John T Heard Lodge A.F. & A.M.

[[[p]]]John T. Heard Lodge A.F. & A.M. will be celebrating its 150[[[sup]]]th[[[/sup]]] anniversary in 2014, having been chartered in 1864. It is the oldest fraternal organization in Ipswich, and can trace its roots back to 1779 when Unity Lodge was given a charter. Unity Lodge turned in their charter in 1833 after suffering some hardships, and ceased to exist.[[[/p]]][[[p]]]Today, John T. Heard Lodge is very active in the community with blood drives, a medical equipment program, and an Angel Fund which reaches into both of the elementary schools in the town. In addition, the lodge has direct involvement in the Ipswich Dinner Bell Community Meals Program.[[[/p]]][[[p]]]The lodge received the prestigious Mark Twain National Awareness award in 2010, awarded for exemplary work towards achieving lodge recognition within the community, and continues today to play a large role in the town of Ipswich.[[[/p]]][[[p]]]The many members of John T. Heard Lodge are a great group of men. The lodge building consists of a large "A" frame building with an attached function hall, and it sits on over nine acres worth of land which is used for a variety of events and functions.[[[/p]]]