The H. Lee White Maritime Museum welcomes Dr. Natalie Joy Woodall to present “Masonic Mariners of Oswego City: A Brief History” as the third installment of its 2023 History Lecture Series. The event begins at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 17 at the museum at 1 W. First St. Pier, Oswego.

From the arrival of people to the shores of what became the village and later the city of Oswego, the great inland sea of Lake Ontario provided industry, occupation and wealth to generations of residents. Shipbuilders, carpenters, chandlers and fleet owners all benefited from the area’s proximity to the large, navigable body of water.

During the same time, Freemasonry (or Masonry) arrived in the Port City as men such as shipbuilder Matthew McNair and Captain Elias Trowbridge, both of whom had been masons elsewhere, zealously pursued their goal of establishing chapters in Oswego. Their efforts paid off with the following charters: Oswego Lodge No. 127 in 1848, Frontier City No. 422 in 1857 and Aeonian No. 679 in 1868. Thousands of local mariners joined these lodges, among them were sailors, mates and captains as well as several Civil War veterans of the United States Navy. 

The stories of most of these men have never been told until now. Dr. Woodall’s illustrated talk showcases their careers and details their contributions to the greater Oswego community. Whether they went down with their ships or died in their beds, these masonic mariners are celebrated for their courage and determination which, in some cases, cost them their lives.  

Dr. Woodall has lived in Oswego for over 30 years. With two doctorate degrees, she has been a teacher, a college professor, a newspaper reporter and a scuba instructor. She is also the author of several books related to Oswego County’s participation in the Civil War and a number of articles on local history. Most recently, Dr. Woodall wrote a series of articles for The Palladium-Times showcasing the lives and careers of prominent Oswego Freemasons. She is currently writing a book on the lives and careers of Oswego County’s noteworthy women. The book will be published by SUNY Press and is scheduled for release in late 2024.

This lecture is free and open to the public thanks to generous support from Brookfield Renewable Energy.

The H. Lee White Maritime Museum and Treasure Chest Gift Shop are open daily from 1 to 5 p.m. For more information about this event or other museum activities, call 315-342-0480 or visit https://hlwmm.org/.

PRESENTATION HONORS MASONIC MARINERS – The H. Lee White Maritime Museum presents the third installment of its 2023 History Lecture Series, “Masonic Mariners of Oswego City: A Brief History” with Dr. Natalie Joy Woodall (pictured). The free presentation begins at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 17 at the museum, 1 W. First St. Pier, Oswego. Photo by Carla J. Salisbury.