On September 8, 1900, Garden City was organized as an under dispensation lodge with Bro. James Renfroe as Worshipful Master, Bro. John T. Montgomery as Senior Warden, Bro. A.H. Dorsey as Junior Warden, Bro. Joseph Wright as Treasurer, Bro. Reuben G. Bell as Secretary, Bro.Lucien O. Renfroe as Senior Deacon, Bro. Arthur McCoo as Junior Deacon, and sixteen other members. They worked as such until October 11,1900, it was on this day at the convening of The Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge their request was granted and Garden City Lodge # 59 was formed as a regular and well governed lodge.
Garden City has been able to withstand many disappointments, trials and tribulations. With the thousands of brothers that have entered this lodge since it's origin, the disappointments are easily overshadowed by the great work performed by the majority.
The lodge grew from it's original twenty-three to one hundred and forty-five by 1911, four hundred and forty-eight by 1920, and six hundred and thirty-three by 1923. we moved from our first meeting place at Union Masonic Temple om 3956 s. State, to Casey Hall on 4653 S. State, from there to 711 E. 47th, then to where we currently reside at 809 E. 42nd Pl.
From 1900-1919 we had seven Worshipful Masters, James A. Renfroe(1900), A.H. Dorsey(1901), James T. Montgomery(1902), Lucien O. Renfroe(1903), Peter R. Thomas(1904), Reuben G. Bell, 33'(1905-1907), and Arthur McCoo(1908-1909).
From 1910-1919 we had four Worshipful Masters, W.C. Ellington 33'(1910-1912) he helped form Royal Eagle Lodge #94, East Gate Lodge #98, and Mt. Tabor Lodge #92 in Chicago Heights; Bail S. Christmon(1913-1915), H.A. Haynes(1916), and P.J. Wheatley(1917-1919).
From 1920-1930, These are the years when several of our living Past Masters
knew all or some of the Worshipful Masters from 1930-1940. P.M.'s Tate, Redding, Hicks, Brisco, Martin, Prentiss, Jackson, Jones, and Harvey were in the lodge when these brothers were still with us. George B. Fort 33'(1920-1921), O.M. Hummons(1922-1923), Dr. Roscoe C. Giles(1924-1925), Dr. Walter N. Thomas 33'(1926-1928), and H.W. Calhoun(1929-1930).
From 1931-1940 we had seven Worshipful Masters, Frank Vaulx(1931), James A. Walker 33'(1932-1933), Earl T. McMillan(1935), Hannibal M. Cox 33'(1936), James H. Williams(1937-1938), and J.B. Gilmore(1939-1940).
From 1941-1950 we had eight Worshipful Masters, B.V. Armstead(1941-1942), William H. Jones 33'(1943-1944), Otis L. Simmons(1945-1946), S.H. Rosenberg(1947), Peter R. Thomas Jr.(1948), and David Tate 33'(1949-1950).
From 1951-1959 we had eight Worshipful Masters, William Robinson(1951-), James Terry (-1951-1953), Theodore R. Tate(1954), Robert L. Tate(1955), Esquire Buckner(1956), Eugene Purdy(1957), Oddie L. Redding(1958), and William H. Williams(1959).
From 1960-1969 we had nine Worshipful Masters, Landry Bryant(1960-1961), James R. Bank(1962), Maude L. James (1963), Lee V. Hicks(1964), Earl D. Peterson(1965),Dr. Otha Brisco(1966), Kenneth Chrismon(1967), Nathaniel Martin (1968), Arvon A. Prentiss Sr. 33'(1969).
From 1970-1979 we had ten Worshipful Masters, Isaac Washington 33'(1970), George Jackson(1971), Claude Mitchell(1972), Charles H. Jones(1973), John V. Harvey(1974), John J. Johnson(1975), Rev. Tobbie P. Gowans(1976), Prince E. Marshall(1977), Henry Dorsey(1978), and Robert B. Rowe(1979).
From 1980-1989 we had ten Worshipful Masters Arthur Murry(1980), Ernest L. Johnson 33'(1981), Marvin Ward(9182), James R, House(1983), Lawrence Watts(1984), Thurston Hill(1984), Arthur Parrott 33'(1986), Samuel Crowder 33'(1987), William W. Willis(1988), and Leroy C. Barnes 33'(1989).
From 1990-1999 we had ten Worshipful Masters William W. Jackson 33'(1990), George G. Reid 33'(1991), Kevin Sparks (1992- passed in office), Wendell Tucker Sr.(1992-1993), Lawrence E. Richard-Bey(1994), Arthur L. Hodo(1995),Roger A. Buckley(1996), Wilford Holloway(1997), Micheal D. Ramey Sr.(1998), and Darin White(1999).
From 2000- present, Lucas Rawls(2000), Vincent Sykes(2001), Keith Sanders(2002), Walter Koonce(2003), Gordon L. Brewer Jr.(2004),Kevin L. Harrington Sr.(2005), Gregory L. Brewer Sr.(2006), Wesley J. Brown(2007-2008),Maurice L. Hatter Sr.(2009)
Garden City Lodge # 59 has carried a long history of great men and masons which have done many great works for masonry and mankind. We pride ourselves on our knowledge, wisdom, strength, friendship, morality, and brotherly love. We have furnished many high ranking executive officials to all branches of masonry and affiliates. Even though this brief account does not show members who did not hold the office of Worshipful Master, there are so many great men and historic events that have improved Freemasonry.
Through the years this lodge has contributed to it's widows,we have a life membership with the NAACP,we have contributed to the Southern Christian Leaders Conference, YMCA, Urban League,Parker Community Academy(CPS),The Sickle Cell Disease Association of America,Phoenix House for Women and Children(Garden City Chapter#33 OESPHA) ,the National Multiple Schlerosis Society, and a host of other charities and organizations.
As the years have come and passed from P.M. James A.Renfroe(1900) to W.M. Maurice L. Hatter Sr.(2009) there have been many outstanding brothers who have stood as giants in the East whose ideas were supported by their brethren. To the pioneers and laymen of G.C.#59 we stand proud of your accomplishments and with pride can humbly say that we are members of GARDEN CITY LODGE #59 FREE & ACCEPTED MASONS OF CHICAGO,ILLINOIS PRINCE HALL.