Valley Lodge No. 135 History

Valley Lodge No. 135
Free & Accepted Masons of California

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Valley Lodge No. 135
Chartered Friday, May 11, 1860
Our charter date creating Valley Lodge No. 135 is May 11, 1860 but was actually created several years prior to charted date.

Worshipful J.C. Pendergrast first formed Valley Lodge, Tuesday, July 27, 1858 with the following charter members:

Worshipful Thomas Wasley was the first Master under the Charter for 1860, 1861; James H. Gardner was Master in 1862. A complete list will follow, but first a little history:

Prior to the arrival of white settlers in this area, it was inhabited by the Moquelumnan (Miwok) and Yachekos Indian tribes. Their pottery, beads, arrows, and other artifacts were discovered at various sites around what is now the town of Linden. The discovery of gold in Coloma, California in 1848, and the subsequent arrival of the “49ers,” washed over central and northern California live a tidal wave. The native inhabitants who survived the onslaught of men, smallpox, and scarlet fever began moving into the foothills and mountains. By 1852, the relocation process was complete.

The miners needed all manner of supplies and those materials were transported to them from the port of Stockton via the Mokelumne Hill Road (later Linden Road, and later yet, Highway 26). The wagons bearing the supplies were pulled by teams of six to twelve horses, and travelled about twelve miles per day. One such freighter, Dr. W. D. Treblecock decided to build a station house, which became known as the Fifteen Mile House, based upon its distance from Stockton. This property canged hands a couple of times, and in 1850 was purchased, along with 1,500 acres, by Samuel Forman and A. C. Beritzhoff. The locale then became known as “Forman’s Ranch.”

The area retained that name until George E. Drew, county surveyor, laid out a town in August, 1862. It is believed that John Wasley named the town “Linden” after his hometown of Linden, Ohio. Samuel Forman, A.C. Beritzhoff, and John Wasley were all to become Masons in Valley Lodge No. 135, F. & A.M.

When the Grand Lodge of California met in Sacramento in May, 1858 Grand Master N. Greene Curtis issued a dispensation for the formation of a Masonic Lodge at Forman’s Ranch, in San Joaquin County. A review of Valley Lodge’s minutes and Proceedings of the Grand Lodge of California in that era, elaborated the great difficulties in obtaining the financing required to properly institute a Masonic Lodge here. Indeed, Valley Lodge remained “Under Dispensation” (a Probationary period) for two years before the Charter and Lodge number was issued.

It is unknown where the Charter members of our Lodge met in the earliest years, except that it was in a room known as the “Masonic Hall Forman’s Ranch”. At one time, our Brethren must have met in a wooden structure that was owned by the local flour milling company, whose principals were Brothers John Wasley and C.C. Rynerson. Prior to the erection of its three-story brick building (the former kidney bean processing plant) the flour mill suffered “two devastating fires.” Valley Lodge’s records show that in February 1867, Brothers Wasley and Rynerson were paid for damage to the floor of the Lodge Room.

What is known by most as the “old Lodge building” was constructed in 1871, as a warehouse/meeting hall that was connected to the main Linden Flour Milling Company building by an above-the-road walkway. During its eighty-six-year lifespan, it served as a warehouse, a U.S. Post Office, a “cash store” and the meeting hall for thirteen local fraternal organizations. This two-story brick building was razed in 1957 to make way for the present Lodge building.

Scio Lodge No. 102, International Order of Odd Fellows, was organized on June 13, 1861 and became one-third owners of the upper floor of the Lodge building, together with the Freemasons and the International Order of Good Templars. It was not until April, 1904 that the Freemasons and Odd Fellows purchased the lower floor of the Hall and the two lots upon which it stood. Three of the eight Charter Members of Scio Lodge No. 102 were also Freemasons, one of whom was John Wasley.

One would assume that all of the jewels, furniture, and essentials to the Rituals of a Masonic Lodge would be acquired upon receipt of its Charter. Such was not the case with Valley Lodge. Expenses recorded for the following item were set down in the Lodge’s record books:

• March, 1863: Jewels, Masonic clothing, Chart, $178.00
• May, 1869: Desk $72.00
• May, 1871: Furniture $383.56 (1/3 of total cost)
• March, 1875: Columns $90.00

Even though the columns had been purchased only nineteen months earlier, a “Committee of One” was appointed to have the columns repainted in October, 1876. Whether this project was ever completed is not recorded in the Lodge’s record books.

In the 20th Century, two noteworthy subjects dominate. The first was personal and the second concerns demolishing the old Lodge building and the construction of a new Temple facility.

Brother Ralph M. Foote, P.M. was elected to serve as Master of Valley Lodge in 1921, and in 1922 was appointed to serve as the Inspector of District No. 26 (later No. 228). He served the Grand Lodge of California in this capacity until 1952, and as the Assistant Grand Lecturer of Division 2 until 1959. He is arguably the most notable Mason to have been a member of Valley Lodge No. 135, F. ^ A.M. His impact upon the Brethren on this Lodge was profound, being the mentor of Brothers James A. Drace (his son-in-law, known as “Jack”) and Robert W. Lewallen, both of whom served as Inspectors of this Masonic District in the 1950’s through the late 1970’s.

In the years following World War II, the Lodge records reflect increasing difficulty in maintaining the old building, both as a fraternal meeting hall on the top floor and as a viable income producting property on the lower. Three options were considered by the Brethren, those being a relocation to the Buckley property, remodeling the existing building or the construction of a new facility. By an overwhelming majority, the Brethren chose to build a new Lodge building on the two lots co-owned by the Freemasons and Odd Fellows. County regulations dictated that the orientation of the new building be different than the footprint of the 1871 brick structure, and the new building as completed in May, 1957.

In Fifty Years of Masonry in California, is written this passage; “Valley Lodge…has performed good work…and pursued an even tenor of its way. Generous in the hospitality to visitors and charitable to those needing assistance, the brethren of this Lodge have never been found wanting in the Masonic virtues or lacked for the active principles of Freemasonry.”

	1858 Worshipful J.C. Pendergrast, Master 1859 Worshipful J.C. Pendergrast, PM, Master
	1860 Worshipful Thomas Wasley, Master (First Master under Charter) 1861 Worshipful Thomas Wasley, PM, Master
	1862 Worshipful James H. Gardner, Master
	1863 Worshipful Thomas T. Wasley, Master 1864 Worshipful Thomas T. Wasley, PM, Master 1882 Worshipful Thomas T. Wasley, PM, Master 1883 Worshipful Thomas T. Wasley, PM, Master
	1865 Worshipful Thomas McCarter, Master
	1866 Worshipful Henry W. Charles, Master 1868 Worshipful Henry W. Charles, PM, Master
	1867 Worshipful John Wasley, Master 1869 Worshipful John Wasley, PM, Master
	1870 Worshipful N. S. Harrold, Master 1871 Worshipful N. S. Harrold, PM, Master 1873 Worshipful N. S. Harrold, PM, Master
	1872 Worshipful Steven Barnard, Master 1876 Worshipful Steven Barnard, PM, Master 1877 Worshipful Steven Barnard, PM, Master
	1874 Worshipful William B. Stamper, Master 1878 Worshipful William B. Stamper, PM, Master
	1875 Worshipful James R. Fennell, Master
	1879 Worshipful James Wasley, Master 1880 Worshipful James Wasley, PM, Master 1881 Worshipful James Wasley, PM, Master
	1884 Worshipful David W. Keiver, Master 1885 Worshipful David W. Keiver, PM, Master 1887 Worshipful David W. Keiver, PM, Master 1888 Worshipful David W. Keiver, PM, Master 1889 Worshipful David W. Keiver, PM, Master 1893 Worshipful David W. Keiver, PM, Master 1894 Worshipful David W. Keiver, PM, Master 1895 Worshipful David W. Keiver, PM, Master 1896 Worshipful David W. Keiver, PM, Master 1897 Worshipful David W. Keiver, PM, Master 1898 Worshipful David W. Keiver, PM, Master 1899 Worshipful David W. Keiver, PM, Master
	1886 Worshipful H. C. Frost, Master
	1890 Worshipful Andie L. Bonham, Master 1891 Worshipful Andie L. Bonham, PM, Master 1892 Worshipful Andie L. Bonham, PM, Master
	1900 Worshipful Carlton C. Case, Master 1901 Worshipful Carlton C. Case, PM, Master
	1902 Worshipful John Anderson, Master
	1903 Worshipful Edward F. Davis, Master 1904 Worshipful Edward F. Davis, PM, Master
	1905 Worshipful John L. Peck, Master
	1906 Worshipful C. W. Thomas, Master 1909 Worshipful C. W. Thomas, PM, Master
	1907 Worshipful Joseph W. Corson, Master
	1908 Worshipful E. F. Davis, Master
	1910 Worshipful E. L. Davis, Master 1911 Worshipful E. L. Davis, PM, Master 1914 Worshipful E. L. Davis, PM, Master 1915 Worshipful E. L. Davis, PM, Master 1916 Worshipful E. L. Davis, PM, Master
	1912 Worshipful Dr. W. L. Buckley, Master 1913 Worshipful Dr. W. L. Buckley, PM, Master
	1917 Worshipful F. A. Creary, Master 1918 Worshipful F. A. Creary, PM, Master
	1919 Worshipful F. J. Foote, Master 1920 Worshipful F. J. Foote, PM, Master
	1921 Worshipful R. M. Foote, Master
	1922 Worshipful William H. Carroll, Master
	1923 Worshipful George Drumsfield, Master
	1924 Worshipful Wallace W. Wilson, Master
	1925 Worshipful J. H. Hale, Master
	1926 Worshipful C. C. Anderson, Master
	1927 Worshipful J. A. Hastie, Master
	1928 Worshipful W. E. Deitz, Master
	1929 Worshipful Carol B. Mapes, Master
	1930 Worshipful Edward Boroff, Master
	1931 Worshipful James B. Hughes, Master
	1932 Worshipful Charles B. Cooper, Master
	1933 Worshipful W. E. Freeman, Master
	1934 Worshipful L. R. Pope, Master
	1935 Worshipful H. Cherry Jones, Master
	1936 Worshipful R. T. Bishop, Master
	1937 Worshipful James C. Field, Master
	1938 Worshipful T. W. Kyddson, Master
	1939 Worshipful C. W. McAfee, Master
	1940 Worshipful Ray David Freeman, Master
	1941 Worshipful O. R. Shelley, Master
	1942 Worshipful R. G. Houston, Master
	1943 Worshipful Albert Eugene Mapes, Master
	1944 Worshipful W. A. Sayles, Master
	1945 Worshipful Albert Lytle Sayles, Master
	1946 Worshipful William Addison Doscher, Master
	1947 Worshipful Henry Westing, Master 1965 Worshipful Henry Westing, PM, Master 1970 Worshipful Henry Westing, PM, Master 1980 Worshipful Henry Westing, PM, Master 1984 Worshipful Henry Westing, PM, Master
	1948 Worshipful C. W. Mapes, Master
	1949 Worshipful Herman Folley, Master
	1950 Worshipful James Anderson Drace, Master 1985 Worshipful James Anderson Drace, PM, Master 1986 Worshipful James Anderson Drace, PM, Master
	1951 Worshipful Robert Wilson Lewallen, Master 1961 Worshipful Robert Wilson Lewallen, PM, Master 1977 Worshipful Robert Wilson Lewallen, PM, Master 1978 Worshipful Robert Wilson Lewallen, PM, Master 1983 Worshipful Robert Wilson Lewallen, PM, Master
	1952 Worshipful W. W. Hill, Master
	1953 Worshipful William Charles Anderson, Master
	1954 Worshipful Wilbur F. Krenz, Master
	1955 Worshipful DeWitt Russell Lemaster, Master 1973 Worshipful DeWitt Russell Lemaster, PM, Master
	1956 Worshipful Arthur R. Kiehn, Master
	1957 Worshipful Harlan E. Neer, Master 1987 Worshipful Harlan E. Neer, PM, Master
	1958 Worshipful Howard Winning Hill, Master 1974 Worshipful Howard Winning Hill, PM, Master 1975 Worshipful Howard Winning Hill, PM, Master
	1959 Worshipful R. E. Devol, Master
	1960 Worshipful Harry Jacob Wagner, Master 1968 Worshipful Harry Jacob Wagner, PM, Master 1972 Worshipful Harry Jacob Wagner, PM, Master
	1962 Worshipful Gerald Walter Freeman, Master
	1963 Worshipful William Mitchell Tilley, Master
	1964 Worshipful C. J. Margason, Master
	1966 Worshipful A. V. Clark, Master
	1967 Worshipful Robert F. Downer, Master
	1969 Worshipful O. S. Olson, Master
	1971 Worshipful A. E. Downer, Master
	1976 Worshipful J. W. Maxwell, Master 1979 Worshipful J. W. Maxwell, PM, Master
	1981 Worshipful F. E. Williamson, Master
	1982 Worshipful Harold Edward Fisher, Master 1995 Worshipful Harold Edward Fisher, PM, Master
	1988 Worshipful Murry Roscoe Folley, Master 1999 Worshipful Murry Roscoe Folley, PM, Master
	1989 Worshipful Douglas Bolliger Mapes, Master 1996 Worshipful Douglas Bolliger Mapes, PM, Master 2003 Worshipful Douglas Bolliger Mapes, PM, Master 2004 Worshipful Douglas Bolliger Mapes, PM, Master 2005 Worshipful Douglas Bolliger Mapes, PM, Master 2010 Worshipful Douglas Bolliger Mapes, PM, Master
	1990 Worshipful Jeffery R. Harper, Master 1997 Worshipful Jeffery R. Harper, PM, Master
	1991 Worshipful Ernest Dale Watters, Master 1993 Worshipful Ernest Dale Watters, PM, Master 2002 Worshipful Ernest Dale Watters, PM, Master 2009 Worshipful Ernest Dale Watters, PM, Master
	1992 Worshipful Ora Eugene Watters, Master 1998 Worshipful Ora Eugene Watters, PM, Master 2001 Worshipful Ora Eugene Watters, PM, Master
	1994 Worshipful Robert Tod Ruse, Master 2000 Worshipful Robert Tod Ruse, PM, Master 2007 Worshipful Robert Tod Ruse, PM, Master 2008 Worshipful Robert Tod Ruse, PM, Master 2011 Worshipful Robert Tod Ruse, PM, Master
	2006 Worshipful Ora Eugene Watters, II, Master
	2012 Worshipful Clive William Moss, Master
	2013 Worshipful Ioannis E. Patronas, Master
	2014 Worshipful Jericho Apolonia Reyes, Master
	2015 Worshipful Alex Rabanal Llanera, Master
	2016 Worshipful Manuel Atencio Buentipo, Master
	2017 Worshipful Romel Veridiano Acuavera, Master
	2018 Worshipful Edison Claveria Espeleta, Master
	2019 Worshipful Donie Brosas Navarro, Master 2023 Worshipful Donie Brosas Navarro, PM, Master
	2020 Worshipful Oscar Ryan Pol Amil, Master 2024 Worshipful Oscar Ryan Pol Amil, PM, Master
	2021 Worshipful Angelito Miranda, Master
	2022 Worshipful Erwin Hipolito Guzman, Master