A starting point for this subject has to be Adelphi Lodge. Not the original lodge formed from members of Hiram Lodge and met in the same location as Hiram Lodge No.1, during that period of its existence from 1823 to 1834. They met in the quarters of Hiram Lodge in the center of New Haven. This Ade1phi Lodge was known as the "silk stocking lodge" probably by the silk stockings or hose that its members wore in those days and not the cotton stockings worn by the working men. 

That Adelphi Lodge's early history is also connected to that of New Haven Commandery. A review of the records indicates that many of the charter members of Ade1phi Lodge in 1823 had become Charter Members of New Haven Commandery in 1825. That lodge's demise was in part is the lack of attendance and the Morgan incident.  It is noted that many masonic organizations failed to meet during this "Morgan" period. It is said that" masonic darkness prevailed".

On Dec. 25, 1849 the Adelphi Lodge as we know it today that is before its merger with Momaugium Lodge, (Momauguin Lodge was the daughter lodge formed by members of Adelphi and chartered in 1930) was reinstituted and its officers were installed in due and ancient form under the direction of the direction of the then Grand Master Avery C. Babcock.  A note of interest: M.W. Bro Avery C. Babcock's first Masonic light was in the original Ade1phi Lodge and he signed the by -laws on July 24, 1824. After the lodge's charter was surrendered, Bro. Babcock signed the by-laws of Hiram Lodge No. 1 on Dec.3rd, 1835.

The Grand Lodge proceedings of December 26, 1849 indicate that Adelphi Lodge {J.D., Fair Haven was represented by Bro. Ebenzer Allen.  These proceedings further state that the following petition was presented and read to the Grand Lodge Session:

"To the M.W. Grand Lodge of Connecticut:

"The undersigned, members in good standing of Adelphi Lodge No. 63, whose charter was surrendered to the Grand Lodge, in May 1834, believing that the time has arrived when the interests of Masonry would be promoted by the resuscitation of said Lodge, respectfully ask that the charter of said lodge may be restored and the brethren permitted to resume labor, agreeable to the forms and usages of Ancient Craft Masonry. Dated at New Haven, Dec. 13, 1859."

Signed by:
"JUSTIN REDFIELD,         HENRY PECK,
WM. H. JONES,             WM. W. BOARDMAN,
DENNIS KIMBERLY,         CHARLES NICHOLL,
JAMES E. BABCOCK,         S. W. KNEVALS,
DAVID H. CARR,             EDGAR RIKER."

    "On the motion of R.W. Bro E.G. Storer, it was resolved, that the prayer of the petitioner be granted."

It is interesting to note that Henry Peck, a charter member of the original lodge, served as Master in 1830, 1830 and 1832, became Grand Master in 1843, became a petitioner to restore the charter in 1849.

After the charter was restored, their first meeting place was Fireman's Hall probably located on East Pearl St.
at Exchange St. (this may have been Pierpont Street) adjacent to the East Pearl Street Methodist Church.  In years past had contained an old fire house. One could surmise that they had held their first organizational sessions there also.
Meetings were held at Fire-man's Hall until June 19, 1850 when they moved to King's Tavern at the corner of
Grand Ave. and Front St.  This building still stands.  It may still look very similar to the original building.

We keep in mind that in the days of yore, taverns were also meeting places and hotels where visiting business men stayed during the period when visiting and making sales calls on the local businesses. These were mostly connected with the oyster and marine (shipping) business, as the village of Fair Haven was also a shipping port.

There was a Alfred King (Sept. 19, 1823) and a David M. King (Dec. 25, 1849) who were members of Adelphi Lodge. Records fail to indicate that either of these Kings belong to other Masonic organizations.

Records indicate that "they then met in the "Hall of Bro. David King" better known as "King's Tavern".

It was at the King's Tavern that Pulaski Chapter first held its first meetings, the meeting place of Adelphi Lodge.   The charter of Pulaski Chapter No. 26 was granted on May 13, 1852. The chapter petitioned Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons on September 13, 1851. The Grand High Priest was invited to install the officers. On Dec. 26th, 1851 M.E. Grand High Priest George Giddings installed E.G. Storer as M.E. High Priest. E.G. Storer was also the Grand Secretary of the Grand Chapter.
Also, it is noted that Crawford Council No.19 Royal and Select Masters, Fair Haven, had its charter granted on January 10, 1852.

In June 1897, the Masonic bodies moved to a new hall which was being constructed by Bro. Richard Tibbals at 103 Grand Avenue, about two city blocks from the King Building. The building was called the Tibbals Building and the Masonic lodge rooms located in the building "Wadsworth Hall.” Lodge records indicate that committee meetings were held in the lodge parlor rooms at 103 Grand Avenue.

This building still stands on Grand Avenue at head of East Pearl street which many masons passed going to the Fair Haven Masonic building at 126 Grand Avenue, the last home the Fair Haven Masonic bodies would have in Fair Haven. Masonic bodies had been meeting in Fair Haven for 147 years.

It is known that they held banquets in a building known as "Landcraft Hall". There were 2 Landcrafts (1860's) who were members of Adelphi Lodge but no other connections in Masonry can be found.

This building "Landcraft Hall" was torn down to erect the "Pequot Theatre", which finally housed the Fair Haven Fire-Stone store which also has been torn down. R.W. Bro. Lewis Sargent was connected with the Firestone store until his retirement from that organization

~ I would like to interject at this time, ---

Why did members of Hiram Lodge split off and reinstitute Adelphi Lodge in Fair Haven probably not more than 1/2 hour traveling time from where Hiram's meeting place was in the center of New Haven?

That date 1849. Eight of the eleven petitioners were members of Hiram Lodge No.1.  Transportation was not a problem (?) as the Fair Haven-Westville trolley line passed through the center of New Haven. Of course, these were horse drawn vehicles.
Why did members of Franklin Chapter leave to form a new Chapter in Fair Haven (Yes, many of the petitioners were Adelphi Lodge members.) on December 1851?

Why did members of Harmony Council demit to form a new Council in Fair Haven in January 1852? Again members from Adelphi Lodge and Pulaski Chapter.

The Fair Haven Masonic bodies continued to meet in the Tibbals Building “Wadsworth Hall" until 1925 when the building was sold and their new building was completed when they moved across the street.

In June 1919, the Fair Haven Temple Building Association was formed and any mason paying a fee could be a member. The minutes did not restrict membership to those of Fair Haven meeting bodies.

The original meeting was called by Juluis McCollum, a Past Master of the Lodge and he belonged to other Masonic bodies.
In Oct.1919, the building association voted to buy the Tibbals Building which at the time included stores, apartments plus the Masonic meeting rooms.

It is interest to note that this building was heated by coal, how else in those days, and their records indicate that they paid $11.00 a ton and had to have a custodian to shovel the coal into a furnace and boiler.

The new building association's cost for this building (Tibbals) was $13,500.00. (Note - the building was sold in 1924 for $18,000.00)

The Fire Department (the village of Fair Haven now was incorporated into the City of New Haven in 1870) were making inspections of the building and requiring certain repairs to be made.

It is noted that in May 1922, the records that properties of the Association be held in trust for the benefit of Adelphi Lodge, Pulaski Chapter and Crawford Council.

This would indicate that the Royal Arch Chapter and its companion, Royal and Select Masters Council had become members and part-owners of the association/corporation.

So in 1922, Adelphi Lodge has 2/5th interest in the association, Pulaski Chapter has 2/5th interest and Crawford Council a 1/5 interest.

Myrtle Chapter No.6 O.E.S. and the Adelphi Fellowcraft Club were renters.

It is noted that the Fire Department in the early 1920's advised the Temple Association that it should sell the building and find a new meeting place.

At the present time nothing in the records can be found to indicate a reason for this recommendation, but it is a wooden building and the lodge was meeting on the upper floors and also the lodge room had a balcony for additional sitting capacity.
In May 1923, the property at 126 Grand Avenue being owned by the Quinn Family became available and was purchased by the Temple Association. This building was purchased for $17,000.

A committee was appointed to plan and build suitable meeting rooms.  W. Bro. William G. Newton was appointed Chairman of this committee. Bro and Comp. Newton was a Past Master of the lodge, and at one period of time was Treasurer of Pulaski Chapter. The secretary of committee and the building corporation was Bro. Arthur W. Hanson, who was later to become Grand High Priest of the Grand Chapter, Royal Arch Masons of Connecticut.

The minutes of the Building Committee indicate that there were 63 meetings between July 6, 1923 and May 28 1926.
Pulaski Chapter was represented at the dedication ceremonies of the new building. Mementos of both the Chapter and Council with coins of the day and the daily newspapers then published in New Haven were sealed in the Cornerstone on the Northeast Corner of the building in due and ancient form by the Grand Lodge of Connecticut. In attendance was our own Past Master John O. Rowland, A Past Grand Master of Connecticut who traveled from his home in Florida for this ceremony.
Now further research is necessary to confirm the following information that was passed on from the older members of the Lodge, Chapter and Council.

Sometime during the depression of the 1930's, the Chapter and Council were no longer able to pay their share of the expenses of the corporation and their portion was being borrowed from the Lodge and its Trustees.

The Chapter and Council relinquished their interest in the corporation for the monies owed to the corporation.
Now the Lodge became the sole incorporator of the building and the Chapter and Council now became tenants of the building instead of part owners and having representatives on the Board of Directors of the Building.  Their representatives slowly being eased out.

This left a bitter taste in the minds of those Chapter and Council members who did not belong to Adelphi Lodge.

They believed that in due time the Chapter and Council could payoff their indebtedness and reclaim their rightful share of the association.

History now tells us, this was not to come to pass. Pulaski Chapter is just, but barely, able to pay its expenses today and at times must use the income from its trust funds to meet expenses. Crawford Council is somewhat in better financial condition.
Improvements were made to the building through the years. Converting the heating plant from coal to oil and installing an oil tank, connecting the hot water system to the boiler.

During the summer of 1947, a fire department inspection resulting in certain repairs to be made to the interior of building - enclosing the interior stairways and the fire- proofing the walls of the boiler room.

Other improvements to and on the building over the years are residing the building with imitation asphalt siding, removal of the porch on the north and east sides of the building.

Later aluminum siding was added to the exterior walls of the building, florescent lighting installed in the banquet hall, carpeting in the anti-rooms, new panel-board covering on the walls of the banquet hall, electric hot water heater to be replaced by a gas water heater, new ceiling in the banquet hall, installation of a handicap ramp, complete rebuilding of the kitchen.

Much of this work was done by members of the temple association and the Fellowcraft Club. Being an association of lodge members, many repairs were done by members without reimbursements or acknowledgments being made.
Since the 1960's, the building operating expenses were rising faster than its income. The building association realizing that raising the rents to the Chapter and Council would cause these bodies either to look for more reasonable quarters or forfeit their charters and their rental income would be lost forever.

Members of the association who held membership also in the Chapter and Council would remind the association of this fact and the older and wiser heads of the association heeded these warnings.

Adelphi Lodge's trustees were loaning more and more money to the building association, taking from its trust funds and not replacing these monies.

City taxes kept rising and the Tax Review Boards did not feel any adjustments to the valuation of the building or a rebate in tax money was necessary.

City services to the property were constantly being eroded and or eliminated.

In 1993, Momauguin Lodge No. 138 voted to affiliate with Adelphi Lodge and now the lodge became known as Adelphi-Momauguim Lodge No. 63.

The Lodge and the building corporation reviewed its options.

How long could it be a good citizen and remain in Fair Haven. Until it was bankrupt? Not long. Not Long.

The decision was requested from the membership for a vote to sell and move. This was done by mail. Each member of the lodge were members of the corporation, so each member received a letter requesting a vote "yes" or "no" vote. A "YES" vote was received from the membership and the property was offered for sale.

Those that wanted to buy at the offered price were unable to secure financing.

Those that had the financing were unwillling to pay the price. Also many wanted most of the building furnishings included for free. These were rejected out-of-hand.

A deal was finally struck with a Pentecostal Church who wanted the building and who could get the necessary financing.

An agreement was made.

While trying to sell the property, the association was looking for a suitable replacement in the suburbs.

Many were looked at, but were found wanting, either in cost or the large open area necessary for a lodge room and banquet hall, and the lacking of parking adequate area.

It was learned that the V.F.W. organization in Northford was in financial trouble and its building and that property was for sale.
This seemed to be an ideal building for a new lodge home, having a large meeting room and parking area, good kitchen facilities.

The first offer of the corporation for this property was rejected as too low.

After reconsideration a second offer was made slightly higher and V.F.W. wiser heads prevailed and the second offer was accepted.

It is mentioned at this time, that several Brother Masons who were also members of this V.F.W. post were present and cast their vote in favor of selling the building to the Fair Haven Temple Building Association.

An open house was held in November 1995 in order that the membership and others of the Masonic fraternity might view the building and its possibility of becoming the future home of the present Fair Haven Temple Masonic Bodies.

Now all that remained was the closing and transfer of both properties, moving of equipment, furniture, fixtures, costumes and miscellaneous items as chairs and tables and story is complete, but is it?

The secretaries of both the Chapter and Council had moved to their homes the records of these bodies. Their costumes and degree properties had been reviewed and arrangements would have to be made for these to be moved.

Arrangements were made to move upon receiving the word that the new meeting place was available.

While the status of the Fair Haven Building was in limbo, there were rumors about moving to the Masonic Temple building in New Haven. The Chapter and Council felt if this were true, they would be duplicating Masonic bodies meeting there presently and their life span would be short. They would have to find quarters elsewhere in order to survive. This showed also true of Adelphi-Momauguim Lodge as four lodges were presently meeting there.

The Trustees of Widow's Son Lodge in Branford approached members of the Chapter and Council offering the Branford Temple as a meeting place at comparable rental they were now paying to the Fair Haven Temple Association. (Many members of the Chapter and Council are also members of the Branford Lodge, thus having an interest in the future of the Chapter and Council).

Meetings were held in the fall of 1994 by the Chapter at Widow's Son Lodge in Branford and Day Spring Lodge in Hamden in order to determine the suitability of these locations. Corinthian Lodge in North Haven was also visited by individual members with the same purpose in mind.

While these meeting places are small and the lack of storage space (a necessary ingredient) at this time, had to be taken into consideration.

The final chapter of this story is being written as the successful move has been made, proper storage space has been built, and the initial class of candidates processed.

The V.F.W. Hall first used by a Masonic organization was '" the Rainbow Girls of Branford. This was arranged by the Lodge Master with the co-operation of the Building Association and the V.F.W. organization. It was necessary to move Adelphi Lodge altar and officers' chairs to the building in Northford. Prior to the final closing for the property, the Building Corporation received permission from the V.F.W. in order that equipment, properties and costumes from the Fair Haven could be moved to the new building. This was done in the later part of January 1996.

The Corporation also had a moving company to move the Building furniture and fixtures together with the lodge equipment prior to the signing and transfer of the property. Pulaski Chapter had one more meeting at the soon to be sold Fair Haven Masonic Temple, the lodge had to assure that proper arrangements will be made to the Chapter meeting. Pulaski Chapter held its last meeting of January 1996, prior to the sale of the building at the Fair Haven Building. As the Temple Corporation granted permission to the buyer of Adelphi-Momauguim Lodge, the property to use the facilities prior to the final closing, the prospective owners had taken over the lodge room area, it was necessary for Pulaski's members to move many chairs, etc. order to open the meeting and conduct business. Crawford Council held its February meeting at the new meeting place and degree work. This was done prior to the purchase of the property as its equipment and costumes had already been moved to the new premises. The open hall presented problems to performing degree work which had been overcome.

The first lodge meeting held at the new hall was under rather primitive conditions with a Grand Lodge Officer in attendance together with several District Deputies and other guests.

The first lodge degree was held in March and the attendance at lodge functions is growing. Under the direction of the Board of Directors progress was being made. As much of the equipment was packed in boxes and stored in various places in the building and a supplemental storage trailer on the property.

A Preparation room was constructed. A storage room built for the Chapter and Council.

As the unpacking continued, meetings were being held as if were under normal conditions.

As rental halls were at a premium, the main hall was kept intact, platforms built for the chairs in the East, West and South. The lodge room pillars were fitted with casters and kept in a storage area with other necessary lodge room equipment to be rolled when needed.

The marble/granite Ashlars that adorned the East at the Fair Haven Building were deemed too heavy for the floor were placed in storage and pedestals for the east, west and south were found among the properties that had been used by Momauguim Lodge were now pressed into service.

Several dinners have been held for the lodge using the excellent kitchen facilities the building contained. The first breakfast was held on the opening day of Fishing early in the spring, both in attendance and in the financial sense.

It must be noted that the dish-washer that had been purchased when remodeling the kitchen at the Fair Haven building had been installed at the new premises.

A new sign replacing that on the property has been installed indicating that it is now a Masonic building.

The property contains an excellent parking lot and a picnic grove and plans were soon laid to hold several picnics at the location.

Installations of all the Masonic bodies meeting at this new home have been conducted. The last being Adelphi- Momauguim Lodge.

In the open hall the lodge room was arranged and tables were placed at various locations around the hall. When the installation was completed, the lodge room furniture was returned to the storage area and the tables then placed in an orderly arrangement in the hall making a large banquet hall for refreshments following the installation.

This story is far from complete as each day, each month, each year will add Improvements that will be made to the building and grounds. Yes, for the members and masonry this in general, this was a good move.

Any history of the Fair Haven Temple and meeting places must include references to Pulaski Chapter No. 26 R.A.M. and Crawford Council No. 19 R. & S.M. as these are parts of the Masonic family of organizations. Members of the Masonic Order have membership and are or have been officers of all three organizations.

Myrtle Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star, while not too much information is available, we have found it was chartered on June 19, 1872 by many members from Adelphi Lodge and their wives. Myrtle Chapter served many dinners for the lodge. This chapter changed its name when incorporating Ethel Chapter into its membership to Fair Haven Chapter No.6.  Unfortunately the Eastern Star Chapter surrendered its charter in 1995 when the future of the Fair Haven Temple Building was in doubt.

Notes –
(Bro. K. Wright, P.M. of Corinthian Lodge 103 has an interesting talk on the Morgan Affair and the periods of the early 1820's.)

Information for this article has been secured from many sources as:
Minutes of Adelphi Lodge,
Minutes of Pulaski Chapter,
Minutes of Crawford Council,
Minutes of the Fair Haven Temple Association,
Minutes of the Building Committee of the F.H.T.B.A. ,
Minutes of Adelphi Fellowcraft Club History of Adelphi Lodge,
History of New Haven Commandery, History of Hiram Lodge No.1,
And personal conversations over the years with older members Adelphi Lodge and Pulaski Chapter, too numerous to mention by name.

[Minor spelling and grammatical errors were corrected in this document]