The Beginning of Trinity Valley Lodge No. 1048
Date of Charter: December 7, 1911

There were three Masonic lodges established and working in downtown Dallas in 1911. These lodges were Tannehill No. 52, Oak Cliff No. 705, and Dallas No. 760. Several Masons believed that the city could support the work of another lodge. These men submitted a petition to the Grand Lodge that was signed by 43 Masons requesting that a new lodge be establishment by the name of Trinity Valley. Those three lodges already working in Dallas supported this petition. Oral history indicates that these 43 men were primarily members of Dallas Lodge No. 760.

A charter dated December 7, 1911, was issued and on December 26, 1911, Grand Master Sam P. Cochran personally constituted and installed the first officers of the new Trinity Valley Lodge No. 1048. This new lodge met in a building at the NW corner of Main and Murphy Street.

Worshipful Master J. E. Cockrell (pictured right) opened the first Stated Meeting of Trinity Valley on January 5, 1912.

On January 31, 1912, Grand Master Cochran issued a dispensation authorizing Trinity Valley to move its meetings to the newly completed Scottish Rite Building at the SE corner of Harwood and Young Street. A Neo-classical Revival structure, designed in 1913 by Hubbell and Greene architects with a large portico and Corinthian columns. It is the first and permanent home of Scottish Rite Freemasonry in Dallas. Trinity Valley has actively met at the Scottish Rite Building since making the move in early 1912.

The members of Trinity Valley are pleased and proud that two of our Past Masters, John McKee and Joseph W. Regian, have been elevated to the position of Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Texas. Past Grand Master McKee served his term as Grand Master in 1953, while Past Grand Master Regian served in 1997.