1861 Masonic Lodge
Once a beloved small town community center, this meeting hall may be haunted by phantom Freemasons
Paranormal Reports at the
Haunted 1861 Masonic Lodge
- Shadow figures are seen at times
- Disembodied voices are heard around the building
- People report being touched by unseen hands
- Two women’s apparitions are seen on the first floor
- Figures of children are sometimes seen
Masons & Mystery:
History of the 1861 Masonic Lodge
Aside from a small campground, an assortment of pubs, and a Casey’s convenience store, Keithsburg, Illinois, doesn’t look like much.
But looks, as they say, can deceive.
Hidden in the western Illinois hamlet is a cornerstone of local history that has recently become the focal point of Keithsburg’s paranormal lore.
The 1861 Masonic Lodge was once a busy community center for the riverside town. These days, specters of former townsfolk may still attend meetings from beyond the grave.
Timeline of 1861 Masonic Lodge's History
Swipe or use timeline points to see 1861 Masonic Lodge through the years
1861
As its current name suggests, Keithsburg’s Masonic Lodge was built around 1861. But, it was not immediately home to any Freemasons. Instead, the building began life as the Arlington Hotel. The Freemasons were still active in another lodge a few streets away, though. The Arlington almost certainly greeted its fair share of masons and, over time, it made an impression on the local lodge members.
1900
Around 1900, after the Arlington Hotel had run its course, the building became the Robert Burns Masonic Lodge #113. The lower floors turned into popular meeting areas for members of the community. Meanwhile, the main Masonic Temple dominated the upper floor. The lodge proved popular, and needed to be enlarged in 1920 to accommodate all its members and events. As the 20th century went on, the local lodge continued to be a popular community center in Keithsburg, hosting dances, dinners, and even serving as the town’s polling place.
1980
By 1980, life had changed a lot in Keithsburg, but the old Freemason lodge remained a fixture. Community events were still held there, and the temple hosted a yearly fundraiser dinner to keep the building alive. This worked until the early 2000s, when the Keithsburg temple was shuttered. But, in no time, paranormal intrigue rose around the historic building, turning it into the local tourist attraction it is today.
Is the 1861 Masonic Lodge Haunted?
Between the Freemason lodge and the associated Order of the Eastern Star chapter, countless Keithsburg locals came together and formed a community in the old temple. Now, some of their wayward phantoms remain.
Two notable specters are reported on the first floor.
One, simply known as a lady in white, is often spotted wandering around the first floor rooms. And, while one mysterious woman wanders, another works.
In the kitchen, a second woman’s apparition is seen cleaning up, sometimes kneeling on all fours to scrub the floor. A ghost’s work is never done!
Ghostly Children Roam the Halls
Aside from the ghostly ladies on the lodge’s first floor, numerous other strange shadows are reported. Many are simply sudden movements from across a room, split-second shadows that are impossible to identify. However, a few of the lodge’s shadows are child-sized.
Children weren’t regular attendees at Freemason meetings, though the building’s role in many community events may answer how child spirits got inside. No one can say for sure what the ghostly children are doing, but witnesses say their shadow figures seem to always be frolicking and playing.
Ghosts Get Talkative
The ghostly children of the 1861 Masonic Lodge are apparently so enamored with their games that they don’t often talk to visitors or answer questions. But, other specters certainly do. Disembodied voices are frequently reported all through the old lodge.
Visiting ghost hunters regularly record these strange, distant voices and analyze them for answers to their questions. Along with potential EVP recordings, ghost hunters also report successful communication using specialized devices. The spirits are said to be big fans of Spirit Boxes and Oviluses, frequently using them to speak with investigators.
Touchy Feely Phantoms
Ghosts around the 1861 Masonic Lodge don’t seem to be angry or evil. Instead, the phantoms seem curious, at best. Some, like the first floor ladies or the ghostly children, seem too wrapped up in their chores and games to engage with visitors. But others take a special interest in all the tourists exploring the old temple.
Visitors sometimes report being poked or tapped by unseen hands, while others claim to feel their clothes tugged on by these same forces. Could this be the energy of the lodge’s curious ghosts, prodding at their new guests?
Find Your Own
Phantom Freemason
Keithsburg, Illinois isn’t a place known for its tourist destinations. But the 1861 Masonic Lodge brings in ghost hunters from all across the American Midwest.
Paranormal explorers arrive in the unassuming little town hoping to experience something unforgettable. And, intriguingly, many do.
Tours and ghost hunts are offered openly through the 1861 Masonic Lodge’s website, where a public calendar is available for interested ghost hunters to book their spots. As more groups visit, more ghostly tales come out about the historic lodge and its unique array of phantom personalities.
Keithsburg’s lodge may have hosted generations of Freemasons, but the ghosts that remain are some truly odd fellows.
