KAMSACK — An aging and dwindling membership has forced the Kamsack Masons to decide to offer their building on main street for sale.
Last month the fraternal organization began to advertise that the Masonic Lodge is available to a new owner.
“Our membership is just too small to allow us to keep the building,” said Rick Aikman, the current Worshipful Master. “The Eastern Star had used the building and had paid rent, but that group disbanded earlier last year.
“We just can’t afford to stay in the building,” he said, mentioning the costs of insurance, taxes and utilities.
“The Lodge is still active, but we’ll be looking for a place to rent,” Aikman said, estimating that although only nine members had attended a meeting on Jan. 11, the membership rests at about 30. The group was at its largest in the 1950s when it contained more than 75 members.
The building, which contains a main floor meeting hall, and a lower hall with kitchenette, was constructed in 1945 following the Kamsack Cyclone of 1944 which had damaged the previous building.
The Kamsack branch of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, which were incorporated in the community in 1905, celebrated their centennial in the community during the Kamsack reunion of 2005.
“We’ve already had some interest expressed in the building,” Aikman said.
The group’s annual Shrove Tuesday pancake supper is being resumed this year after having been cancelled the past two years because of COVID-19, he said, inviting everyone to the Hall on Feb. 21 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. for a supper of pancakes and sausages.
During the meeting, a draw was made to find the winner of the Masons’ 50/50 draw, and the name of Sandy Nykolaishen was drawn, he said.
