History Of King Hiram Lodge #784 Newfield, N.Y. As remembered by Charles Dassance
I remember my father, Albert Dassance, was a member. He missed being a Charter Member by about three years. I believe the Lodge was formed in 1880. He joined around 1883 and was made a fifty-year member about 1933.
I remember going to an Annual Masonic Dinner most every year and the Lodge sponsored shows, held in Dudley Hall. I remember that they would put on a Minstrel Show most every year with members being the actors. I have vivid memories of Kirt Fowler as one of the end men. I don’t know why he was the only one that stands out in my memory. Maybe because of his red hair. Occasionally they would sponsor a traveling show troupe.
I joined and was initiated in December in 1924. I was elevated to fellow craft and raised in 1925.
It might be of interest if I described the old Lodge rooms. They were on the third floor of the red brick Dudley Block, which was composed of two stores with stairs to the upper floors between them. I can remember when the West store was a shoe store and the East, a general store and when I say, general, I mean it. They sold everything from groceries to milk cans. A wide pair of stairs led to the second floor to a nice wide hall going the length of the building. Directly at the head of the stairs were the main doors into Dudley Hall, which occupied all of the rear and was roughly 30 X 60 with a stage at the West end. It was lighted by two or three oil burning chandeliers with five or six lamps on each and one in the hall. The sears were benches of which there were two rows. The benches were piled and tables set up for dinners.
The second floor front had a set of offices on each side of the stairway. There was a small ticket booth on the West side of stairs. At the West end of the hallway was a narrow and winding set of stairs leading to the third floor. Under the stairs was a coal bin which the Lodge used. When you went to the third floor, you entered a layout pretty near identical to the present Lodge rooms, with the exception that there was no room off the Northeast comer. Dudley Hall went up to the roof level and took up all the rest ofthe third floor.
The Lodge rooms are heated by stoves, one in the anteroom and one in the NE comer. There were oil burning chandeliers from the ceiling of the Lodge room, anteroom and preparation room. I can’t remember the seats but believe they were upholstered chairs. We had the columns, altar, pedestals, stone and other Masonic paraphernalia and a carpeted floor.
It was 1926 when Frank Wheaton was elected Master and he appointed me as Senior Deacon. In August of that year, the Dudley Block burned to the ground. I was on vacation at the time and didn’t know about it until my return in Sept. At the time of the fire, the first floor was occupied by the Hankinson General Store, which used the other space for storage. Speaking of storage, there was an alley back of the stores and then a large bam and storage building of wood construction. The above burned at the same time as the block, as was a wooden store which filled in the space between the Dudley Block and Messenger buildings.
After the fire, both the Grange and I G F offered the use of their halls. We used both places, the Oddfellows for some rallies and Grange Hall for over a year.
Before the fire, the Lodge was investigating a place to buy for a permanent site. The Old Hotel was considered and discarded. It was finally decided to buy the Dudley Block from C. Lee Brainard, who owned it, if we could get the right deal. Brainard offered to sell for $2000 and a committee was formed to investigate such a deal. The fire intervened before the committee could report.
At a meeting after the fire, it was decided to buy the lot and ruins from C. Lee and erect our own building. I have forgotten the price paid for lot but I think it was $500.00. We had over $1000 in the Treasury and insurance was due for our losses, so we had a small beginning to get started.
A rally was held at the Oddfellows for the purpose of raising funds. The public was invited. The rally was a success and around $6000 was raised or pledged. Many non-members gave. Lew Cook, Eiley Heath and Smith from the Gun Co. and many others helped.
Of course we lost everything in the fire except some Minute books, the secretary had at his home. We had to get a dispensation to hold Lodge at a different location and a temporary Charter. Of course, the Master was supposed to have charge of the Charter, but it was customary to leave it at the Lodge room. I think it still is.
A building committee was formed with William Weatherill, Chairman and George Gardner, Secretary-Treasurer. No architect was hired, but the committee drew some plans. The committee apparently liked the old rooms because they practically duplicated for a Lodge room on the second floor of a two-story Colonial building.
As soon as the lot sale was confirmed, a big cleanup bee was held. The bricks and charred timbers made one big pile. The West wall had fallen onto the wooden store next door and everything was a jumble. Laurence Taber, Bert Payne and others furnished teams and wagons and the big cleanup was started with all available brothers helping.
The Whole brick were cleaned and saved and are now used on the rear of the Temple. It was determined that the end walls of the old foundation were salvageable, as also a portion of the rear wall. Some bricks were sold. It was decided that the new building would be set back from the sidewalk line so the front thirty feet was used to dump the broken brick and rubble. A concrete wall was erected on which the present building rests. It was decided 28 feet was the logical width of the new building, because of the roof span. It was decided that the East end of the building should extend back to the old rear foundation for a short length which could be utilized, to provide extra length for the Post Office. George Gardner was Postmaster at the time and it was planned from the start that the Post Office would be a tenant. Incidentally, we received $10.00 a month rent for the first few years. More about that later.
The lot being cleared and the new concrete walls poured, the frame of the new building was started. The sidewalks were 2 x 6– the floor joists, 2 X 12’s. The only hired help were Gus Dorn from Danby, head carpenter, and Lew Snyder. All the rest of the labor was donated or used in lieu of cash to pay off their pledges.
It was planned to have the columns in the front and later after the rest of the building was nearly done, it was discovered that we could buy the columns that had been used on a house in Elmira, which was being torn down for a new Sears store. They were installed with some cutting and filling. They were torn apart and fitted back around large supporting posts.
It was originally planned to have a partition from the stair newel across to the – front to form a room that the 0. E. S. could use. Sub-partitions were put in and planned for a folding door between. After I had installed an electrical conduit service to the second floor electric panel thru the south partition, it was decided to do away with the partitions and leave it one room. As a result, I was left with a pipe running up thru the room, as the second floor was covered at this time. I was left with the job of getting the conduit back in the side walls. The end result was a small section of conduit showing at the first floor ceiling level. ·Incidentally it had all been connected and alive before plans were changed. The second floor partitions had been installed and sheetrock applied. Everybody and his brother helped install the sheetrock. If anyone had a little spare time, they would go in and put up some sheetrock.
The old Lodge room had a cove ceiling on each side, mainly because of the slope of the roof rafters. The new room was also coved so the room could be higher. So, the ceiling runs from rafter to rafter up the height of the present cove. The cove was curved built down with metal lathe and William Keatherell plastered both side coves.
As I mentioned before, everyone had a hand in installing the sheetrock. The same thing was true, when we started filling the seams. As a result, all cracks were filled buy very irregularly, with higher accumulations in spots. A paint store in Ithaca looked it over and set a price on the amount of paint it would need to spatula the room with a rough coat and assured us it would hide the irregularities. It didn’t and they gave us more paint for another coat. The high cracks still showed thru. Bert Nobles was head painter and a lot of different Brothers wielded a paint brush.
In the meantime, the outside had been sheaved and tar paper installed all around the building. It was understood that brick veneer would be applied, but at a later date.
The building stood with tar paper exterior for about four years, before we picked up enough money to have the brick put on.
I might mention that in 1929, we put on a Carnival or Bazaar, as it was called, in a large tent in back of then Frank McAllister’s house, the house across from the Bridge Market. It ran from Saturday to Saturday and had Bingo, Wheels of Chance, etc. A show was put on each night. As a result of the above, about $1000 was raised with the help of the 0. E. S. This money was used for the above brick work. Pro masons were hired to perform the above work.
It was originally thought that they building would be heated with stoves and the foundations for another chimney on the West end were poured along with the other walls. Some of the younger members weren’t happy about having stoves, so finally the committee agreed that if we could raise some extra money, central heat would be installed.
Leland Gardner was working for N.Y.S.E.G. at the time and I lived in Ithaca and was a constant visitor at the Ithaca Masonic Club. Floyd Beach agreed to install the heat at cost and donate his labor. Several of us probably made nuisances of ourselves but finally with a dollar here and a dollar there, we managed to raise over $300 and the central heat went in. A great number of people gave to the above endeavor, most of it came from out of our community.
Finally, I don’t remember the date, but in 1927, we held our first meeting in the unfinished building. William Weatherill made and donated the alter, Warden’s pedestal and the light pedestals. They are all made of walnut which came off Mr. Weatherill’s place and sawed in his mill:
It was learned that a theatre, I believe in Hamilton, was installing new seats and the old ones were available. Anyways, Bert Payne drove his truck and brought back the side seats we are now using. As long as I’m on the subject, I will mention some other donations. Ithaca had just moved into their new Temple and gave us several large chairs, the big round card table, the original carpet, the lights that used to be over the pool table, the pool table, and numerous other articles. The present Lodge columns were given to us by a Lodge a Lodge on Lodge Island. The pier mirror that is in the preparation room and the first new rug along with the light on the Master stations, were donated by Carrie Peck. Also other items of which there must be a record someplace. Mrs. Van Ostrand, who used to live where the Town Hall is now, left some pictures to the Lodge in her will. Someone in her family had been a Mason.
Dewitt Payne was a blacksmith and worked at that time for Carl Wilsey in Ithaca. The two of them hammered out the knockers that are on the inner doors. They took them to Morse Chain and had them nickeled. They were presented to the Lodge as a joint gift from the two of them.
Dewitt also bought and gave the Lodge an enormous safe. It must have weighed about two ton. It always set in the first floor comer. It was too heavy to get to the second floor. I don’t know what finally became of it.
It was planned that Masters station be built in and the Wardens stations be moveable, which was done. Both first and second floors were covered with oak flooring.
There were some great discussions on how to light the Lodge room. Some had seen the lights in the Moose Hall in Ithaca and after several trips of inspection to other localities, it was decided to use the same method as the Moose.
At this time, I was working for Raymond Sanford in Ithaca and thru his cooperation I was able to buy at cost all wiring supplies and above fixtures, which I installed. The original Exit light and Emblem light were made and donated to us by Gus Treman of Ithaca. The original Alter light was a rather crude arrangement – bulb and lens made by myself. I later installed a more sophisticated light designed for the purpose. The three light outlets were installed in the floor and are still there only not used at this time. The first floor fixtures were bought and installed at a later date as were the original basement lights, which came from the old school building. The Post Office had fixtures that I picked up from a building in Ithaca. The outside lanterns are the original ones.
I don’t remember where the front door came from but it was not new. The outside sign with Veterans names was installed at a much later date. The fire escape was bought and installed but I don’t know the date.
Due to all the rubble and not sufficient top soil, it was a struggle to get any grass to grow on the front lawn, but finally it did show some green, but barely.
Incidentally, all the plumbing was installed by Floyd Beach as was the original septic tank.
A word about the roof. It was discussed long and loud as to what kind of roof to put on. Slate was mentioned as well as wooden shingles. It was finally decided on asbestos shingles which were used. Because of the weight of the roof and the length of the rafters, trusses were made and I mean made. If anyone has been up into the attic, they have seen for themselves. The attic is a regular cobweb of 2 X 8’s all bolted together. The roof could hold a ten story building.
For the first few years the basement wasn’t touched. Part of it was on bed rock and the rest just dirt. Of course, the block for the furnace was poured in its entirety. It wasn’t long after the floor was done, when pine paneling was bought and the ceiling covered, the kitchen partition put in and rough kitchen designed. The kitchen sink was lower than the sewage line to the septic tank so a pit was developed under the stairway and the kitchen waste pumped up to the sewer line. The water pump for water from the well, was also under the stairs. The water from the well had a Sulphur content which
wasn’t too bad and made the best coffee. At about this time, a gas tank was buried out back and liquid gas used for the range. Oil stoves were used at first.
As I mentioned before the Post Office space was planned from the start. A doorway was framed but covered over, toward the front of the building, to be used in case the Post Office was moved. It wasn’t used when they did move a couple of years ago.
The rent for the first years was ten dollars a month. They furnished the heat and lights. When I was Secretary in the early Forties, it was decided to raise the rent or kick them out. I know we gave them an ultimatum to pay forty dollars or get out. After much squeaking, they came across with the forty dollars. Betty Henry was Postmistress at the time. I don’t know what the rent was before they moved, but it must have been increased considerably. They had the use of the first floor john.
I was elected and served as Master in 1929 and 1930. At that time it was common to have the same elected officers for two years although some were bypassed and new ones started at times, I wasn’t and am not in favor of not advancing the line officers except under unusual circumstances, I can remember several that got to a Wardens station and were dropped. After all the work they had done to arrive at that point, I think they should have been advanced.
In the early Thirties, the brick veneer was applied to the exterior of the building and the plans for the Cornerstone laying made. The location of the Cornerstone was a topic of great discussion. Custom says it should be at the Northeast comer. If placed there, it would be back in the alley. The ones wanting it placed in the front Southeast comer won out. That is where it is.
Jim Spencer was Master at the time of the Cornerstone laying. A space had been left to accommodate it and the Grand Master and his staff came for the even. It was held in daylight, of course and there was quite a crowd of local and visiting Brothers present.
I have a picture of the event, if I can find it. The Lodge must have a record of the contents of the Cornerstone box. I don’t remember all that was placed in it.
About My Early Neighborhood
I was born and raised in the house where Hi Dassance lives now. Starting at the Wall house, which was occupied by a family with the name of Brind. Mr. Brind, think his name was Frank, was killed when they were building the Niagara Bridge. He was working on it, when as I recall, the first one capsized, carrying along a lot of the workers. There were two children, Frank and Alice. They moved away and I don’t know what became of them, although I heard that Frank lived in Richford later. There was a house on what was then the comer of Chaffee Creek Road and Van Kirk. A barn was across the road from the house. The house was used by various people. I remember Wurt Cook who used to work for Dad. I also remember Lulu their daughter, with whom I used to play as a kid. The last ones I recall, were the Newtons. They had three children who used to come down and play with us kids. I will never forget one day as they came down and joined in with our games. After about then minutes, one of them informed us that their house was on fire. It was and burned to the ground. They moved into a small shop temporarily. I know that the bunks they built intrigued me. I don’t know what became of them. The next house was owned by Bradford Royce. He sold it to John Lummuka, who occupied it for a number of years. John had quite a large family. There was John, Kary, Arvo, Fanny, Alma, Martha, Edwin, and Eleanor. John Sr. used to grow his own tobacco. I remember he used to cure it by burying it in the manure pile.