200-year-old Masonic Lodge to open for haunted hall event

Steeped in its Civil War history and shadows of secrecy, the Hiram Masonic Lodge No. 7 will open its doors Saturday, Oct. 24, for a fundraising effort to help with preservation of the building.

Steeped in its history and shadows of ceremonial secrecy, the Hiram Masonic Lodge No. 7 will open its doors Saturday, Oct. 24, for a fundraising effort to help with preservation of the building.

Dubbed the “Haunted History at the Hall,” visitors can walk the dark halls of Franklin’s oldest building for $5 to hear the ghost stories and tales of strange happenings inside the almost 200-year-old structure. Tours will start on the bottom floor, and first person re-enactors will stand on scene to help guide the tourists through the stories.

For the past year, the hall has been Rachael Finch’s office. The Civil War Projects Coordinator for the Tennessee Civil War National Heritage Area said she has had own her experiences within the building’s three stories that she can’t explain.

“I’ve heard things in that building,” she said. “I’ve not seen soldiers, and I know there are people in the past that have. Whomever they are, they are nice. If they are soldiers, they are going to do mischievous things. And they love that fact that women are around.”

The Franklin-Williamson County Convention and Visitors Bureau will partner with the Masonic Lodge in selling advance tickets and helping coordinate the event that runs from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Tours begin every 30 minutes.

“The Masonic Lodge is a historic treasure for Franklin, and we’re thrilled the Lodge will be open for tours the night of PumpkinFest,” said Ellie Westman Chin,President & CEO of theWCCVB. “The WCCBV is happy to support their efforts to educate visitors about the history behind the Lodge. We will promote it through our social channels and distribute their collateral in the visitor center.”

The building has played a role in Franklin, Tennessee and United States history. When new, the building was used by several churches in meeting and organizing local and regional congregations.

President Andrew Jackson met with Chickasaw Indian leaders on the steps of the Masonic Hall in 1830 for discussions that led to the treaty that resulted in the Chickasaws removal from the area to the West. And during the Civil War, the Hall was used as an observation post by both Union and Confederate forces and, like many Franklin buildings, as a field hospital after the Battle of Franklin.

Emily West covers Franklin for Home Page Media Group. Contact her at emily@franklinhomepage.com. Follow her on Twitter via @emwest22.