Tell us about Oak Harbor Lodge.
Oak Harbor Masonic Lodge #495 was established in 1874 and there are currently 71 members. Oak Harbor Lodge is known for its interaction with the community, and longevity as a fraternal organization.
What is the community of Oak Harbor, Ohio like? What is your Lodge’s interaction in the community?
The Village of Oak Harbor is roughly 2 square miles, and has a population of around 4,000 residents. Seated in the middle of Ottawa County, Oak Harbor is surrounded by farmland, which mostly serves as its main occupation. Oak Harbor Masonic Lodge has historically interacted in a variety of ways; offering an annual high school scholarship, organizing an annual chicken bbq fundraiser, and donating to many, various organizations, such as Heroes in Action, St. Judes Hospital, the local chapter of The American Cancer Society, local masonic youth organizations, and the local MR/DD (mental retardation and developmental disability) adult basketball organization.
In the past we have also volunteered to decorate areas in town at Christmas, performed calls to children as “Santa”, participated in parades, and sponsored a local little league baseball team.
We’re aware your lodge has an emphasis on fun and fellowship. Can you tell us more about that?
Oak Masonic Lodge, through its community participation, encourages members to volunteer and interact. By this, we are able to enjoy fun and fellowship. It is mostly through these events that members join together, however there are also fun nights of which members can partake, including traveling to local professional baseball and hockey games, a chili cook-off, and a few euchre tournaments (a popular card game) throughout the year.
What is the relationship between Brothers in the lodge? How do they interact with each other and engage in Lodge events?
Our Masonic ritual is, in and of itself, the fraternal glue for the members of Oak Harbor Lodge #495. By performing the masonic degrees, members hear and steadily learn the life lessons, symbolism, and teachings that have held Masons as the oldest fraternity on the planet. Oak Harbor is no different in this aspect to the many thousands of lodges around the world, and its members grow and become better men together.
What about this Lodge made you want to be part of it?
It would certainly be fair to characterize Oak Harbor Lodge #495 as a working class, blue collar entity. This gathering of similar men enhances the fellowship we all feel. With the edict of making men better, this quality in the members makes for a more solid meeting experience draws members into attendance.
Does your Lodge have any upcoming events you’d like to share?
We currently do not have any upcoming events, however our lodge always sponsors a booth at the village’s Apple Festival in October, in which we sell raffle tickets. We donate half of the proceeds to a non-profit organization.
Interested in what other Ohio Masonic lodges are up to? Read more of our Lodge Spotlight blogs at our website!