Founders

WB F.W. Pelton was mayor of Cleveland and the first Master of Halcyon in 1875. The men below are G.W. Goodrich, Peter Thatcher, Gaston G. Allen and Dr. A.D. Bigelow. They all play a fundamentally important role in the creation of the two largest and influential Lodges in Cleveland (Halcyon and Bigelow) over the span of 40 years (1850 to 1890). They are the bedrock of the organization you see today.

Pelton and Goodrich were charter members of Halcyon. Pelton was also mayor of Cleveland, and is most remembered for building the modern incarnation of the Superior Bridge between Cleveland City and Ohio City that we see today only blocks from our temple. Goodrich was the wealthy brother of B. F. Goodrich of the Goodrich tire company. He was very active in the creation and operations of Halcyon.

Peter Thatcher was the biggest industrialist in Cleveland until Rockefeller. He was originally a Railroad man from the north east. He received the right to sell steel fabricated bridges just before the Civil War. Somehow it was a monopoly and when the Confederate army started burning the wooden bridges Thatcher made a fortune replacing them. The Masonic district named a Chapter in his honor and that Chapter used to reside in the temple.

Gaston G. Allen is the first Master of Bigelow Lodge. He served the lodge as Master for an number of years.

Dr. Bigelow was sent west of the Cuyahoga river to re-start the failed first attempt at Freemasonry west of the river by opening Star Lodge. Bigelow decided to go down to New Orleans during the first yellow fever outbreak and died of the disease while trying to help the sick.