Masons built this lodge in 1861. They’re still using it in a Colorado ghost town.

Nevada Lodge No. 4, Nevadaville CO

Nevada Lodge No. 4 holds the strange honor of being Colorado’s only ghost town Masonic lodge. Founded by gold miners, it survived a major fire in 1861, the mining bust of the 1870s, and the total collapse of Nevadaville itself.

By 1921 even the post office had closed, but the Masons kept coming. Brothers still drive up to Nevadaville once a month to perform their ancient rituals.

Here’s the tale of the lodge that refused to die, still standing in the same town.

The Colorado Gold Rush Brings Masons to Nevadaville

The 1859 gold discovery near Gregory Diggings brought thousands of fortune seekers to Colorado.

Nevadaville grew quickly as miners worked the Burroughs and Kansas lodes. Many miners brought Masonic traditions from back East, creating a ready-made community in this new frontier town.

By 1861, Nevadaville had 2,705 residents, more than Denver’s 2,603. Irish immigrants made up most of the workforce, digging deep into the mountains.

Leading businessmen and successful miners soon organized a Masonic lodge, one of Colorado’s first fraternal groups.

First Charter from Kansas Territory

Freemasonry in Nevadaville officially began on December 22, 1860. The Grand Lodge of Kansas named the group Nevada Lodge No. 36. Andrew Mason, an early gold seeker, became the first Worshipful Master, leading the lodge.

Members met in the upper room of Ira H. Morton’s building for their ceremonies. This Kansas charter didn’t last long. After just one official meeting, the lodge gave up their Kansas connection when Colorado Territory formed in 1861.

Distance from Kansas made local governance more practical for Colorado’s growing Masonic community.

The Great Fire of 1861

Fire devastated Nevadaville in September 1861, burning over fifty buildings including the Morton building where Masons met. Residents used dynamite to create firebreaks, sacrificing some buildings to save others.

This quick thinking prevented the town’s complete destruction. With gold still flowing from the mines, rebuilding started right away. For the Masons, the fire created a chance to build a permanent home.

Instead of renting space again, lodge leaders began planning their own temple that would stand for generations.

Charter from the New Colorado Territory

Nevada Lodge got its permanent charter from the new Grand Lodge of Colorado Territory on December 10, 1861. This made them Nevada Lodge No. 4, showing they were among Colorado’s earliest Masonic groups.

Reverend John Chivington, Colorado’s first Grand Master of Masons, personally granted the charter. The lodge held its first official Colorado meeting on December 14, 1861. J.M. Van Deren became Worshipful Master, with A.J. Van Deren as Senior Warden and S.W. Chase as Junior Warden.

While planning their permanent building, members temporarily met in Central City.

Building the Permanent Lodge

After the fire, lodge members bought two lots on Nevadaville’s Main Street. They planned a substantial two-story building as their permanent home. M.S. Burhans built the structure for $7,140, finishing in 1879.

This building became one of the town’s most impressive structures. The practical design included ground floor spaces for businesses like meat markets and barbershops. The upper floor held the lodge room, preparation areas, offices, and sleeping quarters.

Stone walls and a cast-iron storefront made the building durable. This explains why it survived while other structures crumbled over time.

Masonic Membership During Mining Boom

Joining Nevada Lodge No. 4 wasn’t cheap. Annual dues cost $4 when miners earned just $1 per week. Membership showed both social status and financial security. Members promised to care for sick brothers and provide proper burials.

The lodge room featured special furnishings for Masonic rituals. The original altar and pedestals from 1861 remain in use today. Masonic symbols used stonemason tools like the square and compass to teach moral lessons.

Members advanced through degrees of initiation, learning principles of brotherhood, charity, and truth.

Nevadaville’s Decline as Mining Faded

Nevadaville’s easy-to-reach gold ran out quickly. By the mid-1860s, miners hit harder-to-process ores that required better technology. Basic ore mills couldn’t handle these complex minerals.

Only when advanced smelters opened in nearby Black Hawk did mining continue in the area. People slowly left town seeking better opportunities. Many miners headed to Leadville’s silver boom after 1877.

The Bald Mountain post office closed on October 15, 1921. Businesses shut down as customers disappeared. Once-busy streets grew quiet as Nevadaville slowly became a ghost town.

Lodge Relocates During World War II

World War II turned Nevadaville into a true ghost town. Remaining residents left for war jobs in cities.

By July 1942, Nevada Lodge No. 4 stopped using their Nevadaville building. Meetings moved to the more convenient Central City Masonic Hall five miles away. Though they didn’t use the building, lodge members kept ownership.

Furniture, records, and Masonic items stayed inside the locked structure. Only six people still lived in Nevadaville through the 1940s and 1950s.

The 1965 Revival and Ghost Town Meeting

On January 23, 1965, members discussed returning to their historic building. They formed a committee to explore the possibility. Grand Master John Wesch and Grand Secretary Harry Bundy inspected the building and approved its occasional use.

Members cleaned up the space for visitors. The first Annual Ghost Town Meeting happened on June 19, 1965, with 14 members and 80 visitors. This started a tradition that continues today.

Lodge Continues While Town Fades

Thanks to careful preservation, the lodge room kept its original wallpaper and wood paneling. This creates an authentic 1800s atmosphere for meetings. The Annual Ghost Town Meeting and public breakfast became key fundraisers.

Attendance peaked at 160 brothers during the June 15, 1968 gathering, with representatives from 35 Colorado lodges and 13 out-of-state lodges.

Visiting Colorado’s Nevada Masonic Lodge No 4

Nevada Lodge No. 4 is at 1043 Nevadaville Road in Central City, Colorado 80427. The lodge holds regular meetings on the second Saturday of each month at 6:30 pm. These meetings are for Masons only, but the annual pancake breakfast welcomes the public.

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