History

At a meeting of Master Masons held in Temple Hall, Lawndale Masonic Temple, 2300 South Millard Avenue, Chicago, Illinois, Wednesday evening, January 26th, 1916, presided over by Brother Nicholas E. Murray, District Deputy Grand Master of the Sixth Masonic District, a dispensation from Brother Ralph H. Wheeler, Most Worshipful Master of Masons of the State of Illinois, was read, granting authority to Brothers Joseph Thomas Milnarik, Frank Joseph Kohout, Emil John Paidar, and one hundred and four Master Masons to form a lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons to be known as Lawndale Lodge. The first stated meeting was held immediately after the institution.

The lodge was constituted under Charter as Lawndale Lodge, No. 995, A.F. & A.M. by Brother Nicholas E. Murray, acting as Most Worshipful Grand Master, and Brother William H. Beid as Grand Marshal, at a special meeting held for that purpose Saturday evening, October 21st, 1916. The Charter being dated October 21st, 1916. The following officers, having served under dispensation, were installed into their respective stations and places:

Joseph Thomas Milnarik, Worshipful Master * Frank Joseph Kohout, Senior Warden * Emil John Paidar, Junior Warden * Henry Swade, Treasurer * Joseph Zdenek Klenha, Secretary * Charles Kerner, Chaplain * Alexander Cubbon Ramsay, Senior Deacon * Jerry Otto Novak, Junior Deacon * Conrad Harry Kammerer,  Senior Steward * Joseph Fred Fencl, Junior Steward * Vladimir Emil Cerveny, Marshal  * Otto Frank Knaizl, Organist * Wenzel James Barta, Tyler

At the annual meeting held Wednesday evening, December 13th, 1916, the above officers were re-elected, re-appointed and installed by Brothers Nicholas E. Murray and John C. Jones, Past Masters of Metropolitan Lodge No. 860 A.F. & A.M.

On November 9, 1963, Columbian Lodge No. 819 A.F. & A.M. merged with Lawndale Lodge No. 995 A.F. & A.M. On December 30, 1978, Proviso Lodge No. 1028 A.F. & A.M. merged with Lawndale Lodge No. 995 A.F. & A.M.

On October 6, 1979, the name of the lodge was changed to Westchester Lodge No. 995 A.F. & A.M. by action of the Grand Lodge of Masons of Illinois.

On October 18, 1993, Bohemia Lodge No. 943 A.F. & A.M. merged with Westchester Lodge No. 995 A.F. & A.M.