LCRA, City of La Grange award $25,000 grant for improvements to masonic lodge
New roof, HVAC system will improve energy efficiency and expand building use
DEC. 3, 2024
LA GRANGE, Texas – La Fayette Masonic Lodge #34 soon will have a new roof and HVAC system that will make the building usable for a variety of meetings, classes and other community events, thanks to a $25,000 grant from the Lower Colorado River Authority and the City of La Grange.
The Community Development Partnership Program grant, along with $6,815 in matching funds from the masonic order, will enable the group to improve the historic building’s climate control, which then would make the site usable as a cooling station or temporary shelter, as well as a meeting location for clubs and civic groups.
The historic lodge, which was built in 1939, still features the original slate tile roof, but many of the tiles are now brittle, loose or missing. The existing HVAC system is 30 years old and can no longer provide adequate cooling during the hot summer months.
“The original slate roof has served its lifespan,” said Jerry Meek, secretary of La Fayette Masonic Lodge #34. “We’ve been trying to raise the money to replace the roof through donations and fundraisers, but it simply was taking too long to raise enough, and the cost was increasing nearly as fast as our funds.”
Meek said with an improved cooling system, upgraded insulation and a new roof, the organization envisions the building could be used for everything from children’s activities during the summer to weddings and parties. It also could house fire and law enforcement agencies as they plan and coordinate disaster responses.
Meek said with the completion of the project, the organization can continue focusing on the needs of the community.
“A new roof, insulation and HVAC system could produce savings of nearly $1,000 a year, which would be put right back into the community,” Meek said. “La Fayette Masonic Lodge has awarded over $30,000 in scholarships to La Grange High School students over the last 10 years. We can now expand that amount with these new cost savings. We can also work with the local food pantry, county women’s shelter and children’s health and educational services to provide meaningful support that directly benefits individuals and families in need.”
Jeffrey L. Messer, junior warden of La Fayette Masonic Lodge #34, said the group is thankful for the grant and looks forward to working with organizations like LCRA in the years to come.
“As masons, we help the distressed and support the education of youth with the majority of our charitable efforts,” Messer said. “This grant, generously awarded by LCRA and the City of La Grange, will allow us to continue to focus on the external needs of others and keep us working long into the future.”
The community grant is one of 37 grants awarded recently through LCRA’s Community Development Partnership Program, which helps volunteer fire departments, local governments, emergency responders and nonprofit organizations fund eligible capital improvement projects in LCRA’s wholesale electric, water and transmission service areas. The program is part of LCRA’s effort to give back to the communities it serves. The City of La Grange is one of LCRA’s wholesale electric customers and is a partner in the grant program.
About LCRA
The Lower Colorado River Authority serves customers and communities throughout Texas by managing the lower Colorado River; generating and transmitting electric power; providing a clean, reliable water supply; and offering outdoor adventures at more than 40 parks along the Colorado River from the Texas Hill Country to the Gulf Coast. LCRA and its employees are committed to fulfilling our mission to enhance the quality of life of the Texans we serve through water stewardship, energy and community service. LCRA was created by the Texas Legislature in 1934 and receives no state appropriations.
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