Wake Forest to unveil historic marker for Leader of Wake Lodge #285 March 15, portion of North Allen Road to be closed during ceremony

The Wake Forest community is invited to attend the official unveiling of the new historic marker for Leader of Wake, Lodge # 285, 410 North Allen Road, on Friday, March 15, at 1 p.m. The unveiling ceremony will feature brief remarks by Members of the Leader of Wake Lodge # 285, Mayor Vivian Jones, and Town staff.  

To accommodate the event, the portion of North Allen Road from East Juniper Avenue to East Walnut Street will be closed from approximately 12:30-2:30 p.m.

No parking will be permitted at the lodge during the event. On-street parking will be available along North Allen Road (north of East Juniper Avenue adjacent to the DuBois Campus), East Walnut Avenue, East Nelson Avenue, and at Hope House, 334 North Allen Road.

In the event of rain, the ceremony will be moved inside Alston-Massenburg Center, 416 N. Taylor St.

In 2021, the Town of Wake Forest completed the Northeast Community Plan. One of the themes of the plan is to preserve and protect the significant history of the Northeast Community. The Leader of Wake Lodge # 285 is the African American Masonic Lodge and has a significant history to the Northeast Community and the Town of Wake Forest.

The Wake Forest Historic Preservation Commission began the Historic Marker Program to both celebrate and educate the public about significant histories. By implementing a historic marker program, Wake Forest is working to identify underrepresented and lesser-known historical sites and raise awareness about their significance. The historic marker at Leader of Wake Lodge # 285 is the first historic marker in Wake Forest to be installed and unveiled.

For more information, email Senior Planner for Historic Preservation Michelle Michael at [email protected].