Help Save Historic Black Mason Lodge No. 324

Hello, the historic black Labor System Lodge No. 324 in Panama City, FL needs our help. Founded 120 years ago, this lodge represents a part of our local African American history, and predates the founding of Panama City itself. Panama City Code Enforcement is set to demolish this building in ten days unless we secure the funding needed for the necessary repairs to get it up to code. As you may know, Panama City was devastated by the Category 5 Hurricane Michael in 2018, and it is a miracle this building still stands. Sadly, it is in need of a new roof. Please consider pitching in to help save this historic building, and prevent the erasure of local Bay County black history. 

If you’d like to learn more about the history of Lodge No. 324 and its significance to the community, please read the article below from Panama City News Herald:

PANAMA CITY - A local Masonic lodge of a group with roots deeper than the founding of Panama City is set to be demolished by the city.

Code enforcement took over a project to demolish Labor System Lodge No. 324 on Thursday, canceling the permit pulled by a demo company selected by the Black Masons group. According to the case file, the group failed to address critical repairs after going before a magistrate in October last year. The neglect of the building, which came after damages caused by Hurricane Michael, resulted in the destabilization of the gable and in May this year, the roof caving in.

Despite the building’s current condition, lodge member and local radio host David Barnes, 34, said he feels the city has not considered the value of the structure to local history and community service. The local lodge was founded as an organization in 1901, eight years before the founding of Panama City, according to lodge history.

"It’s history. Everybody that’s anybody - your mom, dad, grandma, cousin - somebody has come through that building. It is a part of Glenwood. That’s why we’re fighting so hard to keep it and against the city to make sure it stays in the community," Barnes said, noting the building in question at 712 Hamilton Ave. was purchased for $475 in 1951.

He said if the city goes forward with demolition, "it will be a slap in the face" to the forerunners of the group. Black American men formed Prince Hall freemasonry in the 1700s in response to being denied entrance into masonry run by white men. "The membership before us worked so hard with getting the building where we’re at and establishing in the community - during segregation, during the Civil Rights Era," Barnes said.

But the nine-month lag in actual work to repair or demolish the building has caused the city to step in to abate the property, which was deemed unfit and unsafe and "presents a serious threat to the public health, safety, or welfare." Before the case being presented to the magistrate in October last year, the property had been deemed unfit for eight months, case records show.

Code enforcement entered the property on different occasions to evaluate the building ahead of demolishing it. Lodge members feel the city should not have entered the private property, particularly without a lodge member present, according to Barnes. On one occasion, a member called police after noticing someone had accessed the building, the case file shows.

However, city spokeswoman Caitlin Lawrence said it's protocol.

"The order allows code enforcement to enter the property and safely abate the nuisance as necessary,"she said in an interview Friday. "That is why we have had code enforcement members on the property." It was rumored that the city planned to demolish the lodge that weekend. However, Lawrence confirmed the case had an update and city officials will meet with lodge members this week.

"Commissioner Kenneth Brown has requested that city staff meet with himself and members that represent the property next Tuesday," she said. When asked what the city expects to develop out of the meeting, Lawrence responded in a text message on behalf of City Manager Mark McQueen.

"When a judge magistrate makes a determination that a property is unsafe and unfit and issues an order

through a code enforcement hearing, it is the owner’s responsibility to correct the deficiencies ordered by the magistrate," McQueen said. "The city tries to balance the ability of the property owner to repair the property with the need for public safety. I anticipate a resolution at Tuesday’s meeting on how to accomplish the magistrate’s order."

For Barnes, the city’s role in the story of the lodge’s history should be one of support. Acknowledging the recent strides that the city has made in developing a better relationship with community members in Millville and Glenwood, he said there still remains "a lot of work to do."

"We have numerous historical buildings in the city," Barnes said. "So, we’re not done fighting."

"They’re going to have to pull me out from that building," he said.

-Bostick, Jaqueline. "An erasure of history? Black Mason lodge with roots older than Panama City to be razed." 2021, July 26th. Link here