Walter E. Lentz

The Mason

At the age of 26, Walter E. Lentz was made a mason in 1913 at Union Lodge, No. 627, in Lickcreek, Illinois.  

Bro. Lentz was a charter member of Ridgefield Lodge, No. 237, serving as the first Senior Warden in 1920/1921 and the second Worshipful Master in 1922.

The Man

Walter Evans Lentz was born October 28th 1886 in Anna, Illinois. He married Gertie E. Dickson there on March 24th 1909. 

His Membership Record in this Lodge's files list his occupation as Merchant. He is listed also as Merchant on the birth certificate for his and Gertie's sixth child in May 1920, signed by Ridgefield's resident doctor, R.S. Stryker, just months before Ridgefield Lodge would form and the two would sit as Brothers.  In the local newspaper, Lentz can be found as credit manager for Ridgefield State Bank, while also the "proprietor of a feed store here."

In the year following the formation of Ridgefield Lodge, Bro. Lentz was one of several brethren instrumental in organizing the Ridgefield Merchant's Association--and also in the formation of the Ridgefield Light & Power Company, which brought electricity not only to Ridgefield but to the surrounding towns of La Center and Battle Ground.  Bros. Lentz was named Vice President in October 1921.

As a member of the Elks, Lentz sat on the Salvation Army committee for Ridgefield (along with mayor N.C. Hall and lodge brother Dr. Stryker), "[in] charge of the collection and solicitation work of their town," aiming to collect up to $5,000 in produce and goods in December 1921.  That same month, Lentz also took part in a drive for the Red Cross, a campaign led by Bro. Hugh Apperson that exceeded its goal.

In March 1922, The Columbian lists him (and Dr. Stryker) as co-director of the Ridgefield consolidated (school) district No. 30.

In June 1923, Lentz led the Ridgefield Masons in a series of Twilight Baseball games against the Ridgefield Tigers. Despite the report in The Columbian [28 Jun 1923] that "Nearly all of the Masonic players are men of baseball experience," we know the Tigers beat the Masons 12 to 7 their first game out.

On 09 August 1977, at the ago of 90, Bro. Lentz left this plane for the Celestial Lodge, his body now resting at the New Tacoma Cemetery.