Lodge History

History of BPOE # 2731 – Zephyrhills, Florida

On April 21, 1987, then GER Peter Affatato granted disposition for a lodge to be known as Zephyrhills Florida lodge #2731.

A charter was issued to the lodge on May 16, 1987 with a membership of 162 members, under the leadership of:

Exalted Ruler Hobart Moss
Est. Leading Knight Russell Heffelfinger
Est. Loyal Knight Arvel Mays
Est. Lecturing Knight Robert Shaffer
Secretary William Brown
Treasurer Herman Wagner
Esquire C. Ray Bulmer
Tiler Kenneth Saint
Chaplain Francis Wandell
Inner Guard Jesse Kent

Trustees: (1) Robert Clingerman, (2) E.B. Sykes, Jr., (3) Edward Woodstuff, (4) Paul Gauldon, (5) Maurice Humphries, Jr.

The lodge was located on US 301 (6739 Gall Blvd.) in a building currently occupied by the offices of Dr. Mahootchi. In 1990 construction started on our current home at 6851 Wire Road. At a total cost of $429,421.88, including $45,000 for the 5 acres, mol, of land. The contract was with General Home Development Corp. and the builder was Tom Smith.

The building was completed in 1991. At that time the officers in office were:

Exalted Ruler Keith Wallis
Est. Leading Knight Kenneth Saint
Est. Loyal Knight Ed Champeau
Est. Lecturing Knight Robert Jackson
Secretary Lyle Andrews
Treasurer John Moore
Esquire Ron Taylor
Tiler Thomas Warren
Chaplain Arthur Moores
Inner Guard Louis Neff

Trustees: (1) Edward Roys, (2) Earl Armstrong, (3) Henry Bontranger, (4) Steven Wallis, (5) Gordon Parks.

History of PER's for Lodge #2731

87-88 Hobart Moss
88-89 Russell Heffelfinger
89-90 Wm. "Ed" Brown
90-91 Keith Wallis
91-92 Wm. "Ed" Brown
92-93 Robert Devereaux
93-94 William "Bill" Nelson
94-95 Arthur Vidler
95-96 Albert W. Shaffer
96-97 Albert W. Shaffer
97-98 Glen Lehrke
98-99 Emerson Poe
99-00 Robert Hatfield
00-01 R. Michael Ritchie
01-02 R. Michael Ritchie
02-03 Donald Roberts
03-04 Donald Roberts
04-05 E.J. Withey
05-06 William "Bill" Knapp
06-07 John "Jerry" Roberts
07-08 Alice Perry-Knapp (Our first woman Exalted Ruler)

08-09 Emilie J. Mastin

09-10 Alice Perry-Knapp, PER

10-11 Mary Crosier, PER

And currently, for the year 2011-2012 Albert Shaffer, PER.

The Elkettes of #2731 have disbanded after 20 years of dedicated loyalty to the lodge and one heck of a lot of hard work.

History of Past Lady Presidents.

87-88 June Moss
88-89 Lillian Mays
89-90 Lee Heffelfinger
90-91 Dorothy Burggrat
91-92 Peggy Wojtowicz
92-93
93-94 June Lehrke
94-95 June Lehrke
95-96 Betty Frame
96-97 June Lehrke
97-98 Lois Schlicting
98-99 Ellie Crowell
99-00 Helen Reickhart
00-01 Donna Schneider
01-02 Helen Reickhart
02-03 Helen Reickhart
03-04 Marie Shaffer
04-05 Marie Shaffer
05-06 Phyllis Burdi
06-07 Phyllis Burdi

I'm sure the past ER's will agree that we can never thank these ladies enough for all the support they have given us over the past 20 years.

In the summer of 2005 we completed construction of the smoking room adjacent to the lounge area.

As mentioned earlier, the beginning membership for our lodge was 162 members and the following shows our growth over the years:

By 1991 we had reached over 300 members;
By 1995 we had reached over 400 members;
By 1997 we went over 500 members;
By 2002 we had reached the 600 member mark;
By 2005 we hit the 700 mark.
At the beginning of 2007 we were at 780 members, and as of 04/01/2009 we are at 894.

We have had the honor of one of our PER's, Albert Shaffer, being selected as District VP, followed by a year as District Deputy of the Central District.