John Garrison, first Master of Black Hawk Lodge (pictured to right), was raised in Mt. Zion Lodge, Mt. Vernon, Ohio in 1812.  He served as worshipful master of the Mansfield, Ohio. Lodge in 1815.  For the 20 years he resided in Detroit, Michigan, he was active in Masonry as well as in politics.  He brought to Cedar Falls, Iowa, in 1853 extraordinary maturity in physical age ( 81 years ), in Masonic training and experience, in community interest, and in knowledge of farming and merchandising.

He had been a farmer, a landowner, a banker, an Indian trader, and a retail merchant.  He had lived a pioneer life, a worthy example of the westward movement in American history, in New Jersey (4 years), in Pennsylvania (17 years), in New York (18 years), in Ohio (16 years), in Michigan (20 years), and in Illinois (5 years).  With 12 years in Iowa he had helped the settlement and occupation of seven States. 

He had lived dangerously through two wars, - the American Revolution and the War of 1812.  He raised a large family over a period of 50 years.  He married twice, - first, at the age of 22; second, at the age of 55.

The small group of Masons in Cedar Falls honored him with the leadership in the campaign for Masonic dispensation, designated him first Master, elected him Master (which he declined) two years after the charter was granted, voted him a life membership in 1859, and gave him Masonic burial in 1865.

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 On January 28, 1854, in the Village of Cedar Falls, Iowa, Ten Masons held a meeting for the purpose of organizing a Masonic Lodge.  Consequently a petition was signed, addressed to the Grand Master, Ansel Humphreys, asking for a Dispensation, and accompanied by a recommendation from Dubuque Lodge, No. 3, of Dubuque, Iowa.  The Dispensation was signed on April 22, 1854, naming John Garrison as Worshipful Master, Jonathan Pratt as Senior Warden and John Knapp as Junior Warden.  Owing to the fact that the Grand Master exceeded his authority in granting the Dispensation and making it returnable at the Grand Lodge session in June, 1855, his term of office expiring in June, 1854, a second Dispensation was granted on October 14, 1854, signed by Grand Master James Hogin, naming the same officers.  It was then necessary to legalize the meetings held under the first Dispensation, which was done by Grand Lodge at their meeting in June 1855.

The Stated meetings for the first year were held on or before full moon, which was later changed to Monday on or before full moon.  The Lodge continued to meet "by the moon" until December 18, 1893, when a resolution was introduced to change the date to the second Monday of each month.  The fees at that time were $10.00 for the First and $5.00 for each of the Second and Third Degrees.  The dues were $2.00 a year, payable quarterly.  A one-dollar fee was charged for affiliation. 

That our pioneer brethren were not afraid of work is attested by the records of the stated meeting on March 1, 1855; at that meeting the Lodge conducted its business, voted on six petitions, received two, then conferred a First, Second and Third Degree on different candidates.  The records do not mention anything about refreshments; but if they had any it must have been breakfast.  While under dispensation the Lodge conferred thirteen First Degrees, ten Seconds and eight Thirds.  It admitted two; three demitted, two were rejected and one expelled.  It started with ten members, and when the charter was granted on June 6, 1855, it had sixteen members.  The lodge grew rapidly reaching a peak membership of 446 in the year 1926.   As of January, 2009, membership in Black Hawk Lodge is 250.

After the charter was granted the Lodge immediately began to recommend brethren of this and surrounding territory for dispensations to form new Lodges.  The first was on July 26, 1855, when it recommended the petition of Brother John Bogart and other Brethren of Independence.  Shortly thereafter followed recommendations for Lodges at Clarksville, Waterloo, Osage, Waverly, Bradford, Janesville and Parkersburg.  So Black Hawk Lodge No. 65 is literally the "Mother" of all the surrounding Lodges. 

Our pioneer brethren evidently believed in the old adage "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy," for the Lodge sponsored a number of social gatherings for its members.  In 1861 the Lodge celebrated Washington's Birthday with a supper at the Western Hotel.  Again on January 15, 1862, the Lodge sponsored a festival with supper at the Hotel, at which time it was voted to allow the members the privilege of inviting more than one Lady- providing he paid the extra expense.  Despite this, however, things were evidently not going well enough to suit some of the members, for at the same meeting where details of this festival were worked out; a resolution was presented which read as follows:

"Resolved: That Black Hawk Lodge No. 65, surrender it's Charter to the Grand Lodge."

Fortunately for us and for Cedar Falls the motion to adopt the resolution was lost when it was brought up at the next regular meeting.

Some very interesting incidents occurred during the early years of Masonry in Cedar Falls.  In the records of the regular meeting of August 18,1859, the following resolution was adopted;  "Resolved:  That intemperance is a formidable growing evil, alike Un-masonic and Immoral, and as such is inconsistent with the genius of our ancient and honorable Order.  Resolved:  That in order to correct this evil in the jurisdiction of Black Hawk Lodge, No. 65, it shall be the duty of each and every member of the same to prefer a charge against any offending Brother at the next stated meeting after the offense." 

Evidently our members at that time took their Masonry seriously and literally, because at the same meeting the Junior Warden, Brother R. C. Thayer, preferred charges of gross un-Masonic conduct against Brother Andrew Mullarky, the charges being based on habitual drunkenness.  The case was brought to trial on September 20, 1859, and after lengthy testimony Brother Mullarky was indefinitely suspended.  In 1866, the Worshipful Master, G. B. Van Saun, preferred a charge of un-Masonic conduct against a member of the Lodge, Brother J. Q. A. Crosby.  The charge being that the said Brother left a funeral procession without first getting permission from the Marshal.  The Brother explained that he had a "very urgent” personal reason for leaving the procession, and that it would have been very embarrassing for him to wait for permission.  The charges were dropped. 

Black Hawk Lodge has celebrated two important events in its career, its fiftieth anniversary in 1904 and its seventy-fifth in 1930.  Both these evenings were spent in social intercourse and banquet, with many short and able addresses being made, toasting by honored brethren and visiting dignitaries, vocal presentations, and concluding with a historical review of Black Hawk Lodge from its beginning.  The entertainment was seemingly enjoyed by every one present, until the "Wee sma' hours', when all retired for home." 

In the early years of Black Hawk Lodge, local help was the rule, although stranded brothers were aided on their way.  In 1864 a Charity Fund was established.  In 1874 the Charity Committee was given unlimited drawing power.  In the 1870's authorizations were made for the cost of a tombstone, for flood relief, and for yellow fever relief.  In the 1880's considerable aid was given to the widows of members as well as to needy brothers.  In the 1890's nearly $100.00 was authorized for the relief of a member in another community.  Since 1900, funds have been sent to other lodges for the rebuilding of destroyed lodge property, funeral costs have been assumed, hospital rooms have been furnished, and heavy donations have been made to the Washington Memorial Monument Fund.  During World War II, the Masonic Activity Fund and the Grand Lodge Special Relief Fund received generous donations. 

Black Hawk Lodge No. 65, as one of the oldest lodges in the State of Iowa, has a long and distinguished record of cooperation with, assistance to, and inspiration from, the other lodges in this State and in other Grand Jurisdictions.  Through the lodge acting as host to sojourners or casual visitors, and through individual members visiting and participating in other lodge activities, Black Hawk Lodge is known as a gracious host and a source of interested and qualified workers.  Participation of the membership in Grand Lodge proceedings far exceeds the attendance of one or more of the principal officers at the annual Communications.  The most exalted service that Black Hawk Lodge has rendered to the Grand Lodge of Iowa has been the furnishing of two of its Grand Masters.   George B. Van Saun was raised in Black Hawk Lodge on March 28, 1859, and nine times elected its Worshipful Master (1865 - 74; 1896).  He served as Grand Master from 1881 - 1883.    J. Ellitt Grayson, Past Master of Washington Lodge No. 26, affiliated with Black Hawk Lodge on November 10, 1941.  He served as Grand Master from 1952 - 1953. 

On three occasions formal corner-stone laying ceremonies were under the auspices of the local brethren.  The first was for the Episcopal Church with exercises held November 29, 1866.  The second was for a building at the Iowa State Normal School on August 29, 1882, with Grand Lodge officers in attendance and an address by the Governor of the State of Iowa.  The last one done solely by our lodge and representatives from Grand Lodge was the First United Methodist Church of Cedar Falls (8th and Washington) in 1996.

Of all the many and varied activities enjoyed by the men of Black Hawk Lodge No. 65 over the past fifty years, and of all the events that have occurred in that time, by far the most significant of these was the expansion and remodeling of the Lodge Hall.  The years 1967 - 1968 were exceptionally busy, challenging, and ultimately rewarding as the Lodge almost doubled its available space, added income-producing property, and worked hard - as a group - to make it all happen. 

For some time prior to 1967, expansion of the Lodge had been discussed informally, as is natural when dealing with an aging building with inadequate space for many of the Lodge's activities.  There is documentary evidence of excited and animated discussions of enlarging the Lodge Hall as early as 1940.  Although the interior of the Lodge Hall had been renovated in 1954, by the late 1960's the brethren felt that the room was again inadequate. 

The primary motivation behind the desire to upgrade the Lodge came as a direct result of a visit by Grand Master William K. Brubaker.   G. M. Brubaker had come to Black Hawk Lodge in January of 1967 to attend to the installation of Brother Orvin Schoville as Worshipful Master, and install the new officers of the Lodge.  Many of the brothers were embarrassed by the peeling paint and shabby carpet in the Lodge Hall at the time of the installation ceremony.  Grand Master Brubaker took newly installed Worshipful Master Schoville aside after the ceremony for a word of admonishment on the state of the Lodge Hall.  The Grand Master told Orvin in no uncertain terms that he wanted the building "fixed up."

Ever dutiful, W. M. Schoville appointed a Building Committee to explore the various solutions to the problem, and make a recommendation to the lodge as to the correct path to pursue.  In June 1967, the Committee submitted its report entertaining four possibilities:

1. Adding on to the back of the present building
2. Constructing a new building and moving the Lodge
3. Removing the businesses on the first floor of the building and using that space for expansion
4. Purchasing the Lederman Building (formerly the Diamond Bros. grocery which adjoined the present building) and remodel both structures. 

The Building Committee recommended the last of these.

Brother Schoville reports that at least three separate factions arose within the Craft.  One group was in agreement with the Committee report.  A second group felt that a new building should be built in a more suburban location.  A third group wanted to "do nothing."  It was this third group that proved to be most problematical for the W. M., led as it was by Bro. Grayson, a brother of high repute, and, as a Past Grand Master of Iowa, one whose opinion carried a great deal of weight within the Lodge. 

At the July stated meeting, Worshipful Master Schoville decided to "call the question."  The vote was to accept or reject the recommendation of the Building Committee.  The Lodge voted to accept the committee's recommendation.  Accordingly, the officers and trustees of the Lodge began the task of negotiating the purchase of the Lederman Building, preparing a budget for the purchase and renovation, and planning the work. 

At the November stated meeting of Black Hawk Lodge, the proposed project plan and budget was put to the vote.  The result of that ballot was 29 -19 in favor of buying the new building and remodeling the two structures.  It is of interest to note that the following month, December 1967, Brother Carl Kittle was elected Worshipful Master of the lodge by an almost identical vote of 29 -18.  As Bro. Kittle had taken a leadership role as a proponent of the "buy and remodel" option, these vote totals can be taken as a rough indication of the extent of the rift that had appeared within the lodge regarding the issue of lodge expansion. 

The Lederman Building was thus purchased in November of 1967 at a cost of $35,000.  Brother Schoville remembers that despite the previous disagreements, a spirit of cooperation arose within and among the officers of the lodge.  The new building was a two-story structure with a basement.  The upstairs was divided into four apartments, several of which were in appalling condition.  Demolition was begun with a volunteer crew.  Young men from Demolay on the weekend shifts augmented the regular crew.  General contracting was done by Bro. Elmer Larsen at cost.  The lodge was unanimous that an elevator be installed during the remodeling process.  In addition to renovating the Lederman Building, the original lodge building was remodeled as well.  Lodge work was done on the third floor during renovation to the Lodge Hall.  At least two stated meetings were held in these improvised conditions.  Brothers had to be careful during floor work to avoid visible bare wires, exposed as a result of rewiring being done to the Lodge Hall below.  The distinctive men's rooms in the original building remain as they were before the remodeling.  It would be nice to say they were left in their original state because of their antique charm, but the truth is that the lodge ran out of money before they could be remodeled.  All told, the remodeling project took approximately a full year to complete at a cost of $65,000.   The lodge was rededicated on September 11, 1968. 

Many worthy and dedicated brothers have served this lodge over the last fifty years.  Brother W. Earl Eiler was not only a Past Master of Black Hawk Lodge No. 65, but also served as its Secretary for nearly 34 years, from 1939 until 1973.  On the occasion of his 50th Masonic anniversary, Bro. Eiler was surprised to find himself the subject of a mock segment of "This is Your Life" hosted by the brothers of the lodge.  Bro. Eiler's real-life brother, Buris Eiler, was a noted aviator who taught aerobatics to the Army Air Corps in the 1920's and was purported to be a close associate of local aviation legend John Livingston. 

Brother Frank Blair served the brethren of Black Hawk Lodge for many years as the long time lodges cook.  He also helped organize the Iowa State Guard at the outbreak of World War II. 

Brother Harry Sullivan, at a ceremony held on April 23, 2003 was presented the "Daniel Carter Beard Scouting Award" commemorating a lifetime of service to both the Masonic Order and to the Boy Scouts of America.  It is an honor given to Freemasons who practice the ideals of the fraternity and act as role models to the young men who are part of our nation's most outstanding youth organization.

In 1990, Black Hawk Lodge began its annual tradition of making and selling funnel cakes and pork burgers at the Sturgis Falls Festival.  The money raised supports the Masonic Scholarship Program that was begun in 1972.  Black Hawk Lodge has been honored multiple times as the Iowa Grand Master's "Lodge of the Year."  Points are accumulated by the lodge for its various activities, including, participation at the Grand Lodge Communication, raising of new brethren, community involvement, service projects and philanthropy. 

Today, Black Hawk Lodge remains financially robust with an energetic and enthusiastic membership.  On any given meeting night, men representing 4 different generations may be seen together in the lodge hall.  Although not a record for the lodge, 2003 was a high water mark for membership, as 20 new brethren were raised to the sublime degree of a Master Mason.  Younger men are "rediscovering" the Masonic fraternity and are eager to join the Brotherhood.  Recently, the lodge has placed more emphasis on fun and fellowship by promoting organized social activities for its members and families, in addition to its ritual work and philanthropies.  The future of Masonry in Cedar Falls, and of Black Hawk Lodge in particular, is bright.