History

Mount Calvary Lodge No. 76 Prince Hall F & AM, is the oldest Prince Hall Lodge in the city of Akron and for 29 years from 1917-1946 it was the only one.

It became a lodge U.D. on November 11, 1916.  The following Grand Lodge officers officiated at its inception: Brothers Corey Adams - Grand Master, William Farrar - Worshipful Master, Ray E. Hughes - Senior Warden, Robert K. Stevens Jr. - Junior Warden, George P. Tytus - Treasurer, R.W. J.J. Lee - Secretary, W.D. Garnes - Senior Deacon, E.H. Sears - Junior Deacon, John L. Wilson - Senior Steward and J.R. Johnson - Tyler.  

Seventeen candidates were initiated, passed and raised on the above date.  They were G.F. Gross, Samuel Wilson, Levi Penn, Joseph Alexander, Julius R. Johnson, Michael O. Woolridge, Arthur McCrutcheon, William Hardy, Walter Mitchel, Charles Rideout, Nathan Scales, Jr., William Anderson, Charles R. Lewis, Charles C. Jackson, William Jefferies, J.M. Eldridge and J.A. Holloway.

After the work was completed the lodge was instituted and the following officers installed:  Brothers B.H. Andrews - Worshipful Master, Nathaniel Sheldon - Senior Warden, John A. Banks - Junior Warden, M.O. Wooldridge - Treasurer, Julius R. Johnson - Secretary, Charles C. Jackson - Senior Deacon, Joseph Alexander - Junior Deacon, James A. Holloway - Chaplain, Charles R. Lewis - Senior Steward, Levi Penn - Junior Steward and G.F. Gross - Tyler.

After some delay a warrant dated August 13, 1917 was issued to the worthy brethren.