It was about noon on a sultry Saturday in July, and the aroma of grilled hamburgers and hot dogs wafted down a small side street in downtown Leesburg. Although the temperature was already in the 90s, friends had gathered under the hot sun in front of a plain white stucco building on Liberty Street for their weekly cookout.
Most of the friends were associated with Masonic organizations — the Prince Hall Masons and the Order of the Eastern Star — and they had come for more than food and fellowship. On Saturdays for the past three years, the group has organized cookouts to raise money for the preservation and restoration of their Masonic hall, a building whose rich history is belied by its modest appearance.
August 19, 2013
