In 1997 the members of Thistle Lodge started planning the events to celebrate our sesquicentennial year. The brethren wanted to leave something to the town that would be lasting and commemorate the long association of Masonry with Amherstburg. A member had seen a pavilion in Michigan which spurred him to suggest the idea of the lodge having one built in the Kings Navy Yard Park and donating it to the town. After looking at photographs and preliminary drawings we received an estimate of $17000 for the structure which was approved. The next step was to see if the town was interested. The town council and committee in charge of the park liked the idea and approved the drawings and a location within the park. The town agreed to connect the electrical power and return the park to its original condition after construction. Construction started in April 1999 under the supervision of local home builder. The members of Zion Lodge No. 1, Detroit have ties to Amherstburg lodges going back over 200 years. Several Zion lodge members attended a dinner at Bullock's Tavern where they presented a cheque to assist with the building of the pavilion.
Use of the pavilion includes a summer concert series and the focal point for the occasional special event in Navy Yard Park. The following newspaper article shows its increasing use as a location for weddings - the happy beginning of a new family unit.
