Discover The History

    Old Hickory Chapter, #203 Order of the Eastern Star … The First 100 Years

    Old Hickory Chapter, #203 Order of the Eastern Star, was instituted on December 1, 1919, and

constituted on January 27, 1920. In order to fully appreciate the history of the chapter, we must first

take a look at how the chapter’s beginning, and near demise, intertwined with the town.

    As World War I raged, the DuPont Company contracted with the United States Government to construct

the world’s largest smokeless gunpowder plant, and a fully functioning town to support the work. The

quiet farm area with a few settlers swelled to over 33,000. 50,000 men and women were hired to

construct the plant and village. However, the war ended about nine months after the ground breaking,

the gunpowder was never used, and the plant shut down. A mass exodus of workers in search of

employment caused the town to dwindle, almost overnight, to 750 residents.

    The Nashville Industrial Corporation (NIC) formed by a group of businessmen purchased the Powder

Plant and village from the government on December 15, 1920 with hopes of developing the area. On

December 12, 1923, DuPont returned to the area, purchased the plant and village, and began

construction on a facility to produce Rayon. Hastily built company houses that had been sitting vacant

and in disrepair were refurbished and streets were paved. This enabled the town to flourish once again

including Old Hickory Chapter.

    We cannot talk about the history of the chapter without mentioning the lodge that gave rise to the

chapter. Madison Lodge #598 F&AM was granted a charter on February 8, 1897 by the Grand Lodge of

Tennessee. It met in the Presbyterian Church on Gallatin Road at Neely’s Bend Road in Madison,

Tennessee before receiving authority to move to Jacksonville, Tennessee on November 13, 1919. The

name of the town was officially changed to Old Hickory in 1923 to further prevent mail mix–ups with

Jacksonville, Florida. On January 29, 1920, the Grand Lodge approved the name change from Madison

Lodge to Old Hickory Lodge.

    The lodge and chapter first met on the mezzanine of the Gymnasium Building at Fourth and Jones

Streets. About 1922, the meeting place was moved to the second floor of the Depot Building at the end

of Donelson Avenue near the railroad. The lodge found a permanent home in 1929 when it moved to its

location at 1202 Hadley Avenue. The lodge and chapter met on the second floor while the first

floor was occupied by various businesses including an ice cream company, hat shop, grocery store and

later by a teen-town. Reports indicate the chapter had to meet in members’ homes during some of the

relocation periods. The lodge purchased the building from DuPont for $5,000 in 1955.

    Unfortunately, the earliest recorded minutes we still have begin with May 1921. We do know that Mrs.

Mary Owens served as the first Worthy Matron, and Gene Harper and W.H. Ransom served as her

Worthy Patrons. Dues were $1.00 per year.

    On St. John’s Day, Monday, December 27, 1920, a joint installation of officers from the chapter and

lodge was held. The Eastern Star officers were installed first with Bro. W.H. Ransom, retiring Worthy Patron, presiding and Sister Mary Owens, retiring Worthy Matron, serving as Marshal. Officers from the

lodge were then installed. Members of the chapter served refreshments.

    1921 ushered in major changes for the chapter as it faced adversity and an uncertain future. On

Monday, May 30, 1921, a meeting was called to discuss continuing the chapter without a Worthy

Matron and Worthy Patron who were moving from the jurisdiction. The Associate Matron had already

left. At the request of the Worthy Grand Matron of Tennessee, three members were selected to

temporarily fill these vacancies. Sister Grace Ransom who had been serving as the elected Worthy

Matron was presented with an Eastern Star ring. Cost: $7.00. The minutes also stated that a grand

total of $161.34, less expenses, had been collected for 1921. The current balance in the bank was $2.82.

The Penny March garnered $1.18.

    Mrs. Jennie Haradon was elected and installed Secretary at the stated meeting on June 20, 1921. "Sister

Lollar gave a talk for the good of the order. Explaining that she was present that evening to preside at

the request of the Grand Secretary, and assuring us that Old Hickory Chapter still had material for a

flourishing chapter.” The minutes were signed by the newly installed secretary, and Sister Ollie W.

Towles, Worthy Grand Matron.

    July 4, 1921 saw some hope for the chapter. Sister Ollie W. Towles, WGM, presided at the regular

meeting with 27 members present. The Constitution required that one of the first three officers must

be present at the regular meetings, however, each one of these officers had moved from the village.

The office of Associate Patron did not exist at that time. The Worthy Grand Matron announced she

would preside at the regular meetings for the balance of the year, and requested the chapter hold

meetings once a month. She explained the difficulty in traveling over unpaved roads and the bridge that

closed early each night as the reason for her request. It was voted to hold meetings on the first Monday

of each month.

    The Worthy Grand Matron, Sister Ollie, presided at the stated meeting in August. Two petitions were

balloted on and the candidates initiated. The acting Worthy Patron announced he would be moving

from the village in the near future. It was decided the acting Worthy Matron would appoint someone to

fill his office until annual elections were held. The Worthy Grand Matron announced she would preside

in September. She would also consult with some past grand officers on the peculiar conditions at Old

Hickory #203 and report her findings.

    Seventeen members were present for the regular meeting held September 1, 1921. The Worthy Grand

Matron appointed Mrs. Clara Dyer as special deputy to preside over the meetings and supervise affairs

of the chapter until November 30, 1921. A request was made that the chapter appoint a representative

to cooperate with delegates from the five chapters in Nashville in a ticket selling campaign for a play

given by them for the benefit of the Masonic School. A bill for $1.67 from Mr. Capps for gasoline used

to transport the Worthy Grand Matron to and from the chapter was presented and ordered paid. It was

decided to hold meetings twice a month since the chapter was no longer depending on the Worthy

Grand Matron to preside. A visiting Past Matron gave a talk. She said it was encouraging the way the

chapter was “carrying on” while missing so many members.

    During the next two months, attendance at regular meetings was low. On the plus side, petitions were

being presented at all meetings. The most notable item of business during the November meetings was

a change to the bylaws to move the meeting hour from 8:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. from September to March

inclusive. Also, 25 cans of fruit were collected for the Masonic home as a Thanksgiving offering.

    Sister Ollie Towles, WGM, presided at the election of officers on December 5, 1921. Three ballots were

required to elect Mrs. Quarles Treasurer. The remaining officers were elected and installed by the

Worthy Grand Matron. The newly elected Worthy Matron, Mrs. Dyer, appointed the remaining officers.

A bill for fifty-one cents for cocoa and sugar was presented and paid.

    During the meeting held on December 19, a motion was made and carried that Mr. Capps would be paid

fifty cents per meeting to have the hall warm and comfortable for meetings. There were fifteen

members present.

    1922 saw a few changes according to records. On January 2, the Secretary and Treasurer were ordered

to purchase appropriate books to enable them to keep better records and financial dealings. Previous

records had been kept on loose sheets of paper thus providing a possible explanation of why early

records are missing.

    A new law effective January 25, 1922 was read at the February 6 meeting stating, “That any member of

this Grand Jurisdiction who hereafter joins any order, organization, or society which takes Eastern Star

membership as the basis for its membership, shall be expelled from the Order of the Eastern Star.” On

February 20, a communication from the Worthy Grand Matron was read stating the action taken on

December 19 to pay Mr. Capps fifty cents to build fires in the hall was illegal because it conflicted with

the bylaws.

   An interesting item was noted in the minutes for September 4, 1922. Mrs. Stewart had kindly offered to

scatter handbills by airplane advertising the upcoming ice cream festival. The minutes did not mention if

she personally scattered them. The festival raised $44.28 after expenses.

    At the November 20, 1922 meeting, the Secretary was ordered to write the Worthy Grand Matron to

see when she could visit the chapter. This is quite a change from the opposite way things are done

today. The Secretary was also ordered to write a letter to Mrs. Mays’ mother thanking her for the cup

for Electa’s station.

    The Grand Conductress attended the February 5, 1923 meeting. She made a lovely gift of a lantern to

be used always, but most especially when conferring the degrees. Sadly, the whereabouts of that

lantern is unknown today. The social hour was held in the lobby of the building.

    On June 18, 1923, the Worthy Grand Matron, Associate Grand Matron, Grand Secretary, and other

visitors gave talks at the meeting. Members of the chapter were given a chance to ask questions.

There were three especially significant events noted in 1924. On January 7, the chapter was instructed

to drape the charter for sixty days in memory of Gertruide Ford, Worthy Grand Matron, who had passed

away on December 20, 1923. It was announced that the Grand Chapter of Tennessee would be held on January 29-30, 1924. Thirdly, and very historically significant, Old Hickory Chapter saw the need for

another chapter in the area. On August 4, 1924, a completed petition to form a chapter in Donelson,

Tennessee was forwarded to the Grand Secretary.

    Among the most important events recorded for 1925, was for the purchase of dishes and silverware.

The Social Committee presented bills for glasses costing $1.60, and $35.65 for dishes and silverware at

the March 2nd meeting. On March 16, a committee was appointed to work in conjunction with the Blue

Lodge in locating a new meeting place. During the transition period, a dispensation was granted for

meetings to be held in the upstairs of some members’ homes due to the lack of a permanent place to

meet. The first meeting held in the new lodge hall was on June 15. Dues for 1925 were $1.00, and

rituals cost $1.25. The initiation fee of $3.00 was paid when the new candidate was initiated.

    1926 was a very eventful year for the chapter. At the meeting held on February 1, the Conductress

submitted her resignation which was read and accepted. The resignation submitted by Lanna Capps,

Secretary, was read but not accepted. However, she submitted another resignation on July 19, 1926,

stating on account of distance and work being done on roads she would not be able to attend meetings.

It was accepted this time.

    On April 5, 1926, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Newell presented the chapter with badges for each officer. Sister

Lora Haley from New York gave quite an interesting talk saying the work was quite different to the way

they put it on, but was just as pretty as theirs. Bills presented that month were as follows: Old Hickory

Drug Company - $4.00 for cigars, Flowers - $2.50, Stationery and Receipt cards - $9.75, and Coal - $4.50.

    Miss Maud Muriel Robinson was one of three ladies initiated May 16, 1926. Her father had been

instrumental in the development of the town of Old Hickory. He owned the farm land DuPont had been

built on, a grocery store, and funeral homes. Miss Maud was known to drive an ambulance for her

father’s funeral homes in high heels. She is the aunt of well known Nashville Judges Muriel Robinson and

Gale Robinson, Sr.

    At the June 7, 1926 meeting, a letter was read from the Grand Secretary stating a uniform receipt card

was adopted at the last proceedings, and is now to be used by all chapters in Tennessee. This receipt

will be used as a passport for visitation as well as a receipt for dues.

    The August 2, 1926 records indicate the Treasurer resigned. A dispensation from the Worthy Grand

Matron was read to elect and install a Secretary and Treasurer out of time. Sister Smithson was elected

Secretary, Sister Whitaker was elected Treasurer, and they were installed. They were both so surprised

that they were unable to make a speech! Mrs. Crabtree, Worthy Grand Matron, gave a very interesting talk at the November 18, 1926 meeting. Several other visitors present also made talks.

    New officers were installed December 20, 1926. They were Worthy Matron, Worthy Patron, Associate

Matron, Conductress, Associate Conductress, Secretary, Treasurer, Chaplain, Marshal, Organist, Adah,

Ruth, Esther, Martha, Electa, Warder, and Sentinel. Note the Conductresses were installed before the Secretary and Treasurer, and there still was not an Associate Patron. Also at this meeting, a letter was

ordered to be sent to the Grand Secretary and Worthy Grand Matron to change meeting dates from the

first and third Mondays to the first and third Thursdays of each month.

    As 1927 rolled around, it proved to be another busy and eventful year for Old Hickory #203. On

February 3rd , a motion was made to buy a suitable flag for the chapter room. At the first stated meeting

held in May, the Worthy Matron ordered the Secretary to buy four Bibles to be used in initiations. The

meeting held on June 2nd indicated a letter of resignation from Sister Tabitha Elliot, Chaplain, was read,

discussed, and a motion was made and carried not to accept her resignation. She was installed on June

16, 1927. Also at this meeting, a bill was presented for $11.10 for the flag purchased for the chapter

room. A letter was read from Buena Vista Chapter #75 inviting the members of Old Hickory Chapter

#203 to a Chinese Entertainment at the home of Mrs. Roger located at 455 Russell Street in Nashville,

Tennessee.

    At the meeting on August 18, 1927, Brother Bishopberger told of a move to be made by the Masons of

Old Hickory Lodge #598 to change the place of meeting by building a new hall, and asking the DuPont

Company for grounds to build it on. This proposed move eventually became the building purchased by

the Masons where meetings were held until 2023.

    On September 1, 1927, a card was read inviting members of Old Hickory Chapter to be present at the

institution of the first Rainbow Assembly in Nashville, Tennessee.

    During all of the triumphs and tribulations of the early beginnings of the chapter, some things appeared

to be stoic. A close working relationship with the Masons was prevalent. Petitions were read at each

meeting, and almost every meeting had balloting and initiating of several members. Unfortunately,

demits were frequently requested and granted due to the huge fluctuation of townspeople. Officers

were elected at the first stated meeting in December, and installed at the second meeting in December.

Standing committees consisted of Entertainment, Social Club, Visiting, and Sick. Refreshments were

usually cake and ice cream with the latter being purchased from the Old Hickory Drug Company. Other

groceries were purchased from H.G. Hills, Robinson Grocery Company, and the YMCA. Funds were

raised by selling old magazines and papers, and having ice cream suppers, bazaars, and plays. However,

the most money was generated by hosting dances. The Penny Fund collected at each meeting ranged

from less than a dollar to around $1.25.

    It is very evident that it took a lot of dedication and fortitude to establish and maintain Old Hickory

Chapter #203. From these humble beginnings, sprang a strong chapter of individuals committed to truly

living the lessons taught in Eastern Star. As the chapter grew, a wonderful legacy grew with it. The first

one hundred years was punctuated by members being distinguished with recognition for their service.

Brother Tom White was appointed Chairman of the Education Committee of the General Grand Chapter

Order of the Eastern Star for the 1994-97 Triennium. He also served as Worthy Grand Patron of the

Grand Chapter of Tennessee in 1976. Sister Virginia Neal was Worthy Grand Matron in 1985, Sister

Annette Sutton was Worthy Grand Matron in 1997, and Brother Bobby Scott served as Worthy Grand

Patron in 2009. Sister Annette Sutton also received the first appointment from the Grand Chapter of Tennessee that Old Hickory #203 ever had serving as Grand Adah in 1968. Four other members have

served Tennessee Grand Chapter as Appointed Grand Officers. Brother D.W. Neal served as Grand

Sentinel in 1976, Sister Ruth White was Grand Electa in 1985, Sister Dee Scott was Grand Marshal in

1997, and Sister Sherry Watts served as Grand Chaplain in 2009. Other Grand Chapter appointments

over the years include 14 members serving as Grand Representatives, six as Grand Instructors, and sixty-

four serving on various Grand Committees as of January 1, 2020.

    This chapter would not exist without the vision of the charter members. Unfortunately, their names

have long ago faded on the charter hanging in the chapter room, and the minutes listing their names

cannot be found. However, we are forever indebted for the leadership provided by those dedicated

members who served as Worthy Matrons and Worthy Patrons during the first one hundred years.

    The members of Old Hickory Chapter, #203 Order of the Eastern Star, proudly pledge to continue the

legacy we have inherited by supporting the mission of charity, truth, and loving kindness as we go forth

into the next century of service to mankind.