 The Masonic Widows' and Orphans' Home was formed in 1867 due to a discussion on November 23, 1866 pondering what to do with the number of widows and orphans of Masons caused by the American Civil War; the 1867 founding makes Kentucky's Masonic Widows and Orphans Home the oldest Masonic home in North America.It started when a group of Louisville Freemasons on November 23, 1866 gathered with an intention of creating such a home.The Kentucky General Assembly chartered the organization in January 1867.