history of the temple
Each well the lessons of Masonry taught. With diligence, too as workmen wrought; True since Eighteen Hundred and Forty-nine, marked with zeal and labor, has been the line.
Dalton Lodge #105 F&AM was chartered on October 31st, 1849. Since the lodge was chartered, the Lodge room of Dalton Lodge has been destroyed at least twice by fire.
The first time was during the year 1864, during the Civil War, General Sherman made his infamous March to the Sea. During May of that year, his forces arrived in the surrounding area of Dalton, GA. The rumor has always been circulated that he was given orders not to burn down Churches and Masonic Lodges. That being the case or not; Dalton Lodge was unfortunately not spared during his march to the sea. The original Lodge building was attached to a building complex in Dalton, and when the fires were started, the Masonic Lodge was caught in the blaze and burned to the ground.
The second time was in the year 1911. In April of that year, there was a fire that had begun in and around the Hotel Dalton, which today is the Landmark Building on Hamilton Street. At the time of the fire, Dalton Lodge was meeting in a space above the A.J. Showalter Printing Company. The building at the time stood where Burr Perfroming Arts Park is today. The fire spread quickly to adjacent buildings, and unfortunately, the building that Dalton Lodge was meeting in could not be saved. The only items that were of the lodges that were saved was the Holy Bible, Square, and Compasses. As well as the original charter which still hangs in the Lodge today. The Square and Compasses are still in use today, and the Holy Bible is on display in the Lodge library and archives.
For a short time after the fire, the Lodge was domiciled in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, at the intersection of Gordon and Pentz Streets. For ten years the Lodge met in the Holland Building at the northwest intersection of Hamilton and Gordon streets. The Lodge erected and moved into its present building in 1925. The building was dedictated that year and the cornerstone laid with impressive ceremonies.
The building today, which is now called the Dalton Masonic Temple, is now home to not only Dalton Lodge #105 F&AM, but many other branches of Freemasonry.
