Master Mason Apron, c. 1795-1799

This apron is reputed to have been loaned to George Washington (1732-1799) when he attended a meeting in the 1790’s of the Old Lodge at Georgetown, District of Columbia. The material and the design of this apron support this claim, fitting both in the materials and designs used during the period. An almost identical apron design was developed by Abner Reed (1771-1866) of East Windsor, Connecticut around 1800. Lodge No. 6 chartered in 1788 by the Grand Lodge of A.F. & A.M. of Maryland met in Georgetown, Maryland near what would become the District of Columbia in 1790 has historically been known as ‘Georgetown Lodge,’ but the official name of the lodge is unknown.