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Humphrey Fullerton built Chillicothe's first Masonic Hall

By Pat Medert (Reprinted from The Chillicothe Gazette)

Text Box: Before Thomas Worthington moved his family from Virginia to the new settlement of Chillicothe in 1798, he bought four in-lots at the northeast corner of Second and Paint streets. His property, constituting one-fourth of a city block, extended 198 feet on Paint Street, north of Second, to the alley, and 396 feet on Second Street, east of Paint, to the alley. He erected a two-story frame house on Second Street, about 120 feet from Paint. In 1802, Worthington moved to the hill west of town where he would build Adena and in April 1805, he sold the town lots to Winn Winship. On July 25, 1808, Winship sold to Humphrey Fullerton the southeast corner of his property, a parcel fronting 49 feet on Second Street and extending along the west side of the alley 99 feet. This is the present site of the Majestic Theatre. In February 1808, the state legislature had incorporated the Bank of Chillicothe, and its directors needed a building in which to locate the bank. Fullerton, one of the directors and also a Mason, bought the lot for the purpose of constructing a building that would provide a banking room and a room for the local Masonic lodge. In fact, the deed had a restriction that said the ground would be used "for the purpose of building a bank and lodge room, to be under the same roof, or for any other public purpose or use and for no other intent, use or purpose whatsoever." Shortly after the purchase, Fullerton began construction on a two-story brick building with dimensions of 48-by-25 feet. The lower floor was finished for the use of the bank, which opened in January 1809. Fullerton gave the upper floor to Scioto Lodge No. 6 of Free & Accepted Masons whose members were responsible for its completion and maintenance. He also gave them an 8-foot passageway on the first story to allow them access to their room. The lot and first story of the building belonged to Fullerton exclusively. In June 1809, he sold the property to Thomas James, who two months later sold it to Thomas Bayley. Both deeds for the conveyances contained the restrictions. In 1826, the bank was moved to a new facility on West Second Street, and contrary to the terms of the original deed, the lower floor of its former building was rented out for commercial use. Over the years, it was leased by several different furniture makers. In the mid 1830s, Roscoe's School for Accounting occupied the room. In 1840, the Masons decided to repeal their longstanding prohibition of the use of their hall for non-Masonic functions. Immediately after doing so, they rented it to William Darby who delivered a series of lectures in the room. They subsequently rented it to the International Order of Odd Fellows to be used for their lodge room and to the Baptist congregation for their church services. During the '40s, there is no indication the hall was used for theatrical performances. In July 1835, the executor of Thomas Bayley's estate advertised for sale "the house and lot at Chillicothe on Second St. in which the bank was formerly kept." Bayley had moved to Drummond Town, Va., where he died. The property did not sell until Feb. 7, 1844, when the heirs sold it to Thomas Orr for the use of the Methodist Church. On Oct. 2, 1847, the trustees of the church released the property to Orr because they were unable to repay his purchase price. On April 3, 1851, Orr sold the building and lot to Scioto Lodge No. 6. Concerned over future problems with the restrictions in the earlier deeds, the officers of the lodge also obtained a quit claim from the Winship heirs. The Masons were able to enjoy the independence of owning their own lodge hall for only a year. It was destroyed in the Great Fire of 1852, which occurred on April 1. It was not until the spring of 1853 the Masons were in a position to rebuild. It was reported in the Scioto Gazette on April 7 that "arrangements had been projected, which justify the Masonic fraternity to erect during the coming summer a handsome and commodious hall." The article went on to say West, one of the architects of Ohio's new statehouse, had furnished the plan for the new structure. A few days later, the lodge advertised for bids for a building to measure 99-by-49 feet. The specifications for the three-story brick structure called for two halls, one to be 80-by-40 feet and the other 53 -by-40 feet, as well as several smaller rooms. Construction on the building was completed in the spring of 1854. Ms. Medert is a local historian and writes about