In 1805, a Revolutionary War veteran named John Hunt built a log cabin at the
Big Spring and began what would grow to become the modern city of
Huntsville, Alabama. Just six years later, on August 21, 1811, Madison Lodge #21 received its dispensation from the
Grand Lodge of Kentucky. In 1812, it received its official charter from the
Grand Lodge of Kentucky. John Hunt was among the first members, as was
LeRoy Pope, who had given the city its original name of Twickenham. On April 6, 1818, a second Lodge was formed in the county, Bethesda Lodge #2. In 1824 the two Lodges combined as Helion Lodge #1 under the
Grand Lodge of Alabama. Helion Lodge survived the dark years of the
American Civil War, when Huntsville was often occupied by the invading
Union Army. The quiet little town grew rapidly after
World War II, when the area became host to both
Redstone Arsenal and the
Marshall Spaceflight Center. Notable members involved in the growth of Huntsville's defense and space industry are Senator
John Sparkman and Mayor
Joe W. Davis. Helion Lodge soon came to have the largest membership in the state. As a result, in 1962 a new Lodge was formed in Huntsville, Solar Lodge #914. Most of the members came from Helion Lodge. Five years later, in 1967, a third Huntsville Lodge was formed, Apollo Lodge 921. Both younger Lodges consider Helion as their mother Lodge and dual membership is common. On Wednesday night, August 30, 1922, Helion was the location of the formation of Twickenham Chapter of The
Order of DeMolay; the first chapter of The Order of DeMolay in the state of Alabama. On January 6, 2018, Historical books were destroyed in a fire. ==Past Masters==