Waynesville Masonic Lodge No. 163, Free and Accepted Masons, was chartered in 1848, making it one of the oldest fraternal institutions in Warren County. From its earliest days, the lodge has upheld the timeless Masonic principles of Brotherly Love, Relief, and Truth, serving as a steady presence in the life of the community for more than 175 years.

​

In the mid‑19th century, the lodge met in rented upper‑floor rooms along Main Street, a common practice among Ohio lodges of the era. These early halls placed the fraternity at the center of village life, where merchants, craftsmen, and civic leaders gathered to conduct their labors and strengthen fraternal bonds.

As membership grew, the lodge occupied several different halls throughout Waynesville, each reflecting the evolving needs of the Craft and its expanding role in the community