Our oldest lodge was Braddock’s Field Lodge No 510. It was constituted (founded) on June 26th, 1872. Braddock’s Field Lodge No. 510 met at the Braddock Masonic Hall, 428 Library St, Braddock, PA.

Braddock, PA was originally named “Braddock’s Field” after the battle and General Edward Braddock (1695-1755). He was commander of the American colonial forces at the start of the French and Indian War. The Braddock expedition to capture Fort Duquesne (Modern day downtown Pittsburgh), from the French resulted in a resounding defeat of him and his troops and resulted in his death. The town of Braddock, PA is the site of his defeat on July 9th, 1755. It is not known if General Braddock was a mason but present at the battle was a young George Washington who was a master mason at the time of the battle.

In 1758 the expedition under General Forbes was successful in capturing Fort Duquesne from the French. He renamed it Fort Pitt, after William Pitt, then Primer Minister of Great Britain. The city of Pittsburgh takes its name from him. Several masonic lodges in those days met at Taverns named after him because he was popular in the colonies for opposing taxes on them. 

The earliest masonic record in Pittsburgh is that of Royal Arch Lodge No. 3 of Philadelphia conferring degrees on a brother in 1759 at Fort Pitt itself. 

Braddock’s Field Lodge No. 510 was constituted at a special meeting of the Grand Lodge at the Masonic Temple on Fifth Avenue in Oakland. Making the recommendation was the only District Deputy Grand Master in Allegheny County, Alexander R. Pollock. Of some local renown was warrant officer Bro. Christopher C. Fawcett who was the lodge Treasurer for much of its early history and a prominent banker in Braddock. (as seen above).

By 1974 the building was in bad shape and none of the members still lived in Braddock. They sold the building and merged with Delta Lodge which met in the Penn Hills Masonic Center. The bible the lodge used was donated by it’s warrant (founding) members. Their names are written on the inside cover and the bible is on display at the Penn Hills Masonic Center.