On January 20, 1893, at the stated meeting of Alpha Lodge #376 F&AM located in Clinton, Tennessee, several worthy brothers presented a petition to form a new lodge located at Heiskell, Tennessee. Worshipful Master J.A. Fowler of Alpha Lodge #376 F&AM examined Brothers John W. Luttrell, A.H. Luttrell and P.L. Draper who were recommended in the petition as Master and Wardens. Finding them fully capable of conferring the three degrees correctly, the petition and recommendations were forwarded to the Grand Lodge of Tennessee.

The Grand Lodge accepted the petition and recommendation; thus, Bull Run Lodge was placed under dispensation with John W. Luttrell as Worshipful Master, A.H. Luttrell as Senior Warden, P.L. Draper as Junior Warden and W.H. Crawford as Secretary. Twenty-two members were on the roll as of December 31st. 1893. Lodge meetings were held in a room above S. J. Messamore’s store in Heiskell.

The store and the Lodge’s records were destroyed by fire. Grand Lodge archives in Nashville provided much of the early data set forth here.

On February 1, 1894, The Grand Lodge of Tennessee granted a charter to Bull Run Lodge #582 F&AM (later renamed to Powell Lodge #582 F&AM) located in Heiskell, Tennessee. The stated meeting was held on the fourth Friday in each month. The first Worshipful Master of the newly chartered lodge was P.L. Draper. The secretary was J. E. Groner.   In 1897, the stated meeting was changed from the fourth Friday of each month to the Thursday night on or before the full moon.

In the report submitted to the Grand Lodge dated December 31, 1894, the local post office was listed as Bull Run (Heiskell).  In the report on the following year, the nearest post office was listed as Powell Station, which leads me to believe that S. J. Messamore’s store burned sometime in 1895 and the lodge meetings were moved to Powell.

In September 1901, the upper floor of the store building located on Depot Street in Powell Station was deeded to the officers of Bull Run Lodge and their successors by J. M. Tillery and his wife Bertha for a cost of $300.

A certain 2nd story 25 feet wide and 70 feet in length over the brick store now owned and occupied by the said Tillery and situated in Powell Station … The party of the first part binds himself his heirs and assigns forever to bear one half the expense in keeping the roof in good repair.

This is a photo take of the inside of the Lodge building during an Eastern Star event.  The flag appears to have 45 stars, so that would date the photo sometime between 1896 and 1908.

… the above mentioned building or lodge room has burned and it is the purpose and intention of this instrument to forever release to said parties of the second part all the rights conveyed to said Bull Run Lodge No 582, F.&A.M. by said deed of J. M. Tillery and wife…

It is thought that meetings and events for Bull Run Lodge # 582 were held at Powell School for the following 8 years as referenced in several articles of the Knoxville News Sentinel.

In 1921, J. E. Groner build a store on the opposite corner of the J.R. Williamson building.  A room above Groner’s store was rented as a meeting site.

In 1929, Worshipful Master W.A. Bell appointed a committee for the purpose of constructing a suitable lodge building. Veteran secretary, A.O. Childs, and W.A. Bell spearheaded the drive. Our present lodge hall was built at the cost of $8,000.00. The land on which it stands was sold to the lodge for $200.00 by Dr. J. D. Collier, one of our oldest members and a Past Master.

On May 10,1930, Bull Run Lodge #582 F&AM was granted a special dispensation from the Grand Lodge of Tennessee to move into their new lodge located on Fersner Road at Collier Road in Powell Station, Tennessee. A special dedication ceremony was held June 24, 1930. In 1931, the Grand Lodge of Tennessee approved the petition of Bull Run Lodge #582 F&AM to change its name to Powell Lodge #582 F&AM.

During the 1930s and 1940s, many community events were held at the lodge until the new Powell High School was built in 1949 providing a large auditorium and gymnasium for these events.  Brethren of this lodge have consistently assisted the community and its people in numerous ways.

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