Calisto Chapter, No. 4

Calisto Chapter was first organized under the State of North Carolina as Calisto Chapter No. 22.

On October 11, 1905 Calisto Chapter No. 4 was instituted in Waterbury, Connecticut by the Prince Hall Grand Chapter, Order of Eastern Star, New England and its Jurisdiction.

Sister Carrie Jackson, the first Worthy Matron and Brother Frank Johnson, the first Worthy Patron presented the petition for its Charter. Other Charter members were Sisters: Stella A. Dever, Mary Scott, Louise Williams, Mary Johnson, Mary Bronson, Jennie White, Marcia Day and Brother Henry Costen.

Most of the early records and paraphernalia of Calisto Chapter were lost in a fire.

Calisto Chapter first met at the Garden Hall on East Main Street in Waterbury, and at other times at the homes of several members. The meetings are held on the fourth Wednesday of the month. For a number of years, Calisto Chapter met at Mt. Olive A.M.E. Zion Church at 137 Pearl Street until the Brothers of Kellogg Lodge No. 5, F. & A.M., P.H.A purchased their Masonic Temple at 22 Bishop Street in 1957. Calisto Chapter then moved into the Masonic Temple with Sister Viola J. Hatcher serving as Worthy Matron and Brother Frank Herbert serving as Worthy Patron. Calisto Chapter for over fifty years has met at Kellogg Lodge No.5 Masonic Temple until temporally locating to Harmony Lodge No. 42, A.F. & A.M. Masonic Temple, first in 2007 then again in 2012 to present day. Currently under a dispensation, Calisto Chapter No. 4, temporally meet the third Wednesday of the month until a permanent setting can be established.

Sister Eileen Wooders was Calisto Chapter’s first to serve as Worthy Grand Matron of Prince Hall Grand Chapter, Order of Eastern Star of New England and its Jurisdiction.

Brother Theodore W. Hatcher was Calisto Chapter’s first to serve as Grand Worthy Patron of Prince Hall Grand Chapter, Order of Eastern Star, State of Connecticut, Inc., in 1984-1986.

Sister Viola J. Hatcher served as an appointed Star Point, and appointed Grand District Lecturer. She was later was elected Grand Secretary and served for 14 years. In September of 1994 she was elected to the office of Grand Worthy Matron of Prince Hall Grand Chapter, Order of Eastern Star, State of Connecticut Inc., in 1994-1996.

Sister Canarie G. Smith served as an appointed Grand Star Point for four years and appointed Grand Lecturer for eight years. Sister Smith was elected to the office of Grand Worthy Matron of Prince Hall Grand Chapter, Order of Eastern Star, State of Connecticut Inc., in September of 1998-2000.

Sister E. Lavern Jenkins, has served many elected and appointed positions in the Grand Chapter, she was the fifth member of Calisto Chapter No. 4 to serve in the Grand East as its Grand Worthy Matron of Prince Hall Grand Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star, State of Connecticut, Incorporated in 2016-2018.

Calisto Chapter is proud to have many of its members over the years serve as elected and appointed officers in the Grand Chapter.

Calisto Chapter members were and still are dedicated and faithful Sisters and Brothers who continue to work together based on principles set by the Order of Eastern Star.