This website is being created to preserve the history that freemasonry has played in the communities of Cimarron, N.M., Dawson, N.M., and Elizabethtown, N.M..
Cimarron Lodge #348 was chartered through the Grand Lodge of Missouri in 1875 and Kit Carson Lodge #326 in Elizabethtown, N.M., was chartered through the Grand Lodge of Missouri in 1869. In 1877 New Mexico formed a Grand Lodge, and Kit Carson Lodge #326 had its chartered arrested, and the charter was moved to Cimarron. Cimarron Lodge #348 soon followed and closed its doors in 1878.
In 1907 a group of men from the mining town of Dawson, N.M. petitioned the Grand Lodge of New Mexico to become a chartered lodge. In December of 1907 they were granted a charter and they became “Vermejo Lodge #36”. Early in 1908 Cimarron also petitioned to receive a charter from the Grand Lodge of New Mexico and they were granted a charter in 1908, and they became “Cimarron Lodge #37”.
Unfortunately, the mine at Dawson, N.M. closed in 1950, and Vermejo Lodge #36 petitioned the Grand Lodge of New Mexico to consolidate with Cimarron Lodge #37. There was a little confusion at the Grand Lodge of New Mexico at that time on how to proceed with the consolidation, due to the fact that this was this first time that a lodge had closed, and was requesting to move its charter to another lodge. Eventually, the consolidation was granted.
Cimarron Lodge #37 held its last meeting on September 10, 2019. Cimarron Lodge #37 petitioned the Grand Lodge of New Mexico to consolidate with Gate City Lodge #11 in Raton, N.M. The request was granted and the two lodges consolidated on October 3, 2019. Most Worshipful Master Ralph A. Easley presided over the consolidation and signed all three charters. The consolidation also included the charter from Vermejo Lodge #36.
If you have information about any of our Past Masters, Eastern Star members, Order of Rainbow, or other historical topics related to Cimarron, Elizabeth Town, or Dawson that relates to the role that Freemasons may have played in these communities, please let us know at edd52@bacavalley.com, and we will include it on this webpage. You may also call Eddie Carter at 505-652-6403.
ABOVE: Historical Interview
Military troops were dispatched to New Mexico in 1847 by the American government. Missouri Military Lodge #86 had held its first meeting in Independence. Missouri. It was called an ambulant or traveling lodge. It held a meeting in Santa Fe, N. M. in 1847. Hardin Military Lodge was created at a special meeting of Missouri Lodge #86 in Santa Fe in October of 1847. Permanent military forts were established in New Mexico in the early 1860’s. The first two established forts were Ft. Marcy, in Santa Fe, and Ft. Union, near Watrous. Masons stationed at Ft. Union were granted a charter and became Missouri Lodge #95. They held their first meeting in March of 1862. Men from Cimarron and Elizabethtown, N.M. petitioned the Grand Lodge of Missouri to become chartered lodges, and they were granted charters in 1875 and 1869 respectively.
The Legacy of the Freemasons is one of honor. Many great men who signed The Constitution of The United States of America– were Freemasons. Masonic creeds of goodwill, honor, integrity, and love — both toward each other and toward their fellow man — had a quiet, but rightful, place in the Old West.
As such, the combined history — and the men — of the three Masonic lodges — in Elizabethtown, Cimarron, and Dawson, N.M. — influence the history of both “The Old West” and “The New West”. Much of the “official history” can be found in the PDF Documents of this Website.
Personally, the sense one gets from entering the Cimarron Masonic Temple is that of standing within the “Hollowed Halls of History”. There, you can go back in time to revisit names, like Kit Carson — and view symbols taking you back to the very Halls of Solomon’s Temple.
By showing you the pictures of this place, showing you cherished artifacts — so full of honorable meaning and mystery — we hope to also show you the love of people — who have cherished not only each other, but their community — and fellow men and women.