King Solomon’s Lodge #1 is one of the few buildings in New Bern that we know was built by African-American craftsmen and used by the African-American community leaders who became state legislators and U.S. Congressmen. The Lodge’s Italianate-style building, completed in 1870, has served continuously as a meeting hall for Masons. Remarkably, it withstood the Great Fire of 1922, one of few structures north of Queen Street to survive.
In 2019, the lodge was awarded a $10,000 Stedman Incentive Grant from Preservation NC, in partnership with the New Bern Preservation Foundation, to support its preservation.
A fire in 2005 caused extensive smoke and water damage to the structure. The structure was not flooded during Hurricane Florence, but the storm certainly highlighted the urgent need to do external repairs to keep out wind and rain.
Worshipful Master of King Solomon Lodge Frederick Smith has kept everyone focused on the significance of this effort. “King Solomon #1 is an icon of the history of the Colonial Capital of North Carolina,” said Smith. “The sole purpose of this important structure is to house the membership of a Master Mason Lodge, a Chapter of The Eastern Star as well as their young men, The Kop, and the young ladies, the Gleaners. Our vision of making good men and women better and cultivating young minds for the future is of the utmost importance.”
Illustrious black freemasons include Thurgood Marshall, W.E.B. Du Bois, Booker T. Washington, Martin Luther King, Nat King Cole, Duke Ellington, Jesse Jackson, Sugar Ray Robinson, and Nelson Mandela, to name a few.
King Solomon Lodge #1 is chartered through the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of North Carolina, F&AM, which in turn, is recognized by the United Grand Lodge of England.
There is also a Journal article written by Jon Miller about King Solomon’s Lodge (KSL) on The Kellenberger Room.
