Freemasonry traces its origins to the guilds of stonemasons in England during the Middle Ages. By 1715, an American lodge had been established in Pennsylvania. Virginia’s oldest lodge, Lodge No. 1, was organized in Norfolk in 1732; it is from this lodge that our Freemason Street takes its name.
Please join us on Wednesday, 14 June 2023, when Mark Walsh, Lodge Historian for Ocean View Lodge No. 335, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, talks about the centennial of this lodge founded under the Grand Lodge of Virginia in 1921. Its current building was constructed in 1925. Although the pandemic interfered with the celebration of the 100th anniversary of its founding, Ocean View Lodge has designated 2021 through 2025 as its “Heritage Years.”
Mark will lead us through aspects of the history of Ocean View and Norfolk Freemasonry as they influenced the formation of this lodge, and what the lodge has become more than 100 years later. The presentation will examine the historical events and personalities that led to the establishment of the lodge, answering the question “where did we come from,” and continuing to look at “who we are.”
G. Mark Walsh CA, CRM, is the University Records Manager, Assistant Director for Records Management and IT Policy at Old Dominion University. He is a Certified Records Manager and Certified Archivist (founding member of the Academy of Certified Archivists), who has worked in Ontario and Manitoba (Canada), Maryland and Virginia. Before coming to Old Dominion University, Mark was the Corporate Records Manager for Norfolk Southern Corporation, and worked in Records Management at the Library of Virginia.
He has published articles in archival and records management journals and newsletters, including the International Council on Archives, Academy of Certified Archivists, Institute of Certified Records Managers, Society of American Archivists and Association of Canadian Archivists.
Mark holds a B.A. and M.A. in History, both from the University of Windsor. He studied Archival Administration and Records Management on exchange at Wayne State University in Detroit.
Mark served as the Lodge Historian for Norfolk Lodge No. 1 and holds the same office with Ocean View Lodge No. 335. Mark and his wife, Adele, live in the Ocean View area of Norfolk with their five cats. They have been members of Norfolk Historical Society for several years.
Date: Wednesday, 14 June 2023
Time: 7:00 PM
Place: MacArthur Memorial Visitor Center Theater, 198 Bank Street
The event is free and open to the public. Bring a friend!
