WILMINGTON, N.C. — In Wilmington, the Giblem Lodge #2, which stands as a symbol of Black resiliency and history, is now getting the recognition it deserves. In a unanimous vote, Wilmington’s City Council agreed to make it a local historical landmark.
What You Need To Know
- The Giblem Lodge #2 was built in 1871 and survived the Wilmington Coup of 1898
- The lodge served as a community meeting place for many different individuals, including the Masons, NAACP and Boys and Girls Club
- During segregation, the lodge served as a library for Black people
The 152-year-old structure is filled with history.
“It was a community type of building, political meetings,” said Earl Armstrong, who serves as a lodge leader as its worshipful master. “It was like a meeting place for different communities.”
But there’s more to the story than that. Giblem Lodge member Terry Jackson says it’s a bigger part of history than some people realize.
“This is not only Wilmington and North Carolina history,” said Jackson. “This is American history and this is world history.”
The Giblem Lodge served as a symbol of Black strength and culture before the 1898 massacre, when white supremacists overthrew Wilmington’s primarily Black government.
“In 1898, or at least prior to 1898, Wilmington was the, I’m gonna say the mecca, for African Americans to live. It was the most highly educated, it was where business owners did a great deal of, Black business owners did a great deal of, business,” said Jackson. “That’s why 1898 happened, because of the jealousy and success of African Americans.”
The lodge was spared by the coup, most likely because it was a masonic temple. It was still used as a meeting place for the Black community and later as a library for Black people during the segregation era.
It fell into disrepair in the 1900s, but the Prince Hall Masons still meet there regularly. Now, 100 years later, efforts to restore the lodge are underway.
“This is what we’re gonna do is make a museum, keep this intact," said Jimmy Lightfoot, 19th district deputy grand master of the Prince Hall Masons. "We’re gonna redo this and have it redone so it can be original and kept original, and everything that we do we’re gonna try to keep it as original as possible.”
The lodge will continue to serve as a meeting space, but will also be restored to include a museum and library.
The lodge’s new recognition as a local historical landmark will help it receive grants with its restoration.
If you would like to learn more about Giblem Lodge #2, click here.