Tappan Zee Lodge No. 79 F. & A. M.
In the year of our Lord 1931, several Master Masons from Rockland County, New York operating out
of Enoch Grand Lodge(Four Letter) petitioned the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge in the
County of Rockland, State of New York. The charter was granted on December 17, 1932 by the
Most Worshipful Edward T. Sherwood, Jr., Grand Master for for the State of New York. The three
original principal officers of the lodge were:Worshipful Master Samuel Palmer, Senior Warden Richard
Blackburn and Junior Warden James Vicks.
Tappan Zee Lodge No. 79 began operations in a leased premises at Sparkhill Church in Sparkhill,
New York. Once operations began Tappan Zee became a Lodge on the move in both membership and
location. From Sparkhill it moved to Piermont, New York from Piermont to Franklin Street, Nyack New York.
When the premises on Franklin Street became unavailable the Lodge moved yet to another location, the
Odd Fellows Hall on Franklin and Main Street, Nyack New York in the year 1963.
Tappan Zee Lodge No. 79 early years is emphasized by its migration to three villages and four meeting
places in thirty one years. However, during this entire time the idea of a permanent home began to take
place and grow. In 1966, by "unanimous resolution", the Lodge decided to start a Building Fund to
acquire an edifice to provide a permanent home for the Lodge. The efforts of the Building Fund came to
fruition in February 1976 when Tappan Zee Square Club, the fund raising arm of the Lodge signed a
contract on a building at 76 North Main Street in Spring Valley, New York. The migration was finally
coming to an end.
The last regular communication held in a rented premise was at the Odd Fellows Hall in Nyack, on
June 19, 1976. The new home of Tappan See Lodge No. 79 in Spring Valley was dedicated on
July 18, 1976 by Past Grand Master Herman V. Bailey and his staff, with Worshipful Master George F.
Gause of Tappan Zee Lodge No. 79 presiding. The first regular communication in its new home was
held on September 4, 1976.
of Enoch Grand Lodge(Four Letter) petitioned the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge in the
County of Rockland, State of New York. The charter was granted on December 17, 1932 by the
Most Worshipful Edward T. Sherwood, Jr., Grand Master for for the State of New York. The three
original principal officers of the lodge were:Worshipful Master Samuel Palmer, Senior Warden Richard
Blackburn and Junior Warden James Vicks.
Tappan Zee Lodge No. 79 began operations in a leased premises at Sparkhill Church in Sparkhill,
New York. Once operations began Tappan Zee became a Lodge on the move in both membership and
location. From Sparkhill it moved to Piermont, New York from Piermont to Franklin Street, Nyack New York.
When the premises on Franklin Street became unavailable the Lodge moved yet to another location, the
Odd Fellows Hall on Franklin and Main Street, Nyack New York in the year 1963.
Tappan Zee Lodge No. 79 early years is emphasized by its migration to three villages and four meeting
places in thirty one years. However, during this entire time the idea of a permanent home began to take
place and grow. In 1966, by "unanimous resolution", the Lodge decided to start a Building Fund to
acquire an edifice to provide a permanent home for the Lodge. The efforts of the Building Fund came to
fruition in February 1976 when Tappan Zee Square Club, the fund raising arm of the Lodge signed a
contract on a building at 76 North Main Street in Spring Valley, New York. The migration was finally
coming to an end.
The last regular communication held in a rented premise was at the Odd Fellows Hall in Nyack, on
June 19, 1976. The new home of Tappan See Lodge No. 79 in Spring Valley was dedicated on
July 18, 1976 by Past Grand Master Herman V. Bailey and his staff, with Worshipful Master George F.
Gause of Tappan Zee Lodge No. 79 presiding. The first regular communication in its new home was
held on September 4, 1976.
