Donation and Partnership Recalls Lodge-School Deal 80 Years Ago

The Community Relations Committee of Harry A. Houseman Lodge No. 717 are pictured with some of their reading partners who are holding some of the books the lodge bought for the Watson T. Comly Elementary School library. Second from left of the adult line is the school librarian, Linda Graham, wife of Charles T. Graham, D.D.G.M. (third from left).

Then Brethren of Harry A. Houseman Lodge No. 717, went to the Watson T. Comly Elementary School in the Somerton section of Philadelphia to donate books for the library and to be reading partners for the students, they renewed a historical relationship between the school and the lodge that goes back more than eight decades. The librarian, Linda Graham, wife of Charles T. Graham, D.D.G.M., Masonic District D, discovered that the lodge and the school gave each other a unique helping hand in the 1920's.

The original vintage Comly School, built in 1892 and located about a mile from the present building, could no longer accommodate the growing community. At that time, the Masons owned a substantial piece of land, but couldn't afford to build a Masonic Temple; so a deal was arranged between the School Board and Houseman Lodge to exchange properties. The old Comly School was converted into a Masonic Temple and a new Comly School was built on the Lodge's former land. Harry A. Houseman Lodge still meets in the old, converted school building.

Last Fall, Linda told Bro. Thomas Vasek, P.M., Chairman of the Lodge's Community Relations Committee, about the lack of new and exciting books in the elementary school's library. The Lodge readily agreed not only to make a large monetary contribution to buy books, but also volunteered to become reading partners with the 300-plus students and to participate in the school's Career Day in the Spring.