Shirley holds a photo of her younger self
Shirley Wolfe may hold the record for the longest stay at Masonic Village at Elizabethtown, having lived here for 52 years. She got married, raised her children and eventually retired — all on campus.
Although born two hours away in Huntingdon County, Shirley (shown above center, with friends Lois Vaughn on left and Kitty Brandt on right) claims Masonic Village is her true home as most of her life was spent here.
She first came to Masonic Village at 19 years old, a recent high school graduate, and found a job as a server in the Grand Lodge dining room.
“I fell in love with everything here and never wanted to go back home,” she said.
Shirley fondly remembers this period of her life, working and living with her close friends.
“At that time, we were like family. It’s all we had,” she said.
A photo of Masonic Village, circa 1970s, featuring one of Shirley’s former homes on campus
It was also during this time that she met her husband Arthur, or “Art,” who was a cook in the same dining room.
The two were married within a year and continued to work together while starting their family. They have four children who were raised on campus and all worked there as well.
“My kids grew up in an amazing place here,” Shirley said.
Throughout her time at Masonic Village, Shirley has lived in eight residences across the 1,400-acre campus, from farmhouses on Turnpike and Bainbridge Roads to Kuhlmeier Apartments and even a room above the Grand Lodge dining room.
Shirley is grateful to Masonic Village for providing her and Art with plenty of housing options when they were young.
“I couldn’t have done it without them. They were so helpful when we were a young couple,” she said.
Shirley retired in 2000, the same year Art sadly passed away. Seeking a change, she moved back to her hometown. However, after just a year and half, she decided to return to Elizabethtown, where her family was and where a piece of her heart remained.
She wasn’t ready for retirement living yet, so she lived in an apartment in downtown Elizabethtown for 16 years before she felt pulled to return to Masonic Village.
“Once I made up my mind, nobody was talking me out of it,” Shirley said. “I retired here because it’s my home. There is nowhere else I’d rather be.”
Shirley is grateful to live in a place that holds decades of fond memories. She dines daily with her friends in the Grand Lodge Hall at the same dining room where she once worked.
“I love being back in that dining room. That’s why I go there every day,” Shirley said.
Although she enjoyed her time serving, Shirley is happy to be retired and the one being served. She appreciates all the dining staff and considers them family.
“They treat us well and are always willing to help out. I adore them all,” she said.
Shirley doesn’t feel Masonic Village has changed too much since she first came here, but she is pleased with the Grand Lodge dining room renovations and the addition of the Franklin’s Press café.
Having been on campus for over half a century, Shirley reminisces daily about her career, family and life around every corner.
“It is a wonderful place to live,” she said. “This is my forever home.”
About the author: Alyssa Weaver is a public relations associate at Masonic Villages. She is majoring in media and culture at West Chester University.
