History

By 1905 the Grand Lodge of Wisconsin had been in existence for 62 years with about 21,250 members. The Scottish Rite was formed in 1863 with about 1,400 members by 1905.

The Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Wisconsin becomes the full and rightful owner of the Willard Van Brunt property.

There were over 100 residents at the Home with the Hospital near capacity.

The woman who received the $5.00 gold piece in 1900 to begin the Eastern Star fund for a home passed away. Nellie M. Towner, PGM, had served on the Grand Lodge Home Board or the Eastern Star Home Board for 25 years. She was also referred to as the ‘Mother of the Hospital’.

Additional restroom facilities were added to each floor of Van Brunt Hall, where there were still two occupants to a room.

A severe drought occurred, but the garden operated under budget. A sprinkler system was added.

The number of residents increased to 131 from 101 in just one year. Improvements at the Hospital provided 8 more beds for patients along with additional plumbing and lavatory facilities.

The Home saw another year of operating under budget, thanks in part to the Masons who each contributed $2.50 per year to help fund it. Residents received $2.00 per month spending money from the Grand Lodge.

104 residents lived at Van Brunt Hall and 33 permanently resided at the Hospital.

Redecorating was completed at Van Brunt, with new furniture, beds, mattresses, drapes, bed spreads, lamps, and fresh paint throughout.

The Home applied for Medicaid certification. Several residents would be eligible for SSI (Supplemental Security Income), state, and county medical assistance. This is the trend among like facilities. The government programs do not always cover the actual expenses in providing the necessary services.

A request is sent to the Milwaukee School of Architectural Engineering to design a prototype retirement village.

In anticipation of building a retirement village, the Grand Lodge leases part of the farm to the Home Board. Steps are taken to annex the farm to the Village of Dousman. Annexation would enable water and sewage facilities to be available to the farmland for possible construction.

Our second independent living community, MasonWoods, opens near Shawano, Wisconsin with 32 independent living apartments.

Masonic Village on the Square adds 39 units of which 33 are immediately occupied.

We pioneer a new approach to assisted living with the opening of our Catered Living Community Compass Point. This 75-unit community replaces the Home/Van Brunt Hall.

Management and the Wisconsin Masonic Home Board of Directors launch the development of long-term planning for future strategic initiatives to meet the needs of older adults in our community.