The Rich History of Excelsior Lodge No. 259

Formation in the Late 1860s

Excelsior Lodge No. 259 was born amid the post-Civil War boom of Council Bluffs, a city energized by the coming of the railroads. By the late 1860s, Council Bluffs had become the eastern terminus of the first transcontinental railroad, drawing a surge of railroad workers and entrepreneurs into the community.

Local Freemasonry flourished alongside this growth: the city's first Masonic lodge (Bluff City Lodge No. 71) had been active since 1855, and demand was rising for additional Masonic accommodations. In the winter of 1868–69, a group of Master Masons led by George W. Lininger – a prominent implement dealer newly arrived from Illinois – moved to establish a second lodge.

On January 23, 1869, Lininger and several brethren formally demonstrated their proficiency in Masonic ritual and received Bluff City Lodge's recommendation to form a new lodge. The Grand Master of Iowa soon granted a dispensation (dated February 1, 1869) authorizing the new "Excelsior" lodge to begin work.

Just a few months later, at the Grand Lodge communication of June 2, 1869, Excelsior Lodge No. 259 was officially chartered, firmly establishing the lodge in Council Bluffs' Masonic landscape. G. W. Lininger served as the first Worshipful Master, with B. F. Montgomery as Senior Warden and Joseph Lyman as Junior Warden; R. Gray was Treasurer and B. Newman Secretary.

From the start, Excelsior Lodge drew many members from the booming railroad industry, earning it a reputation as the city's "railroad lodge." Early records note that the fledgling lodge "number[ed] among its members some of our most active and enterprising citizens" – men often involved in railroads, commerce, and civic affairs.

Growth and the "Railroad Lodge" Identity (1870s)

Through the 1870s, Excelsior Lodge continued to thrive as Council Bluffs solidified its status as a key railroad hub in the Midwest. The Union Pacific and other rail lines brought an influx of workers, professionals, and their families to the area, many of whom sought the fraternity and stability of the Masonic lodge.

Excelsior's stated communications (meetings) were frequently well-attended, and the lodge initiated candidates at a steady clip. The Daily Nonpareil, the city's newspaper, regularly carried lodge notices and reported on Masonic activities, indicating the lodge's visibility in the community. One contemporary report praised Excelsior Lodge for being "in a flourishing condition," with membership climbing and participation strong.

Much of this growth was driven by railroad employees and men whose livelihoods were tied to the rail industry. Oral tradition and archival hints suggest that a large proportion of Excelsior's candidates were railroad engineers, conductors, yardmen, and clerks – reflecting Council Bluffs' character as a railroad town.

These brethren brought a down-to-earth camaraderie to the lodge, and many early meetings no doubt saw discussions of railroad work alongside Masonic ritual. This character earned Excelsior the informal moniker of the "railroad lodge," distinguishing it slightly from Bluff City Lodge, which had been founded in an earlier era and included more of the pioneer merchants and old settlers.

During this period, members of Excelsior Lodge were active in the civic and social life of Council Bluffs. Many took on leadership roles outside the lodge – for example, B. Newman, the lodge's longtime secretary, and Thomas Bowmanwere instrumental in organizing the city's early fire department and other improvements.

Building a Permanent Home – The Masonic Temple (1883–1885)

As Excelsior Lodge entered the 1880s, its continued growth and the expanding activities of Freemasonry in Council Bluffs made clear the need for a larger, purpose-built meeting place. For years, both Excelsior and Bluff City Lodges (as well as the York Rite bodies) had met in rented halls.

By 1883, the local Masonic community undertook an ambitious project to erect a grand Masonic Temple in downtown Council Bluffs. The chosen site was at the heart of the city: the east side of Fourth Street at its intersection with Broadway (often cited as "West Broadway and Fourth Street"). Plans were drawn for a substantial three-story edifice that would provide lodge rooms, a commandery asylum, and banquet space.

Construction began in mid-1883 under the supervision of a noted local builder, Peter Wind, a Danish immigrant whose craftsmanship was well respected in the area. A milestone event took place in the autumn of 1883 when the Grand Master of Iowa, M.W. Bro. George B. Van Saun, traveled to Council Bluffs to lay the cornerstone of the new Masonic Temple with full Masonic ceremony.

This cornerstone laying was a significant occasion for Excelsior Lodge and all local Masons – it was noted in the press and drew a large crowd of brethren and citizens. The Daily Nonpareil reported on the pageantry of the event, highlighting Grand Master Van Saun's role and the pride felt by the community in seeing a modern temple rising in their city.

Construction proceeded through 1884. By late that year the building was ready for occupancy. On December 16, 1884, Excelsior Lodge held its first meeting in the new Masonic Temple, moving from its humble rented quarters into a spacious, beautifully furnished lodge room of its own.

The temple, with its lofty lodge hall, adjoining parlors, and large asylum hall for the Commandery, immediately became the hub of Masonic activity in Council Bluffs. Worshipful Master P. J. McMahonof Excelsior presided over that first meeting in the temple, likely with a sense of accomplishment at seeing their "dream house" completed.

The new Temple not only elevated the lodge's day-to-day experience but also enhanced its profile in the community. The building quickly became a civic landmark. In subsequent years it hosted not just Masonic meetings but also public lectures, musical performances, and even (during an 1880s courthouse remodeling) some county offices and court sessions.

A major downtown fire in 1888 swept through parts of Broadway and Fourth Street, and while firefighters fought valiantly, the flames did reach the Masonic Temple. Fortunately, the lodge's section of the building sustained only minor damage. The thick brick walls and the efforts of both firefighters and volunteer Masons saved the Temple from destruction, and repairs were made quickly.

Notable Members and Milestones (1890s)

The 1890s marked a maturation period for Excelsior Lodge No. 259. With its beautiful temple serving as a focal point, the lodge continued to initiate and raise new Masons who were building their careers in the prosperous railroad and trading center that Council Bluffs had become.

By this time, many Excelsior brethren had risen to prominence in business and public service, and the lodge itself began to receive statewide recognition through the achievements of its members. A crowning moment came in June 1893 when Thomas Bowman, one of Excelsior Lodge's early members, was elected Grand Master of Masons in Iowa.

Bowman – a newspaperman by trade who had served as Mayor of Council Bluffs – brought great honor to the lodge by attaining the highest office in Iowa Masonry. His election as Grand Master (at the annual Grand Lodge session of 1893) underscored the influence of Excelsior Lodge beyond its own walls. It had been over three decades since a Council Bluffs Mason (the last being Thomas H. Benton Jr. in 1860) held the Grand Master's gavel, and Bowman's leadership reestablished the city's prominence in Iowa's Masonic hierarchy.

Other members left their mark in different ways. George W. Lininger, although he had moved to Omaha in 1873, maintained ties with his brothers in Excelsior. In Omaha he became a noted art collector and civic leader, and he helped foster cross-river fraternal relations (Omaha's lodges and Council Bluffs' lodges often exchanged invitations).

Back in Council Bluffs, P. J. McMahon, a charter member who had served as Treasurer and later Worshipful Master, became known for his long tenure on the city council, and Joseph Lyman (another founder) was active in the booming grain and milling business.

By 1894, Excelsior Lodge quietly celebrated its 25th anniversary (the lodge held a commemorative meeting in June 1894, reflecting on its humble start in 1869 – an event modestly reported at the time). The lodge's records around this time show approximately 200 members on the rolls, a healthy number that made Excelsior one of the larger lodges in Iowa.

The late 1890s saw the lodge participate in charity and relief work as well. For instance, during the nationwide economic Panic of 1893, Excelsior Lodge joined Bluff City Lodge in organizing relief for destitute families in Council Bluffs, exemplifying the Masonic tenet of charity.

Early 20th Century Developments (1900–1910s)

Entering the 20th century, Excelsior Lodge continued to adapt and grow along with the city of Council Bluffs. The early 1900s were generally prosperous years in the region, and the lodge benefited from a new generation of members – some the sons and grandsons of the founding brethren, others newly arrived railroad employees and businessmen drawn to Council Bluffs.

A significant development came in December 1905, when the various Masonic bodies of Council Bluffs took full ownership of the Masonic Temple building. Up to that point, the Temple had been managed by a building association and encumbered by debt, but in 1905 the lodges united to purchase the Temple outright.

Excelsior Lodge, being one of the largest occupants, was instrumental in this effort. Once in possession of their building, the Masons undertook substantial improvements – notably the installation of a modern elevator and other upgrades to bring the 20-year-old structure up to date. The Nonpareil praised these improvements, observing that the Temple was not only a center of fraternal activity but also an architectural landmark that kept pace with contemporary needs.

By 1907, Excelsior Lodge's membership had swelled to about 250 members, more than double the count from two decades earlier. This growth mirrored the continued importance of the railroads and the city's population increase. Meetings were often filled to capacity, and it was not uncommon for multiple candidates to be initiated or passed on a single evening.

The lodge in these years maintained a balance between solemn ritual and fraternal fellowship. Reports from the era describe lively post-meeting banquets in the Temple's dining hall, where old and new members – often including engineers fresh off their shifts and professionals from town – broke bread together.

During World War I (1914–1918), the lodge saw a few of its younger members depart for military service. Excelsior contributed to war support efforts, raising funds for the Red Cross and sending Masonic care packages to soldiers abroad. The end of the war in 1918 brought these brethren safely home, and the lodge honored them with a welcome program, reaffirming the tight-knit bonds among the members.

As Excelsior Lodge approached its 50th anniversary in 1919, it took the opportunity to reflect on its journey. A half-century had transformed the lodge from a small gathering of 13 men in a rented hall to a large, thriving organization meeting in an ornate temple. In June 1919, an informal golden jubilee celebration was held in conjunction with the regular communication.

Elder members recounted the lodge's founding stories, and the names of departed founders like Lininger and McMahon were toasted in respect. The lodge's minutes for that meeting record a sense of gratitude and continuity – many of the city's leading citizens were now counted among Excelsior's ranks, and the "railroad lodge" of 1869 had broadened into a diverse membership, while still retaining a special camaraderie among brethren of the rail trades.

Legacy and Continuing Influence

By the early 1920s, the momentum of growth led Excelsior members to help create yet another lodge in Council Bluffs, ensuring that the fraternity's expansion could continue without straining Excelsior's resources. In 1921 a group of Masons from Excelsior Lodge (together with some from Bluff City) petitioned to form Cobia Lodge No. 631, named in honor of a revered local Mason.

The first Master of Cobia Lodge was A. T. "Bert" Sparks, who had been a Past Master of Excelsior Lodge. This development reflected Excelsior's health as a lodge – rather than diminishing it, the founding of a new lodge was seen as a sign of strength and the ability to spread Masonic light to more men. Excelsior's legacy thus extended to birthing new Masonic endeavors while it continued its own storied path.

Looking back on the lodge's first half-century (1869–1920), several key themes emerge. Excelsior Lodge No. 259 was shaped profoundly by the railroad industry and the growth of Council Bluffs as a transportation hub. It earned a lasting identity as the "railroad lodge," where men who built and ran the railroads found fellowship and brotherhood.

The lodge's history is punctuated by major events – its founding under dispensation in 1869, the building of the Masonic Temple in the 1880s, and the leadership of distinguished Masons like Thomas Bowman in the 1890s – yet its essence is found in the steady, cumulative work of its members over the years. They carried forward traditions of mutual aid, civic involvement, and Masonic enlightenment from one generation to the next.

Archival sources such as The Daily Nonpareil and the records preserved in the Iowa Masonic Library chronicle these many ordinary lodge nights, social gatherings, and acts of charity that defined Excelsior's character in each era. Through fires, economic panics, and even world war, the lodge proved resilient and adaptive, much like the city it calls home.

Today, Excelsior Lodge No. 259 can look with pride on its deep historical roots. The detailed chronology of its founding and early development shows how a small group of visionary brethren in 1869 created an institution that grew in tandem with Council Bluffs.

By focusing on fellowship and the inclusion of hardworking railroad men, the lodge cultivated a unique spirit that set it apart while still adhering to the universal tenets of Freemasonry. Its early commitment to building a Masonic Temple gave it a lasting home and symbolized its stability, and its ability to produce influential leaders (from city mayors to a Grand Master of Iowa) demonstrated its vitality.

The story of Excelsior Lodge No. 259 from the 19th century through the early 20th century is not just a list of dates and names, but a rich narrative of fraternity, community, and continuity. It stands as a testament to how Freemasonry took root on the frontier of Iowa and became an enduring part of Council Bluffs' heritage – a legacy that Excelsior's modern members continue to honor and build upon.