Our history

During the Gold Rush era that started in 1858 men from around the world migrated to the Rocky Mountains to seek their fortune, and not always by the most honest means.   This migration included men for all walks of life and was not only limited to just prospectors.   Included in this migration were Masons that found this as an irresistible opportunity.   The Masons quickly sought the company of the brethren when they reached the gold fields and began hold meeting and requesting charters for their Lodges, for the Grand Lodges in Kansas and Nebraska.

 

A  Convention was held for the purpose of organizing a Grand Lodge for the territory of Colorado on August 2, 1861.  The convention was made up of officers of Golden City Lodge, (chartered on Aug. 7^th, 1860, by the Grand Lodge of Kansas), Summit Lodge, (Chartered June 5^th, 1861, by the Grand Lodge of Nebraska), and Rocky Mountain Lodge, (chartered June 5, 1861, by the Grand Lodge of Nebraska).

 

The first meeting of Black Hawk #11 UD was February 17^th, 1866.

 

The Committee on Returns and Work of the Lodges Under Dispensation examined Black Hawk U D Lodge and found they had conferred  1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd degrees and that the Master, and Wardens were in place, and requested a Charter be issued.  The Committee recommended to the Grand Lodge that the Charter be granted and the officers be installed by the Grand Lodge.

 

The Grand Lodge of Colorado granted a Charter to Black Hawk # 11 on Oct. 1, 1866.

 

The passage of small stakes gambling in the Colorado Gold Rush towns resulted in the construction of several casinos in Black Hawk and much congestion in the town.  Early in 1994 Black Hawk #11 Lodge was granted Dispensation to move its Charter for Black Hawk to Friendship-Schiller Lodge at 4625 Morrison Rd, in Denver, due to limited parking in Black Hawk.  In 1995 Dispensation was granted to continue conducting stated meetings at Friendship-Schiller Lodge due to the sale of the Lodge building in Black Hawk.