I've been doing a project for my Masonic Lodge on the Masonic Home team that played from 1925-44. They were housed in Franklin, but their roster of players were from all over the state. Most were orphans of WWI, but some were simply handed over due to dire financial family situations during the depression.
Thought I'd share my project here as well.
Background:.
Over 800 children came to live at the Indiana Masonic Home between 1916 and 1972 in Franklin, Indiana. Many were orphans, but there were also many sent to live there simply due to the economic situations with their own families. The actual high school that served the campus closed in 1944 due to lack of numbers. Children lived on campus and attended school until 1972. Students living there attended Franklin High School following the closure.
The colors Scarlet & Gray:.
Attributed to Brother named William Southern, who was said to describe the final financial gifts that enabled the school to be completed as “the Scarlet thread of love.” While blue would seem a more natural fit, scarlet and gray were their banner colors.
Craftsmen and Original Home Boys:..
Coverage of sports has changed dramatically over the years. Now writers are expected to remain objective and merely report-out facts and statistics. Not so in the past as local writers would often times spin game accounts according to their own perspective from the sidelines. Sports writers were known to hold a very favorable view of Masonic Home teams often to the chagrin of readers. Fans of other schools would often write in to the editorial page complaining of biased coverage towards the Craftsmen, or as many writers referred to them, or the Home Kids. Other accounts at the time refer to the team as Ma-Ho’ers, and Home-Boys.
Sectional Favorites:.
The hard luck Craftsman could never break through the tough Franklin Sectional field, but did advance to the championship game twice, 1933 and 1936. Both times falling to county power, Franklin. It’s worth noting that during Sectional games, it has been referenced in many newspaper accounts of the games, fan blocks from all the other schools would routinely join in cheering for the Masonic Home teams as if they were their own.
Upsets and Upstarts:.
Arguably the Craftsmen’s best squad, and most hard luck story, was the 21-1 County Champion group of 1931. They entered the Sectional undefeated but were upset in the semi-finals by Franklin, 21-16. On the other end of the spectrum was the lightly regarded 1937 team. These overachievers entered the 13-team mid-season Johnson County Tourney with only 3 wins, but bested the field to claim the title. Reality would prevail as they would manage just 3 more wins the rest of the season and a quick first round Sectional loss.
January 23, 1931 Franklin Evening Star)
BASKET CHAMPIONS, HONORED AT PARTY
Dinner and Dance Given For Team and Coach Thursday Evening at Home
The Johnson county basketball champions, the Masonic Home Craftsmen, and also the second team, were honored by a dinner and dance Thursday evening at the girls' cottage at the Indiana Masonic Home. "Welcome, Craftsmen!" the guests read on the lighted sign as they went up the walk. They were met at the door by the hosts, who voiced a welcome and took the wraps.
Girls Cottage Number 2
1937 10-12 Coach Charles Bridges - Johnson County Champions!
(From Book Under the Heaven Tree by William Bridges)
Johnson County Tournament ended with Coach ‘Jack” Bridges team and Center Grove tied, with seven seconds to go, and Masonic Home player at the free-throw line. The player looked over at Coach, who game the palms-out shrug and grinned. The player relaxed and made the winning shot!
All Comers:.
Variety in schedules is fairly common place in today’s high school athletics, but during the decades that the Craftsmen were fielding teams, schools generally saw a long docket of schools very similar to themselves. Not so with the Mason Home teams. Regular season schedules were dotted with big school powers, county rivals, and just about everything in between. Some notable opponents that the Craftsman suited up against regularly: Mitchell, Shelbyville, Terre Haute Garfield, Ft. Wayne North, Indiana Deaf School, Morton Memorial, Southport, Noblesville, Arsenal Tech, Avon, Sheridan, Clark Twp, Trafalgar, Nineveh, Center Grove, Whiteland, Franklin, Indian State Lab, Nashville, Van Buren Twp, Union Twp, and Hopewell.
Final Tribute:.
While many in Johnson County often looked down on the Masonic Home basketball program, it is worth noting that upon its closure as a high school in 1944, (Students still lived at Home but attended Franklin Community) the county seat Grizzly Cub roster consisted of four starters from the Masonic Home.
Thought I'd share my project here as well.
Background:.
Over 800 children came to live at the Indiana Masonic Home between 1916 and 1972 in Franklin, Indiana. Many were orphans, but there were also many sent to live there simply due to the economic situations with their own families. The actual high school that served the campus closed in 1944 due to lack of numbers. Children lived on campus and attended school until 1972. Students living there attended Franklin High School following the closure.
The colors Scarlet & Gray:.
Attributed to Brother named William Southern, who was said to describe the final financial gifts that enabled the school to be completed as “the Scarlet thread of love.” While blue would seem a more natural fit, scarlet and gray were their banner colors.
Craftsmen and Original Home Boys:..
Coverage of sports has changed dramatically over the years. Now writers are expected to remain objective and merely report-out facts and statistics. Not so in the past as local writers would often times spin game accounts according to their own perspective from the sidelines. Sports writers were known to hold a very favorable view of Masonic Home teams often to the chagrin of readers. Fans of other schools would often write in to the editorial page complaining of biased coverage towards the Craftsmen, or as many writers referred to them, or the Home Kids. Other accounts at the time refer to the team as Ma-Ho’ers, and Home-Boys.
Sectional Favorites:.
The hard luck Craftsman could never break through the tough Franklin Sectional field, but did advance to the championship game twice, 1933 and 1936. Both times falling to county power, Franklin. It’s worth noting that during Sectional games, it has been referenced in many newspaper accounts of the games, fan blocks from all the other schools would routinely join in cheering for the Masonic Home teams as if they were their own.
Upsets and Upstarts:.
Arguably the Craftsmen’s best squad, and most hard luck story, was the 21-1 County Champion group of 1931. They entered the Sectional undefeated but were upset in the semi-finals by Franklin, 21-16. On the other end of the spectrum was the lightly regarded 1937 team. These overachievers entered the 13-team mid-season Johnson County Tourney with only 3 wins, but bested the field to claim the title. Reality would prevail as they would manage just 3 more wins the rest of the season and a quick first round Sectional loss.
January 23, 1931 Franklin Evening Star)
BASKET CHAMPIONS, HONORED AT PARTY
Dinner and Dance Given For Team and Coach Thursday Evening at Home
The Johnson county basketball champions, the Masonic Home Craftsmen, and also the second team, were honored by a dinner and dance Thursday evening at the girls' cottage at the Indiana Masonic Home. "Welcome, Craftsmen!" the guests read on the lighted sign as they went up the walk. They were met at the door by the hosts, who voiced a welcome and took the wraps.
Girls Cottage Number 2
1937 10-12 Coach Charles Bridges - Johnson County Champions!
(From Book Under the Heaven Tree by William Bridges)
Johnson County Tournament ended with Coach ‘Jack” Bridges team and Center Grove tied, with seven seconds to go, and Masonic Home player at the free-throw line. The player looked over at Coach, who game the palms-out shrug and grinned. The player relaxed and made the winning shot!
All Comers:.
Variety in schedules is fairly common place in today’s high school athletics, but during the decades that the Craftsmen were fielding teams, schools generally saw a long docket of schools very similar to themselves. Not so with the Mason Home teams. Regular season schedules were dotted with big school powers, county rivals, and just about everything in between. Some notable opponents that the Craftsman suited up against regularly: Mitchell, Shelbyville, Terre Haute Garfield, Ft. Wayne North, Indiana Deaf School, Morton Memorial, Southport, Noblesville, Arsenal Tech, Avon, Sheridan, Clark Twp, Trafalgar, Nineveh, Center Grove, Whiteland, Franklin, Indian State Lab, Nashville, Van Buren Twp, Union Twp, and Hopewell.
Final Tribute:.
While many in Johnson County often looked down on the Masonic Home basketball program, it is worth noting that upon its closure as a high school in 1944, (Students still lived at Home but attended Franklin Community) the county seat Grizzly Cub roster consisted of four starters from the Masonic Home.
