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W. M. R. J. Turner dismissed the Board of Managers and appointed the Trustees to take over the management of the Temple on August 31, 1935. A total of $267.09 was in the Temple Fund at this time. The Trustees being I. G. Bierer, P. M. Shirey and Geo. N. Buck.
The first $1000. bond of indebtedness was paid off by the Trustees on September 23, 1936 and the loan of $4,000. due on the building was refinanced at 5% interest instead of 6% interest during 1936.
One $1000. bond was paid off each year thereafter and on July 14, 1939 the Trustees entered into an agreement with the Warren Rappahannock Mortgage Corporation to exchange a right of way for a lot adjoining the South end of the present Masonic lot and the endorsement and transfer was adopted on September 8, 1939.
Brother T. W. Downing was appointed Trustee on December 8, 1944 by W. M. Henry Crewdson, Jr. in place of I. G. Bierer, deceased. The Lodge authorized the Trustees to give 25 feet off the South corner of the Masonic lot to the Town of Front Royal for a new street extension on Ju y 13, 1945.
On May 10, 1946, the Lodge authorized the Trustees to sell the lot on Jackson Street, reserving a right of way and the right to build over that right of way if necessary.
The sale of the lot on Jackson Street, south of the Masonic Temple took place in August of 1946 for $8000. and the indebtedness of the Temple paid off in full and we nov had a debt free Temple. The burning of the bonds took place on December 13, 1946 with Brother A. S. Honts, acting W. M. in place of W. M. Messick, W. M. Brother A. N. Carroll was appointed Trustee by W. M. Stewart Parson on August 14, 1953 in place of Geo. N. Buck, deceased.
The two rooms in front of the Temple on the second floor, formerly occupied as an office and waiting room by Dr. Elizabeth Sherman, were ordered remodeled and an air conditioner to be installed in the Lodge room and three lavoratories built and installed, two on the second floor and one on the first floor. This job, which was done by the members of Unity Lodge was started on April 10, 1953
and completed on August 14, 1953 at a cost of $5100.00 Brothers A. E. Warrick, W. C. Brown and R. F. Wilson were in charge of the project.
At the meeting on September 14, 1956, the Lodge authorized the Trustees to erect an extension to the front of the present Temple and install offices on the second and first floors of the new building. It will extend 18 feet closer to Main Street and will eliminate the front porch of the old building, giving a new front and a more modern building. Tentative plans were also discussed and approved for the building of a banquet hall at the rear of the present hall at some future date. As you can see from the above short summary, we owe a debt of thanks to the First Trustees, P. M. Shirey, Geo. N. Buck and I. G. Bierer for their layalty and perseverence in bringing the Lodge out of an almost certain foreclosure in 1935 to a debt free building in 1946, with plans for the new front and funds to pay for it in 1956.
Unity Lodge No. 146 