The Greene County Historical Society is opening its new season of monthly programs that happen on the first Fridays of the month starting in April.

The first program will focus on the history of the Free Masons on Friday at Greenewood Community Center at 12:45pm. According to organizers, the guest speaker will be Keith Voss, who is the Master of the Jefferson Masonic Lodge and the Deputy of Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Iowa and he will review what Free Masonry means, as well as an overview of the fraternal organization’s history and what they are currently doing within the community.  

According to the Historical Society, the Jefferson Morning Star Lodge #159 was formed in 1860, with the official charter created in 1861. The initial location was the second story of the Sierra Community Theatre in 1884, and now they are currently located on the west side of the downtown square. The program is free and open to the public.