Brooklyn Lodge No. 386, A.F. & A..M.
Forney, Kaufman County, Texas
Marker Inscription
Following the arrival of the Texas and Pacific Railroad in the village of Brooklyn in 1873, the town name was changed to Forney in honor of John Wein Forney, a director of the railroad. The local Masonic Lodge was organized the same year, using the original town name. The lodge first met in a building shared with the local school and Union church. Over the years, lodge members have contributed to the community with projects such as laying the cornerstone of Lewis High School in 1922. A new lodge was completed in 1966.
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
When the Texas and Pacific Railroad arrived at the village of Brooklyn in 1873, residents renamed the town Forney for a railroad director — but the Masonic lodge organized that same year kept the old name. Meeting first in a building shared with the school and a union church, the lodge became a fixture of civic life, laying the cornerstone of Lewis High School in 1922 and building a new hall in 1966. Its story mirrors the town's growth from rail stop to community.
Why it matters
Fraternal lodges were central to civic life in nineteenth-century American towns, funding schools and public buildings long before local government took on the role.
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Related people
- · John Wein Forney
Themes & tags
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