Victory Daylight Lodge No. 1778 History
In the summer of 1977, several Brethren of various Lodges in the Norfolk area conceived the idea of forming a Masonic Lodge, which would hold their meetings in the daylight hours. This would enable our older Brethren the opportunity to attend Lodge in the daytime instead of having to venture out at night. Some of them had indicated that they could not drive at night.
On the evening of July 28, 1977, eleven Brethren met in an office of the Smith-Williams Funeral Parlors to formulate plans for the purpose of requesting a dispensation from the Grand Lodge of Virginia. The name of Bi-Centennial Lodge was chosen to be the name of the proposed daylight Lodge. Dispensation was applied for and Ocean View Lodge No. 335 had granted permission to meet in their Lodge room. After the dispensation had been granted, this permission was withdrawn and it became necessary to find a meeting place for Bicentennial Lodge. This not being enough, a group of Masons in the valley of Virginia had applied for a dispensation to form a Lodge in that area and had chosen the name Bicentennial for their Lodge.
By going to Richmond to the Grand Lodge Office, Worshipful Brother Fred J. Schmoele was permitted to search the files of dormant Lodges in hopes of finding a suitable name for the proposed new daytime Lodge in Norfolk. After much deliberation, Worshipful Brother Schmoele returned to Norfolk with a name which was presented to the Brethren and adopted as Victory Daylight Lodge and requested the number 1778.
At a meeting of the Brethren proposing the new Lodge the following were chosen officers:
Fred Joseph Schmoele Worshipful Master
Joseph Hubbard Davis Senior Warden
Jimmie David Morrisette Junior Warden
The meeting place of the proposed Lodge would be in the friendship room above Life Federal Savings and Loan located at 7420 Granby Street, Norfolk, Virginia. Meetings were held there until space would no longer accommodate them. Then the Odd Fellows offered the use of their temple, located at 209 West Freemason Street, Norfolk, Virginia.
The charter was presented to Victory Daylight Lodge No. 1778, at the Grand Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of Virginia held in Williamsburg on February 14, 1978. The Lodge continued to meet in the Odd Fellows hall until December 12, 1987, at which time it moved to the garage of Worshipful Brother Howard Cohen until suitable quarters could be found.
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On December 16, 1987, the Lodge met in the Friendship Room of the Life Savings Bank and continued to meet there until November 5, 1988, when it moved to the Odd Fellows Hall at 110 Maycox Avenue. The Lodge currently meets in the Bayside Masonic Temple at 1465 Independence Blvd, Virginia Beach, Virginia.
