The following are merely notes made by one of the current Lodge members regarding bits and pieces of known history. Over time, it is our goal to present a coherent and chronological history of the site:

 

The cemetery lies on the ground surrounding what is now the Chota Lodge #253 building, an institution chartered in 1856. A historical marker on site outlines this legacy, though it appears the structure referenced in the earliest portion of the sign is not the building that stands today. The current lodge building was likely constructed in 1870, replacing an earlier structure. Readers with additional insight into this transition may be able to shed further light on the timeline and are invited to do so.

 

From its earliest years, Chota Lodge #253 played a central role in the growth of Freemasonry in the East Tennessee area. In 1867, for example, members petitioned Chota Lodge for permission to establish what became Beaver Ridge Lodge—one of several lodges that trace their origins back to Chota’s influence.

 

Remarkably, the lodge has maintained an unbroken tradition since its founding. Meetings, officer installations, and lodge activities have continued without interruption for nearly 168 years.

 

Chartered by the Grand Lodge of Tennessee, F. & A.M., in October 1856, Chota Lodge dedicated and occupied its current building on June 24, 1870. For almost 168 years, the lodge has been an integral part of the Concord community, occupying the present building for 154 of those years. It is the lodge’s sincere hope to remain a valued steward of this historic place far into the future.

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Regarding the cemetary: Documented unmarked burials are known to exist along the west access lane of the cemetery. This naturally leads to concerns about the strong likelihood of additional, undiscovered graves extending into the adjacent forested area—land that lies outside the lodge’s ownership and control.

 

As one long-time assistant to the cemetery committee succinctly explained when addressing skeptics:

“How do we know there are unmarked graves? Historical records document them. But even today, modern tools continue to confirm their existence. From time to time, obituaries or death certificates surface on sites like FindAGrave or Ancestry that state plainly, ‘John Doe was buried at Concord Masonic.’”

 

Together, these records—old and new—underscore both the historical significance of the site and the responsibility to treat it with the care, respect, and the diligence it deserves.