Ashler 1902 to the Present

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=90 BGCOLOR="#006699" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="02c285a1erlcgo.png"> <div> <B>Ashler Lodge #121 F. & A. M.</B></div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=18.75% BGCOLOR="#FFCC66" TEXT="#080000" background="02ad4fe0dkelyh.png"> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Ashler Lodge 121 F. A. M."><U><B>Home</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="about_ashler.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="About Ashler Lodge"><U><B>About Ashler</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="members.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Officers"><U>Officers</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="events.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Ashler Events"><U>Ashler Events</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="trestleboard.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Trestle Board"><U>Trestle Board</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="photo_album.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Photo Album"><U>Photo Album</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="misc__links.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Masonic Links"><U>Masonic Links</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="contact_us.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Contact Us"><U>Contact Us</U></A></div> </td> <td valign="top" height=390 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <bR> <div> Ashler Lodge 1902 to the Present</div> <div> 1902 - 2002</div> <div>  By</div> <div>  Worshipful Brother Vincent DiGiulio</div> <bR> <div> As Columbus Greenleaf and George Wilson pondered the future of this wilderness area that they came to call home they found a unique bond, a bond that has united men from time immemorial.  The bond that they discovered was, that bond of fraternal brotherhood, they were both Masons from different parts of the United States.  This discovery was made prior to the City of Bothell being formed.  They then chose to search out, among the settlers of this Northwest territory, other men with like interest, this search came to fruition on Sunday November 24, 1901 with a gathering of the Masons of the Area at the Platform of the Pacific Northern Railroad located on the corner of 102nd Street and East Riverside Drive.</div> <bR> <div> In attendance that day were Brothers Columbus Greenleaf, George Wilson, John W. Eason, E. J. Gillette, Thomas Hunt, William Sales, John H. Durham, William J. Evans, Olin F. Davenport, Daniel H. Lundington, Eben H. Severance, Daniel Reder, Merritt E. Durham, John H. Fitzgerald, William G. Hartranft, Peter McMasters, Edward C. Turner and Irk Woodin.  These distinguished members of the local community at that time decided to band together and form a Lodge here, in the then Community of Brackets Landing.  The brothers decided to contact the Lodges from which they belonged throughout the Country and request their demits.  This being a time when plural membership was not allowed.  Each wrote to his mother Lodge.  Columbus Greenleaf wrote to Wooster #79 Connecticut, Thomas Hunt to Lebo #152 Kansas, John W. Eason to Bower #464 Iowa, Merritt E. Durham to Fall City #66 Washington, William G. Hartranft to Arcane #5622 Tennessee, Olin F. Davenport to Fall City #66 Washington, Peter McMasters to St Johns #9 Seattle, John H. Durham to Occidental #72 Ballard, Ebin H. Severance to Custer #393 Michigan, Daniel Reder to Manton #258 Kansas, William J. Evans to Eureka #20 Seattle, John H. Fitzgerald to Excelsior #259 Iowa, Edward C. Turner to Home #100 Georgetown, William Sales (Lodge unknown) and as you can see from the diversity of locals Ashler Lodge then as now is made up of men from several different walks of life and different parts of the country.  In a brief history of the lodge, author unknown, it is stated that at the onset there were representatives from the jurisdictions of Massachusetts, New York, Michigan, Indiana, Iowa, Illinois, as well as Washington present at the formation of the Lodge.  Brethren, Friends, and members of other Masonic Organizations we owe a debt of gratitude to these Explorers, Frontiers men, and men of vision for their foresight to see a future in the city we now call Bothell.</div> <bR> <div> As the Lodge was in it's infancy we see the struggles the Brethren had to endure were great and trying.  The first they had was the environment being a new and non developed area of the Northwest Territory.  Second was the elements as the winters then were harsh and there were no modern conveniences.  A third was man made and that was the several fires the Newly forming city would endure.  There was the first fire on April 8, 1908, the second on April 16, 1911 in which all the Lodges records and charter were destroyed, the third a year later on April 11, 1912 in the Severence Bakery.  This may or may not be a correct date as the news items from the time seem to contradict each other.  Following all the fires there was a major flood in 1936 which destroyed any news article and public records that could be found stored in the basement of the Bothell Newspaper, the Sentinel, once again the name of the paper and date may be wrong.  I know this sounds strange but where the present Sammamish River is located was a former waterway known as the Squak Slough and Lake Washington at the time was at least 10' higher tan it is today.  This elevated elevation moved the former waterway closer to the location of Highway 522 today.</div> <bR> <div> The first Officers of the Lodge were Merritt E. Durham Master, Olin F. Davenport SW, Eben H. Severence JW, John H. Fitzgerald SD, John W. Eason JD, Edward C. Turner SS, Cloumbus S. Greenleaf JS.  The first candidate to be initiated by the members of Ashler Lodge was Nels I. Peterson.  Brother Peterson was raised prior to the June 12, 1902 communication of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Washington thereby making Ashler Lodge #121 eligible for constituting at this time.  The Grand Lodge of Washington has, as does most other jurisdictions, a requirement that prior to constituting , a Lodge must confer all three degrees in full form in the ritual of the jurisdiction to which they are applying for recognition.  As this history states to the best of the authors recollection that on July 4th 1902 a formal ceremony was performed and Ashler Lodge received her charter and has been a viable part of the community ever since.  Most Worshipful Grand Master John Arthur presided.  Assisting were several other Grand Lodge Officers, Masons from Seattle, and Most Worshipful Past Grand Master Joseph M. Taylor, who granted the dispensation for Ashler to work in the proceeding February.  The location of the first meeting hall was in the original Knights of Pythias Hall, about 1/2 block to the East of the present location.  After the fire of 1908 we moved to the location of the Odd Fellows Hall again about 1/2 block to the East of the present location.  This information may or may not be correct as there are several different and conflicting articles written by different brothers from memory in the 1940's.  We met here for a short time as the downtown core was rebuilt.  After rebuilding we returned to the location of the Former Odd Fellows Hall now the home of the Knights of Pythias.  Once again there are conflicting reports.  Here we remained until about 1912 when we again moved back to the present Odd Fellows Hall.  We stayed at this location until we purchased our present Hall on the corner of Main St. and 101st Street about 1924 or 1925.  Prior to all this moving around and while under dispensation we met in the home of Columbus Greenleaf he being a bachelor and his residence being just to the South and East of the Railroad Station.  We also met at the Mohan Building on Main Street, we met in the home of George Wilson, and various other locations around town until we found a more permanent home.  Much of this information was taken from the memories of Merritt E. Durham the first Master of Ashler Lodge #121 newspaper clippings found in The Bothell Library, scrap books of passed members, and the writings of passed members of the Eastern Star.  WB Durham closes his comments with this statement, "Fools rush in where angels fear to tread".  To Brother Durham and the others we say thank you for your efforts and may we always look back in order to look ahead.</div> <bR> <div> In order to understand the members who were the founding fathers of not only Ashler Lodge but the City of Bothell let's take each of the first settlers individually.  The first documented frontiersman who journeyed up the Squak Slough was Brother George Wilson.  Brother Wilson came to this pristine and undeveloped region in June of 1870.  He, upon arriving found an area that was relatively flat, in close proximity to the water, the then only means of transportation, and in a[[appearance easy to "prove up".  He cleared an area to farm and raise livestock.  He also built a small one room cabin, a similar cabin can be seen at the Bothell Historic Museum.  That is the Beckstrom cabin.  Upon completion of his efforts he found he was short on the funds and other needs, needed to complete the requirements to establish a homestead.  He returned to Seattle where he worked in the shipyards.  Upon his raising the funds needed to purchase the livestock and supplies needed returned to the site of his cabin only to find in occupied by the next settler of the Bothell area.  Being a man true to his morals and beliefs rather than arguing moved a short distance to the East along the South Shores of the Slough and proceeded to build a new cabin, prove up the land and plant seedlings to create the first orchard in the Valley.  As time progressed Mr. Wilson being a bachelor would invite the children and ladies of the Village, Brackets Landing this was all prior to the late 1880's, to come to his farm and pick the necessary produce that they may need for the upcoming winters.  This became an annual event and all that participated were pleased to assist each other as the need would arise.</div> <bR> <div> The second settler but first to receive a homestead pattern was Columbus Greenleaf.  Brother Greenleaf upon his travels along the Slough came upon an abandoned shelter and land that had been partially cleared.  This was in September of 1870.  Brother Greenleaf not being one to pass up a gift horse proceeded to continue where Brother Wilson ended and completed the requirements necessary to receive a pattern from the Government.  His pattern was for an area containing 160 square acres.  This was the typical size granted by the government to those settlers who were willing to work the land and make the Northwest Territory an area that would be hospitable to all who would come after.  Brother Greenleaf too was a bachelor who it appears was employed by the railroad.  As you can see from the map of his homestead his property was on both sides of the Slough.  It extended from the vicinity of the Senior Center on East Riverside Drive to Greenleaf Road to the East.  It crossed the river and extended to the North to approximately the Historic Cemetery.  You can also see that there is a road crossing the Slough on the map and this from observations appears to be approximately the location of the present 102nd Street.  Brother Greenleafs' contribution was that he was the first to dredge the Slough and make it navigable for all that followed.  He too raised farm animals and produce to which all the Towns residents were welcome to.  After the Town people picked their full he along with Brother Wilson would transport their produce to the markets of Seattle for sale.  All transportation would be by dugout canoe or by flat bottom river boats.  These boats would be powered by small motors and poles.  Upon entering the slough this being a logging community by now there would be stags in the river along with floating logs.  When an obstruction would be encountered the people on board would all go to the stern of the boat and the bow would raise up and be pushed as far as possible over the obstruction.  The passengers would then go to the bow and their weight would bring the bow down therefore traversing over the obstruction.</div> <bR> <div> Following Brother Greenleaf were two brothers of whom there is little recorded history.  The only history is their pattern for the next two homesteads which would also be for 160 acres each.</div> <bR> <div> The fifth recorded homesteader is Brother Ira Woodin.  Brother Woodin chose to continue the homesteading pattern established by the previous frontiersmen.  He too chose to settle on the South side of the Squak Slough.  His homestead if the distances are correct would have been in the vicinity of McCrorys at the junction of the Railroad in Woodinville.  Brother Woodin is the namesake of whom his son and Worshipful Brother Frank named Woodinville after.</div> <bR> <div> The Brethren who first settled the area were caring people whose' main cause beside settling and establishing a community was to help each other and work together to make their community a place where all would be treated equally and fairly.</div> <bR> <div> Now that we have reviewed the first settlers that were Masons let us take a look at the other men who were the charter members of the Lodge.  Brother and first Worshipful Master Merritt Durham was a railroad man and settled first in the vicinity of Fall City where he joined the Craft.  When the railroad built its' new station in Bothell he became one of the first station masters.</div> <bR> <div> Brother John Durham also a railroader hailed from Ballard.  Brother John Eason was employed by the Seattle Woblen Co.  Brother William Evans was employed by the C. E. LaFontaine Co. as a laborer.  Brother John Fitzgerald was a porter employed by the railroad and he lived in Seattle.  Brother William G. Hartranft was one of the first Superintendents of Public Education in the County.  Brother William Sales was a farmer in Ballard.  Brother Olin F. Devenport was another railroad man who hailed from Fall City also.  Eben H. Severence was a baker whose store was located on the first floor of the second Mohan Building on Main St. in Bothell.  Columbus Greenleaf was retired and the oldest of the settlers to come to the Northwest.  Daniel Ludington, depending on which history you read may have been the first educator in Bothell.  Brothers Turner, McMasters, Hunt, and Reder it appears to have all been workers in the several shingle mills in the area.  Last but not least of the charter members Brother Gillette was a carpenter who in time was hired by the Bothell's, again this may or may not be correct depending on which author you choose to believe, to build the first schoolhouse on a portion of the property donated by the Bothells.  Of all the charter members Brother McMasters was the only one to have held a prior elected office, he was a Past Master of his mother lodge prior to relocating to the Northwest.</div> <bR> <div> Several of the other members were contributors to the formation of Bothell as time came to pass.  Noted members were Brothers Rupp, Ruell, the Anderson, Brother Ricketts, 'Pop" Kenny to name a few.  Also included in the list of early members were the Mohans.  Then as now there are always those who stand out for deeds that today appear comical but probably at the time not to well received.  There was WB S. Woody who is listed as the first official real estate agent in Bothell whose office was where Seattle Appliances is located today (directly across the street from the present lodge site).</div> <bR> <div> Though Woody is not readily known for his real estate business he is noted as the first automobile driver to receive a speeding ticket in Bothell.  He was ticketed by the city's first police chief, another Brother Mason for driving at that break neck speed of 12 miles per hour as he crossed the wooden Bothell to Woodinville Bridge.  When he was brought before the Magistrate at the time the local sheriff had to go to the Scottish Rite Center and retrieve the judge as he was taking his Degrees in Scottish Rite Masonry.  The Judge in his wisdom found Woody not guilty of any crime, as there were no established speeds within the City of Bothell.  After the trial it was agreed upon by all participants that a speed limit of 12 miles per hour would be the posted speed for all public right of ways.  Brother Woody is also noted for being the first to file plan for a subdivision and that is known today as Bothell Subdivision I.  Brother Woody was the agent who was employed by the Bothells' to plot and subdivide their holdings.  Another early pioneer family who had an influence on the community was the Blyths' of whom Blyth Park is named and on whose orchard the Wayne Golf Course is located today.  From this point on we become more aware of the residence of the community that over the past years had an influence on not only the Lodge and Masonry in general but the Community as a whole.  And as I proceed in trying to record the events that have had an influence on the Lodge I will include tidbits of the time and those who had responsibility for the actions.</div> <bR> <div> As was stated in a previous chapter much of the Lodges early history as well as the early history of Bothell has been lost in either fire or flooding disaster.</div> <bR> <div> The present location of Ashler Lodge has some very unique historical connections.  It was the site of the Bothell Independent the first City newspaper published from 1901 to mid 1902.  It served the different Funeral Home directors as the local Funeral Home.  It was office space for a time and even served as the City Hall when Bothell first became a City.  In the early days of Bothell it also served as residence of several of the first school teachers.  Over time it became a meeting and performance hall for both the Bothell Hotel which stood at the site of the present City Hall and also the Bothell Annex which was on the South East Corner of Main and 101st Streets.  In either 1912 or 1913 it served as the banquet hall and ceremonial hall for the ribbon cutting ceremony of the dedication of the Brick Road Highway.  Here the ladies of Rose chapter Order of Eastern Star prepared and served along with the Masons of Ashler a chicken banquet for all local, state, and federal officials in attendance.  Which according to what records I have been able to locate included well over 100 participants so much so that both hotels were filled to overflowing capacity.</div> <bR> <div> Now back to the Lodge, as was the custom in the Lodges formative years degrees were conferred on candidates as the elements and circumstances allowed.  Most degree work was done on either Saturday or Sunday.  Saturdays were preferred and multiple degrees were conferred in one day i.e.. today's one day conferral.  Sundays was the second choice as most residents of the community would travel the unimproved trails to come to Town for church service.  After the church service the wives would stay and socialize, trade homemade wares, jams, jellies, produce, and so forth.  They would also take turns teaching Sunday School to the children.  The men would go over to the Lodge and conduct lodge business, and whatever else was deemed necessary.  There at one time was a billiard table, card tables, and several spittoons placed in the dinning room.  The Lodge when non Masonic business was being conducted doubled as a social hall and place to go to discuss city business, and whatever else the prior week would foster.</div> <bR> <div> It also appears that there may have been a third floor in the building prior to the Lodges purchase of the hall.  There are some reported news items and memories of some of the older Bothell residents of there being a meeting room and apartments in the building at the same time along with businesses on the street level.  I feel that this helps explain the Jobie closet and the strange height of the stairs along with the space above the present Lodge room.  This explanation is only my conjecture as I can not find any information that explains the differences.</div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>