‘On tap in Tappan, Part I’

    
This edition of The Magpie Mason is the second attempt to rectify past negligence in blogging (a Class C misdemeanor in West Virginia). There are 10 or maybe more events from 2010 that I never got around to sharing with you – lectures, ceremonies, Germanic beer fests, etc. – and before we get too far into 2011, I’ll try to catch up on last year’s happenings. No lengthy articles, but some good photos.

The Mgmt.


Seems like only yesterday. Sunday, October 3, 2010 was a twofer in New York Masonry. Two very enjoyable Masonic public events having nearly nothing in common except the great convenience of taking place only a mile apart. The annual Grand Master’s Day at the George Washington Headquarters Masonic Historic Site, and the 120th annual Traubenfest in historic, scenic Tappan, New York.

Grand Master’s Day is one of several official occasions during the year when Grand Lodge showcases one of its priceless gems: DeWint House. It is called the George Washington Headquarters Masonic Historic Site because the GLNY owns and operates this landmark, which served as the headquarters of Gen. George Washington several times during the Revolutionary War.


The vocal group Harmony on the Hudson sings “God Bless America”

The Masonic War Veterans posts the colors.


More about the history of DeWint House can be read here.


Little Leaf Linden.

On the well kept grounds of the site, a diverse variety of trees have been planted over the years, lending exotic elements to what otherwise would be “the usual” landscape of a Colonial-era property. These trees are dedicated in honor of Past Grand Masters of the jurisdiction. Two Little Leaf Linden trees were dedicated, one for MW Edward G. Gilbert, the junior Past Grand Master who could not attend the ceremony last year due to illness, and the other for MW Gary Henningsen, Past Grand Master 1993-95, whose original Norway Spruce was felled by lightning.

More photos of the grounds can be seen here.

Here are some shots of the interior of the historic house:

A Park Ranger at Monticello told me long ago that beds from this period
are so short because people back then slept in a sitting up position.