During the winter of 1914 Brother Henry N. Bowman, a member and Past Master (1867) of Eureka Lodge No. 302 at Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania conceived an idea to form a new Masonic Lodge in the Camp Hill area. This idea he conveyed to Brother Harry A. Askin, member of Eureka Lodge No. 302 and A. Elwyn Strode, member of West Chester Lodge No. 322, both of whom resided in Camp Hill. The idea was received with great interest and efforts were made to contact other known Master Masons in Camp Hill to determine their interest in becomming a part of such a noble venture.

Warrant Members of West Shore Lodge No. 681, F & A.M. Camp Hill, Pennsylvania - Constituted September 16, 1915

Front Row, Seated, Left to Right: Lindley H. Dennis, A. Elwyn Strode, Henry N. Bowman, Fred C. Beecher, Harry M. Askin
Middle Row, Seated, Left to Right: Walter M. Mumma, Guert W. Ensign, Harry A. Walter, Ralph E. Irwin
Back Row, Standing, Left to Right: Millard B. King, William M. Rowland, Jesse L. Bowman, Hiram H. Fleisher, Wayne A. Pitts,
George A.W. Bell, Robert E. Cahill, Charles W. Hardt, Daniel B. Isenberg, Fred A.L. Harrison,William M. benison, Wesley A. Wynn, U. Grant Fry.

At that time, Brother Bowman, a Justice of the Peace in Camp Hill, lived in the old stone house at the corner of Market and 26th Streets in Camp Hill. All of the ensuing meetings of Masons concerning the formation of a new lodge were held at his home between March 5, 1915 and August 10, 1915, either inside or on the lawn outside, depending on the weather. The first of many meetings was held on March 15, 1915. The purpose of this meeting was to sound out the sentiments among Camp Hill Masons concerning the formation of a new Lodge. At this meeting, Brother Askin was nominated as Chairman and was unanimously approved. Following, Brother Strode was unanimously elected secretary. Committees were appointed to attend to finding a suitable location for the Lodge, to continue to contact and to determine the interest of other known Master Masons in the Camp Hill area and to investigate the acquisition of clothing and essentials necessary for meetings. On the day following the first meeting, Brother Askin wrote a letter to the District Deputy Grand Master, Brother Samuel M. Goodyear of the Third Masonic District, soliciting his help and advice on the formation of a new Masonic Lodge. In his letter, Brother Askin stated, "We feel confident that we can start and build up a good Lodge if we are but given the opportunity. There is plenty of material here ready to unite, and we do not believe it will be very long until we would have a Lodge to be proud of.".

During the meetings that followed, many details were investigated. The clothing committee reported that costs for required items would be in the range of $400.00 to $600.00 while the Location Committee reported that a new building could be erected at an estimated cost of $13,000. Meanwhile, two Committee members, Brother Fred. C. Beecher and Millard B. King conferred with Mr. D. W. Holler, a merchant in Camp Hill, regarding the possibility of renting the third floor of his warehouse which was situated on Market Street near 22nd Street in Camp Hill and known as the Holler Building. Mr. Holler agreed to rent this space and to make the necessary alterations to conform to the requirements of a proper Lodge room and necessary ante rooms with additional space on the second floor for a social room and kitchen. Rent for these facilities was set at no more than $40.00 per month. On April 9, 1915, District Deputy Grand Master, Brother Samuel M. Goodyear was invited to, and attended a meeting at the home of Brother Bowman at which time, he outlined the requirements for warranting and constituting a Masonic Lodge and gave his assurance that he would favorably recommend a petition from the Camp Hill group at the Quarterly Communication of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania to be held in Philadelphia in June 1915. At the April 17, 1915 meeting, the Location Committee was authorized to enter into an agreement with Mr. D. W. Holler for rental of his building.

The Lodge name selected was "West Shore", and dues were fixed at $5.00 per year. Meetings continued throughout the summer with much to attend to while awaiting the response of the Grand Lodge to the petition.

Good news arrived on July 16, 1915, by means of a communique from the Right Worshipful Grand Master, Brother J. Henry Williams, notifying the Camp Hill petitioners that their petition had been granted and that arrangements should be made for the formal constitution of the new Lodge. Shortly thereafter, on July 21, 1915, the petitioners were notified by the Grand Secretary through the District Deputy Grand Master, that the Lodge number would be No. 681. Thus West Shore Lodge No. 681 was on the Masonic Record and now had only to be constituted. The final organizational meeting was held on August 10, 1915. Here all matters pertaining to the constitution ceremonies and an initial banquet were formulated. During those five months, a total of 24 Master Masons attended one or more of the organizational meetings. Aside from the actual ceremony, the next important matter was the selection of a specific date for carrying out the constitution. Dates were submitted to the Grand Master and after several communiques between the Grand Master and the petitioners, the date selected was Thursday, September 16, 1915, at high noon. Renovations to the Holler Building had been completed and the Lodge room was in proper order. Furniture loaned to the Lodge by the Harrisburg School of Instruction was in place and all was ready for the official ceremony. Thursday, September 16, 1915 was a hot and humid day with temperatures soaring to 97 degrees. The Grand Lodge party arrived from Philadelphia in due time and the ceremonies began at the appointed hour with the Right Worshipful Grand Master, Brother J. Henry Williams presiding. The ceremony was concluded at 1:30 o'clock, p.m. when the Grand Marshall proclaimed West Shore Lodge No. 681 duly constituted. It is interesting to note that in 1915 there were no paved streets in Camp Hill and a trolley track was laid down the middle of Market Street. Automobiles were not too plentiful and it was necessary for Harrisburg visitors to come to Camp Hill by trolley. As the capacity of these cars was limited, it was necessary for the lodge to hire automobiles and arrange for special trolleys to take care of the 17 Grand Lodge and Acting Grand Lodge Officers, members and 48 other visitors. Following the ceremonies, the Grand Lodge Party together with the 22 warrent members and 48 visitors, retired to the Harrisburg Club, located on the corner of Market and Front Streets in Harrisburg, to celebrate the occasion with a banquet. The festivities ended at 6:30 o'clock p.m. Thus the idea which began in the cold winter of 1914, came to reality on that hot summer day in 1915 and West Shore Lodge No 681, now authorized to work under the authority of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, joined Freemasonry around the world.

The Lodge meetings were held in a Lodge Room situated on the third floor of the Holler Building located at the north end of Camp Hill just east of 22nd Street. This location was the first meeting room of West Shore Lodge No. 681 and served as the Temple for the next 21 years. Shortly after the Lodge was in operation, in 1916, the Lodge purchased a building lot at the corner of 22nd and Market Streets, just across the street from the Holler Building for $1250.00, with the high hopes of building a new Masonic Temple. The idea was noble; however, after eight years of discussions and no positive action, the idea was tabled and the lot was sold in 1924 for $1573.00. Although the property was sold, the idea and desire to build a new Temple had not died. Within four years, in 1928, another plot of land was purchased and planning was renewed to build a Temple. The property purchased, at a cost of $5000.00 is the site upon which the present Masonic Temple now stands at 2215 Market Street, Camp Hill. At this time, a formal building committee was appointed to oversee and develop plans. Four more years passed, however, before permission was granted by the Grand Lodge in 1932 to have preliminary plans prepared for the construction of the Temple. An additional four years went by before plans were finally approved by the Right Worshipful Grand Master, Brother Otto R. Heligman on July 17, 1936. Contracts were awarded, and on September 16, 1936, on the 21st anniversary of the constitution of the Lodge, the cornerstone of the present Masonic Temple was laid. Appropriately enough, Right Worshipful Past Grand Master Samuel M. Goodyear, who had been Acting Deputy Grand Master at the constitution of the Lodge in 1915, and as District Deputy Grand Master of the Third Masonic District was so instrumental in the birth of West Shore Lodge No. 681 in 1915, was Acting Grand Master at the cornerstone laying ceremonies 21 years later.

Following the cornerstone laying ceremony, the Grand Lodge and Acting Grand Lodge Officers and guests were entertained at the West Shore Country Club. In the evening of September 16, 1936, the 21st anniversary banquet was held in the social room of the Camp Hill Methodist Church. A total of 182 Masons and guests had attended the banquet while it was estimated that approximately 200 Masons and guests attended the cornerstone laying ceremonies earlier in the day. Construction of the new Temple began shortly thereafter and the building was ready for occupation in March, 1937.

The first meeting of West Shore Lodge No. 681 was held in the Holler Building on Friday, September 17, 1915, the night following the constitution. This was the first Stated Meeting and set the day for all Stated Meetings of the Lodge in the future as the third Friday of each month. Attendance included the 22 warrant members and three visitors. The business of the evening included the presentation of the proposed By-Laws, which were laid over and subsequently adopted on January 21, 1916 after approval by the Grand Lodge. Twenty-two petitions for initiation and membership were received and read, including two from men who were later to become Master of West Shore Lodge; Edward Nelson Cooper and John Edward Sweeny. Brother Sweeny was destined later to become a District Deputy Grand Master for the Third Masonic District in 1924. Other business dealt with acquisition of equipment, furniture and furnishings, including two pot-bellied stoves for heating the Lodge room and the social room, a safe for records, cuspidors, paper products, glasses, ink wells and ink. The first degree work was conferred at the second Stated Meeting of the Lodge on Friday, October 15, 1915 when the Entered Apprentice Mason's degree was conferred on Edward Nelson Cooper, Martin A. Brinton and George D. Cook. Hence, to Past Master, Brother Edward Nelson Cooper, goes the distinction of being the first person to receive a degree in West Shore Lodge. At that October 15th meeting, eleven more petitions for initiation and membership were received. The first Extra Meeting of the Lodge was held on Friday, October 22, 1915 when five Entered Apprentice Mason's degrees were conferred. It was at this meeting that Brother John E. Sweeny was initiated into Freemasonry. A Fellow Craft Mason's degree was first conferred in the Lodge during the Stated Meeting of November 19, 1915 and the first Master Mason's degree was conferred at the fourth Stated Meeting held on December 17, 1915. The additional honor of being the first member to be raised to the Sublime Degree of a Master Mason in West Shore Lodge No. 681 again went to Brother Edward Nelson Cooper. Another historical first occurred at the November 19, 1915 Stated Meeting at which time The District Deputy Grand Master, Brother Samuel M. Goodyear made his first official visitation to the Lodge. Sadly, the first death of a member of the Lodge occurred on May 17, 1917 when Brother Edward Olin Pardoe passed on and was buried May 19th with Masonic Burial Services. The first death of a Past Master occurred when Brother Henry N. Bowman, P.M. died on December 27, 1917. Brother Bowman was initiated into Freemasonry in Eureka Lodge No. 302 at Mechanicsburg on October 3, 1864, was passed on November 7, 1864 and was raised to the Sublime Degree of a Master Mason on December 5, 1864. He was Master of that Lodge in 1867 and resigned on May 4, 1915 to become a warrant member and Past Master of West Shore Lodge No. 681. As noted earlier, Brother Bowman was a major force in bringing West Shore Lodge into being. During the first year period, September 16, 1915 through December 27, 1915, four Stated and six Extra meetings were held. The esoteric work of the Lodge included 20 Entered Apprentice, 14 Fellow Craft and eight Master Mason degrees. This amounts to 42 degrees at nine meetings. For the following 21 years, the Lodge labored and flourished in the Temple on the third floor of the Holler building. On March 12, 1917, the United States declared war on Germany. Of the 104 active members of the Lodge at that time, 15 members served in the Armed Services during the conflict. The war ended on November 11, 1918 and almost a year later, at the September Stated Meeting of the Lodge, a bronze tablet listing the names of those brethren who had served in the armed services was presented to the Lodge by Brother Carl K. Deen. Significantly, during this period, in 1924, the first and only member of West Shore Lodge No. 681, Brother John Edward Sweeny, P.M. was appointed by the Grand Master to District Deputy Grand Master of the Third Masonic District. This Station he filled with honor until his death on February 16, 1937. A near disaster occurred in the early morning hours of July 16, 1926 when a fire broke out on the first floor of the Holler building. This space was occupied by Fickel's Drug Store. The fire started in the rear of the store and went up the stairway to the Social Rooms on the second floor. There was no fire damage to the Lodge room on the third floor, but the rug, clothing, regalia and equipment did suffer considerable water damage. Coincidentally, it was in 1926 that the property upon which the present Temple now stands, was purchased and plans were renewed to build a new Temple. In the first full ten year period from 1915 to 1926 the membership grew steadily reaching 261 by the end of that period. It was obvious that the discomfort of the sometimes sweltering heat in the spring and early summer days on this third floor and the limited heating available from the pot-bellied stoves on cold winter nights; and the need for additional space spurred the endeavor to expand.

Over the next ten years, 1926 to 1936, petitions for initiation and membership slowed, averaging about ten per year as compared to about 20 per year during the first ten years. The degree work also slowed, but the business and activities of the Lodge prospered. The new Masonic Temple was ready for occupancy and regular Lodge business in 1937. Concluding the era of work in the Lodge held in the Holler building, a Special Meeting was held on February 26, 1937 to honor the memory of the late Past Master and District Deputy Grand Master, Brother John Edward Sweeney. The first Stated Meeting of the Lodge in the new Temple was held on March 19, 1937. As the work on the building had been started in 1936 while Brother Frederick H. Reeser was Master, the Worshipful Master in 1937, Brother James E. Thompson turned over the Gavel and Warrant to Brother Reeser and he opened the first meeting as Acting Master. After opening the meeting, Brother Reeser relinquished the Chair to Worshipful Master Thompson who presided during the remainder of the meeting. The first degree conferred in the new Masonic Temple was an Entered Apprentice Mason's degree on Brother John R. Eldridge, P.M. during the first Stated Meeting. This work was followed that same evening by a Fellow Craft Mason's degree conferred on Brother Frederick W. Fedderjohn. At a Special Meeting, three days later, on March 22, 1937, Master Mason's degrees were conferred upon Brothers Earl H. Frederick, Joseph Danza, P.M. and Otto M. Garman, in that order. At the Stated Meeting, held on April 16, 1937, the new District Deputy Grand Master, Brother Alexander Stewart paid his first official visit to the new Lodge. The third decade in the life of the Lodge, 1936 to 1946, was filled with many significant events. The mortgage on the Masonic Temple, as of December 17, 1937, amounted to $10,000.00. By virtue of the growth of the Lodge, it was possible to liquidate this indebtedness in full within eight years. It was on April 20, 1945 when, with due ceremony, the mortgage was burned and the Lodge was free of debt. The Nation had again become embroiled in world conflict. On December 7, 1941, the United States entered World War II and many of the members were called to service. Impact on the Lodge membership was significant during this period. Due to an increasing number of petitions for initiation and membership, Stated Meetings were held in July and August, a period of time when the Lodge was usually called off from labor. This was done in order to confer the ever increasing number of degrees. By special dispensation from the Grand Lodge, on several occasions, the Entered Apprentice, Fellow Craft and Master Mason's degrees were conferred on one and the same candidate during one session of the Lodge. Countless Extra Meetings were held to handle this mammoth surge and by the end of 1946, the membership had reached 498.

In 1942, by order of the Right Worshipful Grand Master, a flag ceremony was instituted and used at each Stated Meeting in honor of those serving in the Armed Forces. The ceremony included a prayer by the Chaplain and the singing of a patriotic song. It remains a part of all Stated Meetings to the present time. On November 9, 1946, after the end of World War II, a Special Meeting of the Lodge was held to pay tribute to the forty-six members of the Lodge who had served in the Armed Services during that conflict. A bronze plaque was presented to the Lodge with the names of those Brethren, so honored, inscribed thereon. This plaque is on display in the stairway leading to the Lodge room from the social hall. By 1956, the active membership has grown to 779. The Lodge was in need of more social space to contend with the preparation of refreshments and fellowship after the meetings. Plans were prepared for additions and renovations and the construction began that was to expand the first floor portion of the building. The additions included a new kitchen, new storage areas, and a parking lot to be added to the rear of the building. Past Masters annually held a social event which initially was limited to Past Masters, Officers of the Lodge and Floorworkers. In 1946, however, the first event was held which included the ladies of the brethren. Later, this event would include the entire membership of the Lodge and their ladies and has become a traditional annual event. It is now known as "Spring Ladies Night". Another social event for the entire membership and their non-Masonic guests, the annual "Christmas Dinner", usually held on the Saturday evening following the December Stated Meeting, was started during that period. The actual beginning of what has become known as "Strawberry Night" is uncertain and research efforts to determine its origin and whether or not it has any significance to or background in Freemasonry have been unsuccessful. It is sufficient to note that following the Stated Meeting in June of each year, refreshments include strawberries and ice cream in great abundance.

This event is traditional in nearly every Lodge in this and the surrounding Masonic Districts and is attended by members in good numbers. Over the next ten years, 1956 to 1966, the Lodge supported and participated in originating several new Masonic Lodges in the greater Harrisburg area, including Lowther Manor Lodge No. 781. The membership in West Shore Lodge No. 681 had nearly reached 800 in 1957, and with this upward trend in interest and membership, it was considered possible that another Lodge in Camp Hill could be supported. The idea was a proper one and on February 9, 1957, Lowther Manor Lodge No. 781, sponsored by West Shore Lodge No. 681, was constituted and took its place alongside the West Shore Lodge in practicing Freemasonry in the Camp Hill area. Lowther Manor shares the Temple facilities under a lease with West Shore Lodge. Other tenants having used the Temple building over the years include: the Acacia Club of Camp Hill, the International Order of Job's Daughters, the International Order of the Rainbow for Girls, the International Order of DeMolay, and Steadfast Chapter No. 479, Order of the Eastern Star. In 1962 and in 1963 the records show a trend to travel to Lodges at other locations to conduct Extra Meetings and confer degrees. Trips were made to the Masonic Homes at Elizabethtown in each of those years. In 1964, a trip was made to the Masonic Temple at Philadelphia for the same purpose. In the following years, additional trips were made to those Temples, and also to the George Washington Masonic Memorial at Alexandria, Virginia. Later, in 1980, the Lodge traveled to Massachusetts where, with proper dispensation from the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania and the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, a Master Mason's degree was conferred in Pennsylvania form. Other organized trips were also made to visit a number of Masonic Lodges in Maryland and Virginia Jurisdictions. During the years following 1966, the work of the Lodge grew steadily with an increase in membership. Stated Meetings and Extra Meetings kept up with the business. Social events were annually observed including the Annual Banquet, Spring Ladies Night, Christmas Dinner and trips. In 1973, the Lodge commissioned Brother James S. Mackey, Jr., P.M. (1980) to design and paint a mural on the lobby wall as part of a major refurbishing of the interior of the Masonic Temple. The mural is located just inside the main door of the Temple. Brother Mackey, an accomplished artist and an art teacher in the West Shore School District, did design the mural, and during the summer of 1973, painted the beautiful design as commissioned. This art treasure was later to become the design to appear of the first page of the meeting notices of the Lodge, and is shown on the cover of this historical document.

The Grand Lodge, in 1983, instituted an awareness program under the name of Solomon II, which was intended to rekindle and stimulate the awareness of Master Masons in the Fraternity and to bring more public light on the Brotherhood. The program was scheduled to continue for a four year period. During this time, the impact of the program in the membership of West Shore Lodge was positive when in 1985, petitions for initiation and membership amounted to 40 as compared to less than 20 before and after that year. At the Stated Meeting in June 1985, 15 petitioners were ballotted for and unanimously approved. During that year, another major improvement was made when the furniture of the Lodge room was replaced with new seating and the entire room was totally refurbished. By 1987, it was apparent that the Temple building was in need of repairs and replacement of building equipment. An appeal was made to the membership to support renovations to the kitchen, the office and the social room of the Temple. The membership responded and the work was accomplished during the summer of 1988. It was done with the voluntary labors of the members of West Shore and Lowther Manor Lodges. Aside from the regular standing committees serving the Lodge, a new committee, the "Help-A-Brother Committee", was created in 1988 by Worshipful Master Kenneth G. Puller, Jr. This committee actively seeks out Brethren and widows of Brethren who are in need of help, aid or assistance in work around their homes. The work force is provided by volunteer members of the Lodge. This committee activity was well received by the Grand Lodge and notice was made in the Grand Lodge Publication. From the very beginning, banquets, commemorating the Granting of the Warrant of Constitution of the Lodge have been held annually. Until 1922, the banquets were held in September on the nearest appropriate date to the constitution of the Lodge. In 1922 the banquet was held in October. The September dates were unpopular because of the late summer heat and a preference was shown for the October dates. From 1916 to 1944, the banquets were held in Camp Hill, except in 1925, 1926 and 1927 when they were held at the Carlisle Country Club. In 1945, the banquet was held in the Penn Harris Ballroom at Harrisburg and in 1946, 1947 and 1948 they were held at the Zembo Mosque in Harrisburg. Beyond that time, Anniversary Banquets have been held at the Scottish Rite Cathedral in Harrisburg and with the availability of air conditioning, the time has been returned to September and on a date near the constituting date of the Lodge.

A final note with reference to the workings of West Shore Lodge, refers to the creation of the West Shore Temple Association in 1990. The idea of forming such an association has been under consideration for several years and was generally supported by the Grand Lodge. The purpose of the Association was to tend to all matters relative to the Temple Building's needs and to control the use of the facilities therein by tenants including West Shore Lodge. The proper documents were prepared and all matters pertaining thereto were filed with the proper authorities and West Shore Temple Association assumed the responsibility of the Lodge Building on January 1, 1990. Membership in the Association includes all members of West Shore Lodge No. 681.

On September 16, 1915, the Membership of the Lodge consisted of 22 warrant members. These Master Masons came from 16 Lodges in Pennsylvania, Maryland, New York and Canada:

Brother Fred C. Beecher, P.M. of Kittanning Lodge No. 244, served as Warrant Master of the Lodge and was elected to Worshipful Master for the Masonic Year 1916. Since that time, 74 other Brother Master Masons joined Brother Beecher in serving as Worshipful Master of West Shore Lodge No. 681. The membership at the first Stated Meeting on October 15, 1915 was 22. By the end of the year, on December 27, 1915, 25 were initiated into Freemasonry and became members of the Lodge. The total membership at the beginning of 1916 was 47. The next year saw 47 more brethren joining the Lodge, both by initiation and transfer and the membership reached 94. After those first years of membership gains of 47 each, the growth leveled out averaging about 15 per year up to 1930. Offsetting this growth, membership losses by death, resignation or suspension averaged about 2 per year. The net result was that by 1930, after 15 years, the active membership had grown to 287 members.