History of the Centennial Lodge #174

The Dispensation for Centennial Lodge, named after the Centennial of American Independence, was issued February 14, 1877 by Grand Master John H. B. Latrobe with the meeting place to be Brandywine Station, Maryland On May 9, 1877, the Grand Lodges of Maryland granted the Lodge its Charter. The Lodge was started with nine charter members, eight of which were members of either Marlboro Lodge No. 156 or Nottingham Lodge No. 95, who ultimately surrendered their Charters in 1882 and 1884 respectively.

Centennial Lodge surrendered its Charter in 1889 but had it reinstated on May 10, 1893 when it was given dispensation to move its meeting place to Cheltenham, Maryland. Meetings were held there until 1897, when the Lodge moved into the old Bowie Mansion on Main St. in Upper Marlboro, MD. Finally, the building was purchased in 1908. It remained the home of the Lodge until it was destroyed by fire on November 14, 1964.

A new lodge building was built on Croom Station Road, just outside of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, and was dedicated on September 29, 1967 by Grand Master W. Norman Penn. Since that time the building has been enhanced and beautified and remains the home of Centennial Lodge No. 174.