The Free & Accepted Masons are an international fraternal and benevolent society.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freemasonry
In 1910, the Pennsylvania chapters undertook to secure the welfare of members by constructing the Masonic Homes in Elizabethtown, Pa.
Elizabethtown is a thriving community west of Lancaster, PA, and is the home of Elizabethtown College (founded in 1899).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabethtown,_Pennsylvania
This undertaking by the Pennsylvania Masons was similar to the projects of other lodges who created supportive services for the children of Masons, for their surviving spouses, or for members in their old age.
The cornerstone of the Masonic Home in Elizabethtown was laid in September of 1911.
A local photographer and printer, S. G. Bishop, published postcard photographs of the event.
In February of 1914, Maggie used this postcard photograph to write to Mrs. A. P. Arndt of Middletown, PA.
Middletown is a borough in Dauphin County,
Lying on the east bank of the Susquehanna River, the borough grew as a transport center for the Union Canal, then the Pennsylvania Railroad.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middletown,_Dauphin_County,_Pennsylvania
On the reverse, Maggie reported to Mrs. Arndt that, “we are all well.”
Maggie’s family was pleased to receive the letter from Mrs. Arndt, and Maggie wrote a letter in response.
Unfortunately, Maggie gave the letter to Lester – and Lester lost it.
From another postcard story, we know that Lester is the son of Mrs. Arndt – so Maggie was corresponding with her mother-in-law.
One hopes that the missing letter was found, and that Maggie and Lester remained friendly correspondents of Lester’s mother.
The Masonic Home, now the Masonic Villages, have greatly expanded in size and scope of services in the last century.
