Ponderosa Lodge No. 700
The end of WW II brought a surge in Masonry to Fresno in a
fashion similar to what had occurred at the end of WW I.
There was a need for an additional Lodge to help confer all of the
degrees on all of the applicants.
An agreement was reached that the five Lodges in Fresno and Clovis would
each contribute at least three members who would then be the Charter Members of this
newly formed Lodge. While the local
Lodges did contribute, local Masons with membership from all over constituted
the original 15 Charter Members. On August 5,
1948, Most Worshipful Chester H. Warlow, the California Grand Master (and Fresno
native) and other grand officers performed the Ceremony to Constitute (Under
Dispensation) Ponderosa Lodge in Fresno. Other local Masons then
affiliated with this new Lodge as well as newly raised members of Ponderosa UD.
When not too busy, Ponderosa Lodge also helped other local Lodges by conferring
courtesy degrees for them. In due time Ponderosa Lodge would
be granted a Charter and assigned number 700.
Unlike the other Lodges in Fresno which met either at the Masonic Temple on Merced Street, or the Scottish Rite facility on 'L' Street, Ponderosa had no place to hold meetings so with the help of many fund raising events and its members, it purchased its own temple building at 11 San Pablo Avenue in Fresno, at the corner of San Pablo and Divisadero streets. The historic building had been home to The First Congregational Church, built during the early 1900's and used as such until 1951. In that year, the building was purchased by Ponderosa Lodge and used as a temple facility until April 18, 1971.
Thereafter, Ponderosa Lodge alternated meeting place between the Fresno Masonic Center on East Shields Avenue, Clovis Masonic Temple, and the Las Palmas Masonic Center on East Clinton Avenue. On April 1, 1991, Ponderosa Lodge No. 700 officially consolidated with Las Palmas No. 366, combining assets and resources. The combined Lodge became known as Las Palmas-Ponderosa Lodge No. 366.
This list is a work in progress and if anyone has pictures or information on any of these past masters, please contact the Lodge Secretary so that your information and pictures can be added to this page.
1948 & 1949 Joseph
Francis Coyle (1905 - 1979) Brother
Coyle, a native of Freesno, was initiated in Center Lodge No. 465 on January 18,
1939, passed on April 12 and raised on September 27, 1939. He was one of
the members of Center Lodge who helped form Ponderosa Lodge. He was
employed by Valley Electric Supply as their Supervisor of operations.
1950 Roeliffe
Floyd Eldridge (1907 - 1983)
Brother Eldridge was born in Mansfield, Ohio and after moving to Fresno was
initiated in Sun Garden Lodge No. 530 on October 26, 1944, passed on February 1,
1945 and raised on April 5, 1945. He was one of the members of Sun Garden
Lodge who helped form Ponderosa Lodge. He was the manager of the
Blackstone Plumbing Company.
1951 Paul
Claredon McCorkle (1890
- 1970)
Brother McCorkle was initiated in Las Palmas Lodge on May 25, 1922, passed on
January 25, 1923 and raised on March 2, 1923. He was one of the members of
Las Palmas who helped form Ponderosa Lodge. Brother McCorkle was born in
Indianapolis, Indiana and after moving to Fresno became an electrician with San
Joaquin Light & Power and later Pacific Gas & Electric.
1952 Edgar
Theodore Ford (1904 - 1991) Brother
Ford was initiated in Fresno Lodge No. 247 on June 30, 1944, passed on October 6
and raised on December 1, 1944. He was one of the members of Fresno Lodge
that helped form Ponderosa Lodge. He was born in Wichita, Kansas and was
employed by The County of Fresno as a Chief Road Accountant.
1953
& 1954 Donald
James Dick (1904
- 1980)
Brother Dick was initiated in Las Palmas Lodge on November 1, 1928, passed on
February 28, 1929 and raised on April 4, 1929. His father had been Master
of Las Palmas in 1916. Brother Dick was one of the four members of Las
Palmas who helped form Ponderosa Lodge. Brother Dick was born and raised
in Fresno and worked as a plumber with Dick Plumbing.
Within two years of Ponderosa Lodge being formed, they owned their own Temple. This was mainly due to the fund raising efforts of Brother Dick and Brother Coyle.
1955 Arthur
Hayes Shipley (1893 - 1986) Brother
Shipley was born in Harrison, Arkansas and moved to Fresno in 1929 after having
served in WWI. He was one of the members of Fresno Lodge No. 247 who
helped form Ponderosa Lodge. He was the Assistant Superintendant of the
Fresno City Schools. He authored 3 remedial reading workbooks which were
used throughout California. He also authored one novel.
1956 James
Guy Huggins (1910
- 1976)
Brother Huggins received the degrees of Masonry in Las Palmas Lodge by being
initiated on September 22, 1938, passed on November 10, 1938 and raised on
February 2, 1939. He was one of the four members of Las Palmas Lodge who
helped form Ponderosa Lodge. Brother Huggins was born in Lonelin, Arkansas
and after moving to Fresno worked in the Fresno County Tax Collector's Office.
1957 Edward
Jones Arnold (1900 - 1983) Brother
Arnold was born in Carlisle, Arkansas. He was initiated in Sun Garden
Lodge No. 530 on January 27, 1944, passed on April 6, 1944 and raised on June
15, 1944. He was one of the members of Sun Garden Lodge who helped form
Ponderosa Lodge. He was a Supervisor for the U.S. Post Office.
1958 Vernal
Glenn Dorn (1904 - 1988) Brother
Dorn was a native of Sanger, California and was initiated in Sanger Lodge No.
316 on November 11, 1928, passed on January 29, 1929 and raised on February 26,
1929. He affiliated with Ponderosa Lodge in December of 1948. He was
a Maintenance Sub-foreman for PG & E.
1959 John
Witherow Dorney (1913 - 1986)
Brother Dorney was born in San Francisco, California. He was initiated in
Harbor Lodge No. 502 (Richmond, CA) on January 30, 1939, passed on March 27,
1939 and raised on April 29, 1939. He affiliated with Ponderosa Lodge in
December of 1948. His occupation was that of machinist.
1960 Ned
Jenks Harnish ( 1911
- 2010) Brother Harnish was born in Covina, California and was initiated in
Bell Lodge No. 483
on April 10, 1941, passed on May 29 and raised on September 18,
1941. In May of 1949 he affiliated with the newly formed Ponderosa Lodge
UD. His occupation was that of Engineer.
1961 Charles
Alfred Richardson (1913 - 1974)
After serving his country in the Army Air Force, Brother Richardson became
employed as a clerk at the U.S. Post Office in Fresno. He petitioned the
newly formed Ponderosa Lodge UD for the degrees of Masonry and was initiated on
March 26, 1949, passed on June 25, and raised on February 25, 1950.
1962 Clyde
Austin Hall (1906 - 1995) Brother
Hall was born in Oakland, California and was employed by PG&E in building
operations and maintenance. He was initiated in Ponderosa Lodge on May 16, 1951, passed on October 3 and
raised on February 6, 1952. After serving as Master of Ponderosa Lodge, he
moved to Santa Rosa, California and in 1971 took a demit from Ponderosa Lodge to
join Santa Rosa Lodge No. 57.
Brother Hall was coroneted a 33º Scottish Rite Mason while living in Santa Rosa.
1963 James
William Van Natta (1914 - 1990)
Brother Van Natta was a local having been born in Clovis. After serving in
the U.S. Navy, he petitioned Ponderosa Lodge and was initiated on April 2,
passed on June 18 and raised on November 26, 1952. By trade, he was a
carpenter. In 1986 he received the Hiram Award.
1964 Allen Joseph Lockwood
(1912 - 1987) Brother Lockwood was born in Stamford,
Connecticut and was employed by the Air National Guard. He was initiated
in Ponderosa Lodge on September 21, 1955, passed on December 7 and raised on
April 18, 1956. He was Ponderosa's Officer's coach from 1965 to 1980.
1965 Winford
Augusta Tarver (1915 - 1980)
Brother Tarver was born in Arkadelphia, Arkansas and owned his own appliance
refinishing and painting business. He was initiated in Ponderosa Lodge on
September 26, 1956, passed on November 28 and raised on February 27, 1957.
1966 Theodore
Claude Lindsey (1926 - 1995)
Brother Lindsey was born in McLean, Texas and was employed by the Fresno Police
Department as a detective. Brother Lindsey was initiated in Ponderosa Lodge on September 17, 1958,
passed on November 5, and raised on January 21, 1951. He was the secretary
of Ponderosa Lodge from 1970 to 1980 and also the secretary of the Fresno Masonic
Service Bureau. From
1980 until 1983 he was our District Inspector. In 1984 he was awarded the
Hiram Award.
1967 Billy
Joe Hall (1924 - 2005) Brother Hall
was initiated in Ponderosa Lodge on January 28, 1959, passed on April 15 and
raised on October 7, 1959.
1968 Everett
Maxwell Williams
1969 Donald
Gene Halderman (1930 - 1997)
After serving in the U.S. Army, Brother Halderman was employed by the Fresno
County Sheriff's Office. He was initiated in Ponderosa Lodge on March 29, 1960, passed on
June 6, 1962 and raised on December 5, 1962.
1970 Floyd
Nathan Wiggs (1933 - 2004) Brother
Wiggs was initiated in Ponderosa Lodge on February 20, 1963, passed on May 1,
and raised on November 20, 1963.
1971 Stephen Brown Jr. (1916 - 1991) Brother Brown was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and after petitioning Ponderosa Lodge was initiated on September 16, 1964, passed on December 2 and raised on June 2, 1965. He was a property appraiser for the Department of Veterans Affairs.
1972 Lloyd Eugene Wiggs
1973 John Richard
"Dick" Easterly
(1912 - 1991) Brother Easterly was born in Alva, Oklahoma
and after serving in the European Theater during WW II moved to Fresno. He
was a police officer for Southern Pacific RR. He was initiated in Ponderosa
Lodge on January 20, 1965, passed on March 24, and raised on October 6, 1965.
In 1978 he moved back to Alva, Oklahoma where he resided until his death.
1974 Gerald Vernon Churchill (1923 - 2008) Brother Churchill was born in San Leandro, California and after moving to Fresno became a member of the Fresno Police Department. He was initiated in Ponderosa Lodge on January 18, 1967, passed on March 22 and raised on June 7, 1967.
1975 Sidney Lineer Lane (1915 - ?) Brother Lane was initiated in Ponderosa Lodge on October 23, 1968, passed on February 5, 1969 and raised on April 2, 1969. Brother Lane went inactive in 1991.
1976 Ernest William Roberts (1929 - ?) Brother Roberts was born in Egypt, Arkansas. He was initiated in Ponderosa Lodge on September 17, 1969, passed on October 1 and raised on March 25, 1970. This may be a record in learning the candidates lecture of the first degree. By occupation he was a welder. Brother Roberts left Masonry in 1983.
1977, 1989, 1990 & 1991 James William Wilson II
Brother Wilson was initiated in Ponderosa Lodge on April 30, 1969, passed on
October 22 and raised on February 25, 1970. He is a Lodge Trustee of Las
Palmas-Ponderosa Lodge and was President of the Las Palmas Temple board of
directors. He received the Hiram Award in 2005. He owns a Dental
Laboratory in Fresno.
1978 George Earl Gilliland (1928 - 2013) Brother Gilliland was initiated in Ponderosa Lodge on January 19, 1966, passed on March 2 and raised on May 4, 1966. Brother Gilliland was the Secretary of Ponderosa Lodge from 1980 to 1990. He received the Hiram award in 1987. His occupation was that of floor covering contractor. Brother Gilliland retired and moved to Oregon and in 1991 went inactive.
1979 Robert Lafayette Moore (1923 - 2006) Brother Moore was born in Roosevelt, Long Island, NY and moved to Fresno in 1955. He was initiated in Ponderosa Lodge on September 18, 1963, passed on February 5, 1964 and raised on June 17, 1964. He was a paint salesman.
1980 Charles Stephen Bersani
(1932 - 2024) Brother Bersani was born in Quincy, Massachusetts and moved to
Fresno around 1970. He had a close friend who was a member of Ponderosa
Lodge and this friend got Chuck interested in Masonry. He was initiated in Ponderosa Lodge on October 26,
1971, passed on December 21 and raised on April 18, 1972. After serving as
Master, he was a Grand Lodge District Inspector for nine years. Before
retirement, he repaired office equipment. In 1990 he received the Hiram
Award from Ponderosa Lodge. He helps out with preparing food for our
dinners says that he "enjoys being a Mason." He was the officers
coach at Las Palmas-Ponderosa Lodge from 2007 until his death in 2024. He
served as the Sr. Warden of Las Palmas-Ponderosa Lodge in 2023.
1981 Tal Jonz (1927 - 199?) Brother Jonz was born in Dallas, Texas. He was initiated in Ponderosa Lodge on November 18, 1975, passed on January 27, 1976 and raised on March 23, 1976. He was employed in sales and management for a local radio station.
1982, 1988 James Michael Vaughn
Brother Vaughan was initiated in Ponderosa Lodge on March 22, 1977, passed on
May 24, and raised on September 27, 1977. He is a member of the Las Palmas
Temple Board of Directors.
1983 William Robert Smith (1928 - 1997) Brother Smith was born in Hutchinson, Kansas. He was initiated in Ponderosa Lodge on June 25, 1974, passed on October 6, 1978 and raised on November 7, 1978. He was a safety engineer for Continental Insurance Company. Brother Smith left Mason in 1994.
1984 James Samuel Wright (1917 - 1997) Brother Wright was initiated in Ponderosa Lodge on June 25, 1978, passed on September 26 and raised on December 19, 1978.
1985
Garabed "Gary" Mamigonian
(1940 - 1993) Brother Mamigonian was a Fresno native.
He was initiated in Ponderosa Lodge on May 21, 1969, passed on January 24, 1970
and raised on March 18, 1970. He was a general dentist with a private
practice in Fresno.
1986 Gary Gene Lewis Brother Lewis was initiated in Ponderosa Lodge on October 28, 1980, passed on April 28, 1981 and raised on June 16, 1981. He worked as a Deputy Sheriff.
1987 Earl Andrew Checketts (1925 - 2003) Brother Checketts was born in Sparks, Nevada and moved to Fresno in 1953 He was initiated in Ponderosa Lodge on January 2, 1963, passed on March 6 and raised on June 26, 1963. During his working career, he was a letter carrier for the US Post Office. After retirement, he worked as a custodian for the Fresno Scottish Rite.
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