Dispensation was granted to form a lodge by the Grand Lodge A.F. & A.M. of the Commonwealth of Virginia on January 20, 1872.
The charter was signed by Grand Master Robert E. Withers and Grand Secretary John Dane on December 21, 1872 in Richmond, Virginia. In the charter by and with the consent of the Grand Lodge, the Grand Master did constitute and appoint Worshipful John L. Weaver, Worshipful Master Henry V. Moore, Senior Warden and A. McC. Jones, Junior Warden. That they were to assemble and work at Berkley, Norfolk County, Virginia and be designated as Berkley Lodge No. 167 A.F. & A.M.
The first meeting place of Berkley Lodge No. 167 was in a red brick house on the southwest corner of Walnut and Pine Streets, Berkley, an incorporated town in Norfolk County, Virginia.
The By-Laws of the lodge, dated 1873, list the founding officers and members as follows:
Officers:
Henry V. Moore, Worshipful Master
A. McC. Jones, Senior Warden
H. B. C. Walker, Junior Warden
C. S. Rodgers, Treasurer
S. Wilson, Secretary
M. C. Keeling, Senior Deacon
W. P. Tilley, Junior Deacon
Rev. William McGee, Chaplain
W. M. Bright, Tiler
Members:
Charles Bliven, George Boushell, B. P. Chandler, George Coxon, Enos Cuthriell, Matthew Hare, George Hewitt, D. E Holland, W. B. Harry, Thad M. Jones, George Kirby, Neil McCarty, John A. McCloud, Eugene W McCloud, R.P. Smith, Willis Smith and John L. Weaver, PM
The second meeting place was at Gibbs Hall and known as West’s Hall and was located at the southwest corner of Chestnut and Pine Streets, Berkley, Virginia.
The third meeting place was at the Pythian Castle on Berkley Avenue, Berkley, Virginia.
The fourth meeting place was our own temple on Chestnut Street, Berkley, Virginia. We had our meetings there from 1905 to 1943. In 1909 Berkley was annexed by the city of Norfolk, Virginia.
The fifth meeting place was the Red Men’s Hall on State and Clifton Streets, Norfolk, Virginia from July 1943 to 1950.
The sixth meeting place was in our own temple at the corner of Campostella Road and Elkin Street, Norfolk, Virginia from August 1950 to November 1971.
Our seventh and current meeting place is located at 2216 Old Greenbrier Road, Chesapeake, Virginia 23325-4914. It was consecrated by Most Worshipful Charles Franklin Shuler, Grand Master of Masons in Virginia in a joint communication with Doric Lodge No. 44 on November 26, 1971. It is currently occupied by Berkley Lodge No. 167 and Berkley Chapter No. 52, O.E.S
On January 1st, 2022 Berkley Lodge #167 and Doric Lodge #44 merged as Berkley Lodge #167.
This year, 2022, marks the 150th year of Berkley Lodge #167.
