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| Founder of the Limestone Masonic Lodge Dr. Albert H. Damon |
By Natalie De La Garza
Staff Writer
LIMESTONE — The Limestone Masonic Lodge is the youngest of all the lodges in District One, and it just turned 100 years old.
Master of the Limestone Lodge Paul Poitras explained that before there was a lodge in Limestone, Masons would ride 11 miles south to Fort Fairfield for their meetings.
That’s where Dr. Albert H. Damon stepped in as the founder of the Limestone Lodge, but forming a chapter of a worldwide organization wasn’t the only thing Dr. Damon is known for in Limestone.
“He was a Rotarian, superintendent of schools, he served on the school board, he was an Army medic in World War I, he was the founder of the Limestone Fire Department as we know it today,” Poitras listed, “I don’t know how he found the time to do everything he did.”
Dr. Damon’s framed photograph is carefully hung on a wall in the Lodge — along with the photo of every other master the lodge has had in the past century.
Slowly walking along the wall, Poitras pointed to different Lodge masters and listing off accomplishments.
“George W. Hamilton was a big potato shipper … Pat Thornton was a prominent school teacher … Luther Durepo built the Citgo Station (down the street) …” Poitras said, naming a multitude of accomplished men who’ve overseen the lodge during its 100-year-history.
Many of the past masters have impressive careers, “but the thing is, you don’t have to have any prominence to be a Mason,” Poitras said. “The poorest man or the richest man — they’re all the same.”
There are currently about 90 members of the Limestone Masonic Lodge, but Poitras said that several members no longer live in the community; back when the Loring Air Force Base was operational, it drew members to the Limestone Lodge.
“They were raised to the Masonic Degree here in Limestone, and they always remained loyal — they always paid their dues, but every year we lose two or three,” Poitras said.
Currently, there are probably 25 masons in attendance for normal meetings, and pre-meetings always start with dinner and “about an hour to talk about everything around town,” Poitras said with a smile.
Having supper before the meeting is a tradition for the Limestone masons — and tradition is what Poitras likes the most about Masonry.
“I can’t speak for all Masons, but I think that the majority believe that tradition is one of the big attractions — coming here and knowing we’re doing the same thing that they did 300 years ago,” Poitras said.
When asked where he’d like the lodge to be in another hundred years, Poitras didn’t hesitate the slightest in saying that he’d like to see the lodge just maintain.
“I hope that financially it can endure and, as far as tradition, I’d like to see it the same,” Poitras said. Gesturing to the wall of past grand masters, he added, “I like to think that if any one of these guys who’ve died came back, they would find that everything is exactly as they left it, and that’s exactly how I’d like it to be.”
Of course little things have changed over the years — but not much.
Like the fact that Masons are known for giving back to the community — that’s still going strong at the Limestone Lodge, now 100 years young.
“The local Masonic groups support the Aroostook Teen Leadership Camp, we support the Boy Scouts, the Christmas Baskets,” Poitras said, and the Limestone Masons also have a special fund to help out with few extras here and there.
“Let’s say some young person wants to play soccer but they don’t have any tennis shoes …. They’re probably going to find some tennis shoes,” Poitras said with a grin.
The current master of the Limestone Lodge truly enjoys Masonry; and he’s been a Mason for the past 10 years.
“… But I wish it would have been 40,” Poitras added.
He joined after attending one of the annual Fellowship Nights and learning about the organization.
“I really wish I would have come in many years ago because I enjoy it,” he said — but there’s one thing he didn’t expect when he joined.
“The thing I was most pleasantly surprised about is the addiction Masonry brings upon you … I have got books piled at home like this,” he said with a gesture that signified a huge stack of books he’s reading or waiting to read about the tradition and history of Masonry.
The next Fellowship Night for the Limestone Lodge will be held in the spring, and the group is already in agreement that their next Open House will be held in conjunction with Limestone’s annual Fourth of July festivities.
For those interested in joining the Masons — one of their slogans says it all.
“If you want to be a Mason, ask one to be one,” Poitras said
