Champoeg No. 27 – Old Ledger Surfaced

The history of Champoeg No. 27 A. F. & A. M. Masonic Lodge started like most lodges; however, No. 27 took a very serious blow when in 1861 a flood wiped away the entire village of Champoeg including the Masonic Lodge and all of its records.  The Great Flood of 1861

There are no known records to exist pre-1861.  Records would have begun again in 1861 or 1862 after the flood when the lodge began to meet again in the home of Robert Newell which was up the hill from the village of Champoeg.

During an unplanned and impulsive visit to the Newell Village in Champoeg the tour guide took the group into the home of Robert Newell which the upstairs attic was used for the lodge room for a period of time until a move to Butteville, Oregon occurred.  Newell Pioneer Village

In the area in the home in the dining hall there was a small metal gated room which was called the Office.  In the office sat on the table a very old ledger that was very obvious around mid 1800’s and probably a Masonic Ledger of some sort.  The tour guide was asked if the ledger could be viewed.  Permission was given and a key was found to unlock the metal gate.

The ledger was opened to see that the ledger was a missing Membership Ledger of Champoeg No. 27 A. F. & A. M.  The beginning date in the records was 1860-1861.

The ledger was one of two ledgers that was started after the flood of 1861.

The DAR Daughters of the American Revolution owns the Newell Village and all of its contents.  Permission was asked to copy this ledger.  A massive thank you to the Newell Village and DAR for allowing this one of a kind historical item to be copied.

Robert Newell was a Freemason.  He was one of the signers at Champoeg which caused the decision to move towards statehood.  He is a very important person to Oregon History.  Robert Newell (1807–1869)

Robert Newell’s Masonic Membership Record