Brother Henry Terhune Van Dyke holds a truly unique place in the history of our Lodge.
Henry was born in 1915 in Providence, Rhode Island, to Walter and Alice Van Dyke. He grew up with one younger sister, Ruth. When Henry was just 14 years old, his father passed away, and young Henry had to step up to help his mother support the family. Those early responsibilities helped shape the man he would become—hardworking, dependable, and deeply committed to service.
In 1943, during World War II, Henry enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps, serving his country faithfully until his discharge in 1946. That same year, upon returning home, he married Mary Elizabeth, and together they made their way to Florida, settling on what was then known as Sunshine Beach—today part of Treasure Island.
There, Henry built and operated the Van Dyke Colony Motel, a beloved landmark in the growing beach community. Always an enterprising spirit, he also founded and ran the Van Dyke Insurance Agency in Seminole, which he led until his retirement in 1980.
But Henry’s contributions didn’t stop with business. He poured his energy into public service as well. He served as a Treasure Island Commissioner in 1958, and before that had been Fire Chief of the Sunshine Beach Volunteer Fire Department, which later merged with the Treasure Island Fire Department. He was also Past President of the Treasure Island Chamber of Commerce and the Gulf Beach Rotary Club. A man of faith, Henry was an active member of Church By The Sea in Madeira Beach, where he sang in the choir and served as church treasurer.
Yet what truly sets Henry apart in our Lodge’s history is something quite remarkable. On December 15, 1949, while Gulf Beach Lodge was still under dispensation—that is, before it had officially received its charter—Henry became the very first petitioner to apply for the Degrees of Freemasonry. He was Raised a Master Mason on March 23, 1950, still under dispensation.
Now here’s where the story takes an extraordinary turn. The Grand Master at the time, A. Wayne Conner, approved Henry’s name to be added to the list of original Charter Members—a list that had been presented to the Grand Lodge three months earlier, on December 8, 1949, when Henry was not yet a Mason! So, quite literally, his name appears on the original Charter request before he even became a Master Mason.
Less than a month after being Raised, Brother Henry Van Dyke was elected the first Secretary of the newly chartered Gulf Beach Lodge No. 291. He served faithfully for about six months before duty called once again. On October 5, 1950, he resigned his position—becoming the only Secretary in Lodge history ever to do so—after being recalled to active military service for the Korean War. He served until his discharge in 1951.
Brother Henry Terhune Van Dyke passed away on September 20, 1983, in Treasure Island at the age of 68. His final resting place is in the Columbarium at Church By The Sea, where he had worshiped for so many years.
Indeed, Brother Henry was unique in every sense. He was our first petitioner, had his name on the Charter before becoming a Mason, served as our first Secretary, and remains the only Secretary ever to resign—and all of this while answering the call of both fraternity and country.
Truly, unique to say the least.
