Garret J. Garretson: First Master of Mizpah Lodge No. 738 and the Judge Queens Would Not Let Go
In 1873, Garret J. Garretson opened his Newtown law office to eight fellow Masons and became Mizpah Lodge No. 738’s first Master. His story follows a village lawyer into education, the Greater New York Charter Commission and a judicial career that earned the lasting confidence of Queens voters.
Bernard Berkley of Geba Lodge No. 954: The Mason Who Ran Fairyland on Queens Boulevard
Six weeks after becoming Geba Lodge No. 954’s 660th member, Fairyland co-owner Bernard Berkley welcomed about a hundred children for a day of rides and a free lunch. His story connects Masonic charity to the Elmhurst amusement park that once stood where Queens Center Mall is today.
Geba Lodge No. 954 Members Directory: Charter Members and Past Members
Browse charter members and past members of Geba Lodge No. 954, chartered in 1919 and associated with Jackson Heights and Elmhurst. This growing directory includes first Master Samuel A. Lando, psychologist David Wechsler, and other historical members in the lineage of Advance Service Mizpah Lodge No. 586.
Mizpah Lodge No. 738 and the Laying of the Elmhurst Cornerstone
On January 1, 1920, Mizpah Lodge No. 738 laid the cornerstone of its Elmhurst temple, with Robert H. Robinson presiding. Explore the planned building, the Queens lodges invited to attend, and the surviving commemorative trowel.
Ernest Ankener: Queens Surveyor & Freemason’s Legacy
Excerpt: A quiet Elmhurst street opens a window into Queens’ past. Explore the life of Ernest Ankener, an engineer, surveyor, and Freemason whose work helped shape the borough—and whose name lives on in Ankener Avenue.
Early Newtown, Queens: From Mespat to Modern Queens
An eight-article series on early Newtown, Queens: Mespat, Middelburg, the 1656 land deal, waterfront farms, religion, revolt, and how to read Riker’s Annals today.
Geba Lodge and the Making of Modern Queens
Geba Lodge No. 954 began in 1919 with gifts from Mizpah Lodge and became part of a growing Queens community. Explore its Elmhurst meeting place, notable members, and a 1954 Fairyland outing organized for 100 children from three children’s homes.