODGE #315

Norwalk Lodge #315 and Euclid Lodge #519 consolidated on April 3, 1973 and became the Norwalk-Euclid Lodge #315.

1982 – THE MERGER OF THE NORWALK-EUCLID LODGE #315 AND HOLLENBECK LODGE #319 TO BECOME THE NORWALK LODGE #315

Norwalk-Euclid Lodge #315 and Hollenbeck Lodge #319 consolidated on April 1, 1982 and became the Norwalk Lodge #315.

1982 – THE MERGER OF TYRE LODGE #741 AND SAN ANTONIO LODGE #694 TO BECOME TYRE LODGE #741.

San Antonio Lodge #694 and Tyre Lodge #741 consolidated on April 2, 1982 and became Tyre Lodge #741.

1987 - THE MERGER OF TWO RIVERS LODGE #731 AND BELL LODGE #483 TO BECOME BELL LODGE #483

Two Rivers Lodge # 731 and Bell Lodge #483 consolidated on February 1, 1987 and became the Bell Lodge #483.

1988 – THE MERGER OF THE NORWALK LODGE #315 AND CENTENNIAL LODGE #729 TO BECOME THE NORWALK LODGE #315

Norwalk Lodge #315 and Centennial Lodge #729 consolidated on October 1, 1988 and became the Norwalk Lodge #315.

1991 - THE MERGER OF ANCHOR LODGE # 273, MANCHESTER LODGE #585, LYNWOOD LODGE #600, AND TYRE LODGE #742 TO BECOME GOLDEN TROWEL LODGE #273

A typed and glued in addition to the copy I have of the "First 100 Years of Anchor Lodge #273 F&AM" indicates that on December 1, 1991, "Anchor Lodge joined into a consolidation with Manchester Lodge #585, Lynwood Lodge #600, and Tyre Lodge #741 to be know from then on as "Golden Trowel Lodge #273".

1995 - THE MERGER OF BELL LODGE #483 AND GOLDEN TROWEL LODGE #273 TO BECOME THE GOLDEN TROWEL LODGE #273

Bell Lodge and the Golden Trowel Lodge #273 consolidated on November 1,1995 and became the Golden Trowel Lodge #273.

2003 – THE MERGER OF GOLDEN TROWEL LODGE #273 AND NORWALK LODGE #315 TO BECOME THE GOLDEN TROWEL NORWALK LODGE #273

Golden Trowel Lodge #273 and the Norwalk Lodge #315 consolidated on August 1, 2003 and became the Golden Trowel Norwalk Lodge #273.

As I said in the beginning of this, I am trying to formulate a more comprehensive history of the great Lodges that consolidated to form the Golden Trowel Norwalk Lodge. This information presented here comes from the Grand Lodge of California and several publications from each of the Lodges (where that information exists). Again, keep in mind that this is a work in progress.