Waterdown Lodge was founded at their first meeting held Tuesday March 27, 1877, 9:00pm-
10pm. It was a great start. Twenty brethren in attendance including visitors from Burlington,
St. John’s Hamilton, and Acadian Hamilton. Waterdown Lodge was supported by Burlington
Lodge who provided most of necessary furnishings. Waterdown was established as it took 1
to 3 hours to attend Lodge in either Hamilton, Dundas or Burlington, so a local meeting place
was needed. The first meeting location was above the tinsmith shop, in the location now
occupied by Memorial Hall in Waterdown. On Nov 20, 1877 R.W.Bro. Hugh Murray DDGM
consecrated and dedicated Waterdown Lodge No. 357 at the annual communication of the
grand lodge.
Initially, meetings were to be held on the Tuesday of or before the full moon each month.
This peculiar schedule was maintained until Jan 7th, 1936, when the meeting date was
changed from Tuesday on or before the full moon, to be the third Tuesday of each month.
Even in the early years, Waterdown Lodge promoted charity, benevolence and community
involvement. A few examples would be the donation of $20 to victims of the great fire in
Saint Johns N.B. in 1877, the burial of a deceased brother, buying a cow for a needy family,
and financing high school fees for a deceased brothers child.
After an incredibly strong 10 years of operation, the lodge started to see attendance
numbers decline, due in part to a number of nearby taverns. Many of the brethren found
their attention of their evenings focused on these establishments. Ultimately, many members
determined the taverns to be a more enjoyable place to spend their evenings. On
September 21, 1888, only 1 member attend the lodge meeting. In November of 1888,
eleven members were suspended due to non-payment of dues, with more being suspended
for similar reasons in December of 1890.
To remedy many of the concerns, the lodge moved from Waterdown into Millgrove on Nov
10, 1896. On January 12, 1897, a dedication ceremony for the new location was officiated
by M.W. Bro. W. Gibson. W.Bro. B.G. Ryckman played an important part in the move, as he
was both a Past Master of the lodge, was on the new Hall board in Millgrove, singed for the
lease, and was acting as Secretary for the lodge.
The new location proved to be a great decision as in 1898 there was a sudden surge in new
applications, which proved to stabilise the Lodge. They continued to build upon this success
and in 1902 they received the honour of being named a “Banner Lodge.”
The 50th anniversary was celebrated at special meeting on May 10, 1927. The Master was
R.W. Bro J.O. McGregor, a working physician. He became DDGM of Hamilton District in
1906, was a County councillor for 16 years and also a Warden of the county of Wentworth
for 2 years. At this celebration, there were 180 members and visitors in attendance. The
installation of an organ took place to commemorate the occasion.
As attendance grew in the 1940s, new problems began to arise, specifically with the
structural integrity of the building. A number of large posts were kept in reserve to shore up
the flooring for nights with significant attendance. It became necessary to dispense with the grand lodge honours during the visit of the DDGM, as there were serious concerns that the
structure would not withstand the thunderous applause.
In 1946 a committee was appointed to discuss the poor condition of the building. In 1947,
following a failure of the shoring posts and the plaster ceiling, the lodge and hall board
agreed to install additional support posts and beams to the building. Fortunately for the
brethren in attendance, the floor of the lodge only fell as far as the height of the floor joist,
and no injuries were recorded.
In 1947, the land for a site on Highway 6 was purchased, and plans for a structure was
adapted from Beach Lodge No. 639. Seats were obtained from the Dundas Theater, and a
large amount of the other materials for the new building was donated or obtained at cost.
Upon opening, furniture for the new lodge room was donated by brethren from Waterdown
Lodge and throughout the District, as well as by neighbouring Lodges.
The Dedication of the new Lodge building was conducted by M.W.Bro. T.H. Simpson on
January 23, 1951. Attendance for the dedication was at capacity. Despite the large number
in attendance, it was now finally possible to give The Grand Honours in safety.
The Waterdown Members worked hard and were financially responsible. On December 16,
2958, the Members paid off and then burned the mortgage in a symbolical ceremony.
The following two decades were marked by growth and success, with recognition from
Grand Lodge in the form of several appointments of brethren to Grand Steward, and by the
frequent attendance of visiting brethren to the regular meetings of the lodge. Through the
subsequent decade a number of current traditions arose. Music grew in importance to the
Lodge during regular meetings. In memory of brethren lost during WW2, funds were raised
and a Wurlitzer organ was purchased and installed June 21, 1960.
In 1964 the first exchange of fraternal visits occurred with Palestine Lodge 357, of Detroit
Michigan. The lodges continued to exchange fraternal visits for many years to follow.
In Nov of 1967, the first emergent meeting of the “Third Tuesday Night Lodges” took place,
with Wentworth No. 166, Waterdown No. 357, and Hugh Murray No. 602.
In 1977 the Centennial of Waterdown Lodge celebrated.
In the years following the turn of the millennium, the lodge faced many of the same
challenges as other lodges, and membership numbers and meeting attendance began to
recede. Eventually a year would come when no candidate would be initiated. The pandemic
of 2020, and subsequent lock down put the work of the lodge and the regular meetings on
hold. A few of the senior brethren, not so easily disbanded, organised online meetings. While
no masonic work could be conducted, fellowship was had, and the work of restoring the
lodge could be organised.
As meetings returned, along with a renewed interest in visitation, restoration of the building,
and charitable events life was breathed back into the Lodge.
In 2023, Waterdown Lodge, with the many positive members and new members, turned the
corner and embraced a new direction. Branding ourselves as a Social Lodge, we became
more connected through many events, including the:
Corvette Club Breakfast; Laying of the Wreath on Remembrance Day; Christmas Dinner and
Magic Show; Secret Santa for 2 deserving families; Chili and Trivia 1; Chili and Trivia 2 at
Hagerty Garage and Social; Family BBQ; Corvette and Collector Car Breakfast; Community
Involvement; Trivia and Pasta; and much more. This led to an increase in 15 members in
2023, along with 10 more so far in 2024/25, with more expected.
On November 12, 2025, Waterdown Lodge No. 357 was Amalgamated with Dufferin Lodge
No. 291 at a Ceremony presided by MW Bro. Jamie R. Ireland. The Banquet Hall was
packed as well as the Lodge. This has set the future for Flamborough Lodge No. 357
making us bigger, stronger and better in every way.
