Lodge of New York on January 25, 1860. The lodge first met above the grocery and confectionery store of John Fleet on January 28, 1860, also known as “Candy John,” at the corner of New and Main Street in Huntington and remained at this location until 1885. In 1885, Jephtha Lodge No. 494 moved to the third floor over O.S. Sammis & Company Dry Goods Emporium on the northwest corner of Main Street and New York Avenue, Huntington, New York where they rented until 1905. O.S. Sammis sat on the Board of Directors of the Bank of Huntington, along with several Jephtha brothers including Past Masters Jesse Carll, Douglas Conklin and Joseph Irwin. Constructed in 1884, the building still stands today as a retail space. Jephtha Lodge No. 494 purchased property on east side of New York Avenue in 1869, less than one block south of Main Street. For the next 35 years, the lodge leased the property, with plans to erect a building when funds were available for construction. On August 25, 1904, several Jephtha brothers participated in a cornerstone laying ceremony on the New York Avenue property, complete with a time capsule. The lodge first met inside the building on March 27, 1905, and on May 29, 1905, the lodge room was dedicated by Deputy Grand Master of Masons in the State of New York, Townsend Scudder. Several Jephtha Brothers, including R:.W:. Douglass Conklin, attended the Masonic raising of Vice President Theodore Roosevelt on April 24, 1901, at Matinecock Lodge No. 806 in Oyster Bay, New York. R:.W:. Douglass Conklin was also part of a committee to examine Brother Roosevelt's proficiency before being passed to the Degree of Fellowcraft on March 27, 1901. It was reported at the time that Roosevelt knew the material so well that he corrected those conducting the examination when they erred. Governor Franklin D. Roosevelt Visits Jephtha Lodge On September 17, 1931, New York Governor Franklin D. Roosevelt was invited by Jephtha Lodge No. 494 deliver a speech on the anniversary of the adoption of the U.S. Constitution. Jephtha Lodge No. 494 held a Special Communication, its 1,467th, at Old First Church, Main Street, Huntington, NY, with over 450 Masonic brothers in attendance. Masonic Service Center (1942-1945) From 1942 to 1945, Jephtha Lodge maintained a Masonic Service Center for the members of the armed forces. During this period, 6,447 service men used the