The Masons became an important part of the social fabric of African-Americans in Richmond as far back as 1852, with 70 members in 1858. After meeting in various places over the years, in 1908, the local lodge bought a building on South 6^th Street. Part of the funds came from the Adah Chapter of the women’s Order of the Eastern Star auxiliary). In 1921, the lodge was incorporated as the Paul Quinn Lodge, in honor of AME minister Paul Quinn. James Townsend and Cornelius Richardson are just two well-known names who were active in the Lodge.