The charter of Hanford lodge No. 264, TOOF, was issued August 3, 1877, during the same year as the birth of Hanford. Meetings were probably held in Baker Hall. Early records of the lodge's beginnings were lost in the fire on the night of July 12, 1887.

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In 1905 it was decided that the time was ripe for the construction of their own building. The lodge owned property just south of the Masonic Temple (built in 1902), but decided that that location was not suitable for a home. Therefore, they exchanged that property for this present location, (8th st. between Douty and Harris, across from the Carnegie) which was then owned by Henry Cousins. This exchange was made and the plans for construction began.

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(When the Masons purchased property for their own building, they purchased the property from the corner of Eighth Street and Douty southward to the alley, where the old Phone Building and the Old Fire Department were later located.)

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Architect S. E. French prepared the plans of the bullding. Andrew  J. Moates of Grangeville  was superintendent  of

construction, his bid being $12,017.  w. D. Trewhitt had  the

sub-contract for the brick work.

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The building was ready for use about the end of 1905. The trustees leased the ground floor to Company I, N, G and c for a period of years as an armory. Hanford Lodge started using the new lodge room early in 1906, but the dedication service was held on February 6, 1906. {This information came from the Progress Edition of the Hanford Sentinel, 1953. the artlcle contains much more information concerning lodge officers, etc.)

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This two-story brick building typifies the age of 1905 lodge buildings in America. the upstairs was in use for many years as the lodge room. The first floor has been used as an armory, a dance hall, Kings county Chamber of Commerce, California National Guard, Welfare Department, Employment Department, storage warehouse, United Servicemans Organization (U.S.O.) during WWII, and most recently a print shop.

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The building is an excellent example of Hanford's early town scape, it being one of several clustered near the Kings county courthouse, across from the 1905 Carnegie Building and near the 1902 Masonic Building .

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The building is now the home of Hanford Antique Emporium.