Kirby, the Sun Meridian Masonic Lodge, & the Village Green
This information is from Our History: A Journey Through Two Centuries of Meridian Sun Lodge #69 & #266 Free and Accepted Masons, by John Evans published 2024 pgs 71, 223).
"...Our Masonic Brother, Jim Kirby, of vacuum fame, bought the abandoned property and the surrounding property. At the time our lodge met..,,,over the old Barbershop which was fairly small and cramped. Kirby had a vision of a much larger and better place for the Masons of Meridian Sun to meet. (pg 70)
" He took this action primarily to ensure the center of town would remain a 'green space' for generations to come. As a Mason, he was also interested in finding a larger home for his fellow brothers" (from Richfield Times article by Ann Duke, c.2008; reprinted pg 218 in book)
May 4, 1921: Brother Roy E. McKisson* reported that he had an option on the school property at the West Center, which option was god until June 2nd for the amount of $2,000.00. A committee was appointed to investigate the proposal. (pg 65)
May 18, 1921: A motion was made and carried to form a holding company to purchase the school property and to work out a plan for raising money to pay for the property. (pg 65)
September 26, 1926, The lodge voted to purchase the property from Brother Kirby. ( pg 71)
August 16, 1926, James and Nellie Kirby transferred ownership of the property to Meridian Sun Lodge (quit claim, page 221) Conditions: "the said land shall be used for Masonic purposes and shall not be subdivided nor any part thereof be sold or leased for any other purpose then, and in that the event the said premises shall cease to be used for Masonic Lodge purposes, and if so used, the land shall revert to the grantor, James B. Kirby, his heirs or assigns" (pg 221)
April, 1927 "a Temple Company was formed and designs drawn up....They incorporated the original structure of the old schoolhouse..." (pg 71)
June 1, 1927 Temple incorporation to sell shares in the enlarged temple (pg 221) April, 1927
July 22, 1927 The old school house purchased from the Lodge. Projected new Temple to cost $21,000 (pg 222)
January 2,1929 cornerstone laid (pg 222)
Oct 6, 1929 dedication (pg 223)
Nov 21,1929 Ownership of land and buildings " ...it was decided to settle note and interest on same, held by Jas Kirby. Mr. KIrby having agreed to cancel note and surrender mortgage upon payment of $1,000.00 by the Meridian Sun Temple Co. The amount of the note is $1,5000. A discount of $500 being allowed by Mr. Kirby. (pg 223)
December 4, 1929 " ...extend a vote of thanks to Jas. Kirby for his generosity in allowing $500.00 discount ..Treasurer Dillow reported payment of note to Jas. Kirby and mortgage cancelled and returned to Meridian Sun Temple Co. (pg 223)
June 30,1930 Stipulations on the property released. (pg 221)
March 4, 1931 The Meridian Sun Temple Company leases all their property to Meridian Sun Lodge for the sum of $900 a year. All light, heating, and janitor bills to be paid by the Lodge.(pg 80)
2008 "...the Village would purchase the Temple and a little over three acres of land the Temple owned for $450,000. (pg 217)
" He took this action primarily to ensure the center of town would remain a 'green space' for generations to come. As a Mason, he was also interested in finding a larger home for his fellow brothers" (from Richfield Times article by Ann Duke, c.2008; reprinted pg 218 in book)
May 4, 1921: Brother Roy E. McKisson* reported that he had an option on the school property at the West Center, which option was god until June 2nd for the amount of $2,000.00. A committee was appointed to investigate the proposal. (pg 65)
May 18, 1921: A motion was made and carried to form a holding company to purchase the school property and to work out a plan for raising money to pay for the property. (pg 65)
September 26, 1926, The lodge voted to purchase the property from Brother Kirby. ( pg 71)
August 16, 1926, James and Nellie Kirby transferred ownership of the property to Meridian Sun Lodge (quit claim, page 221) Conditions: "the said land shall be used for Masonic purposes and shall not be subdivided nor any part thereof be sold or leased for any other purpose then, and in that the event the said premises shall cease to be used for Masonic Lodge purposes, and if so used, the land shall revert to the grantor, James B. Kirby, his heirs or assigns" (pg 221)
April, 1927 "a Temple Company was formed and designs drawn up....They incorporated the original structure of the old schoolhouse..." (pg 71)
June 1, 1927 Temple incorporation to sell shares in the enlarged temple (pg 221) April, 1927
July 22, 1927 The old school house purchased from the Lodge. Projected new Temple to cost $21,000 (pg 222)
January 2,1929 cornerstone laid (pg 222)
Oct 6, 1929 dedication (pg 223)
Nov 21,1929 Ownership of land and buildings " ...it was decided to settle note and interest on same, held by Jas Kirby. Mr. KIrby having agreed to cancel note and surrender mortgage upon payment of $1,000.00 by the Meridian Sun Temple Co. The amount of the note is $1,5000. A discount of $500 being allowed by Mr. Kirby. (pg 223)
December 4, 1929 " ...extend a vote of thanks to Jas. Kirby for his generosity in allowing $500.00 discount ..Treasurer Dillow reported payment of note to Jas. Kirby and mortgage cancelled and returned to Meridian Sun Temple Co. (pg 223)
June 30,1930 Stipulations on the property released. (pg 221)
March 4, 1931 The Meridian Sun Temple Company leases all their property to Meridian Sun Lodge for the sum of $900 a year. All light, heating, and janitor bills to be paid by the Lodge.(pg 80)
2008 "...the Village would purchase the Temple and a little over three acres of land the Temple owned for $450,000. (pg 217)
* Coincidence? Roy E McKisson was Worshipful Master of the Lodge for the year 1922.
" 'Mac' was married with four sons, and lived in the Bath Twp. He was owner and operator of Stuart and Stebbins Store in Peninsula. He was Secretary for Meridian Sun Lodge. Member of Akron Commandery 25; Knight Templar & belonged to Al Koran Shrine in Cleveland. IN his later years at age 77 there is a write up in the paper about Roy's fascination for water wheels. It states, Roy, a 77-year-old Carpenter/Contractor readily admits "I always had kind of a yen for those old water wheels'. Although there isn't a pond or lake on his property, that didn't stop the tall, spectacled craftsman as he fashioned the four-foot waterwheel in his basement. He fashioned his model after the one used at the yellow Creek Mill in Bath Twp, he says he made a couple of trips to make the scale model." (pg 65)
Jim Kirby built his water wheel to generate electricity in 1922. Kirby's wife Nellie was the granddaughter of Edward Heller, who owned Yellow Creek Mill. Nellie's favorite niece Molly Davis grew up in Bath and married Paul McKisson, son of Maude and Roy E. McKisson. A family of mill enthusiasts?
" 'Mac' was married with four sons, and lived in the Bath Twp. He was owner and operator of Stuart and Stebbins Store in Peninsula. He was Secretary for Meridian Sun Lodge. Member of Akron Commandery 25; Knight Templar & belonged to Al Koran Shrine in Cleveland. IN his later years at age 77 there is a write up in the paper about Roy's fascination for water wheels. It states, Roy, a 77-year-old Carpenter/Contractor readily admits "I always had kind of a yen for those old water wheels'. Although there isn't a pond or lake on his property, that didn't stop the tall, spectacled craftsman as he fashioned the four-foot waterwheel in his basement. He fashioned his model after the one used at the yellow Creek Mill in Bath Twp, he says he made a couple of trips to make the scale model." (pg 65)
Jim Kirby built his water wheel to generate electricity in 1922. Kirby's wife Nellie was the granddaughter of Edward Heller, who owned Yellow Creek Mill. Nellie's favorite niece Molly Davis grew up in Bath and married Paul McKisson, son of Maude and Roy E. McKisson. A family of mill enthusiasts?
Side note: On February 2, 1921 The Light Committee reported that a Fairbanks Morris Plant could be installed for $360.00. The Masons voted in favor of the purchase. Had they been successful, that would have been the first electricity generated in Richfield, rather than Jim KIrby's mill.