Emergency Puts Masonic Village’s Mission to the Test

Ellie Labajetta has lived at the Masonic Village at Elizabethtown just over two years. She always knew the staff were dependable, but after she found herself in a smoke-filled apartment, she realized just how above and beyond they are willing to go for residents, living up to the organization’s Mission of Love.

Her 9-year-old grandson, Adam, noticed, too.

“This place is wonderful,” he said. “You can depend on Masons to take good care of things.”

On Nov. 3, a small kitchen fire quickly produced plumes of black smoke, filling Ellie’s apartment in the Smith North building. She immediately called the campus operator and pulled the emergency cord in her bathroom. Within minutes, Chris Brown, security shift supervisor, was running up the stairs, fire extinguisher in hand.

It didn’t take long for staff from across campus to arrive and help the residents of the 23 apartments evacuate. “They literally came running up the hill,” Ellie said.

Staff knocked on every apartment door and carried out anyone who was unable to rapidly exit. Chris was treated for smoke inhalation, and Ellie was taken to the hospital as a precaution, but otherwise, no one was injured.

At the time of the incident, Ellie didn’t have her cell phone, so she couldn’t recall her son David’s cell phone number. Staff called his home phone, which his family typically doesn’t answer. When Adam saw Masonic Village on the caller ID, he knew it was safe to answer, so her family was quickly alerted to the situation. David is a Mason and taught Adam that the Masonic square and compasses symbol, whether on a building, car or man’s ring, is a trusted sign.

Other than a melted microwave and blackened cabinets, the only damage was caused by the smoke. All residents’ apartments were thoroughly cleaned and inspected thanks to Housekeeping and Maintenance staff, as well as Paul Davis restoration that will complete work on Ellie’s apartment over the next several weeks. She is staying with her son in the meantime.

When Ellie had trouble reaching her insurance company, Connie Kopp, director of risk management, stepped in to help. “She’s worth her weight in gold,” Ellie said. “She just took over.” Many other staff have checked on her to make sure she has what she needs.

“The response from the village couldn’t have been better,” Ellie said. “I don’t know what I’d do without them, my son and Paul Davis restoration.”

A long-standing member of the Order of the Eastern Star and Amaranth, Ellie didn’t know about Masonic Village until a friend mentioned it to her a few years ago. Just four months later, she moved into her apartment.

“Smith North is nice, and we’re small enough to be a family,” she said. “We sit on the porch and watch the deer and geese. The view is wonderful. Everyone knows my name. The staff is wonderful. I have not met anyone who is unpleasant or won’t go the extra mile if needed.

“Before this happened, I read about the founding mission of the Masonic Village in the 100th Anniversary history book. I think how happy those men would be to know the mission is still alive today. Some things are different, but the mission still lives. It’s obvious, even to a 9-year-old. I knew this place was great. This situation just reinforced that.”