Skykomish Lodge established in 1923, and received its charter in 1924. Skykomish Railroad Lodge No. 259 is a part of the King County register.
Skykomish Masonic Temple was built in 1924. The construction was a community effort, on land donated by town founder John Maloney, Sr. All labor was performed by those in the local community, as they had relocated there as part of the construction of the railroad and the related Cascade Tunnel under the mountains.
I’d like to share some information about the Acacia Club, which formed in Skykomish prior to the Lodge getting its charter. It was January 26th, 1922; a group of Masons met in the Skykomish School and formed a Masonic club. The meeting was called to order Mr. Charles Buss, acting as temporary chairman and Mr. Frank Trucksner, temporary vice-chairman, and Mr. George Cashman, temporary secretary. A decision was made to name the club, The Acacia Club. And they meet every Thursday night at 8:00 p.m. The dues would be five dollars covering initiationand one year’s dues. An election was held, and the following members were elected: Mr. Frank Trucksner, president; Mr. Charles Busson, First Vice-president; Mr. Charles Keys, Second vice-president; Mr. George Cashman, Senior Deacon; Mr. Carl Scheck, junior Deacon: Mr. Paul Gustafson, Senior Stewart; Mr. Almer E. Bright, Junior Stewart; Mr. Jasper Gould as Tyler and Mr.John Maloney as Secretary. Mr. C.W. Miller, Mr. A.E. Bright, and Mr. Harry Raymond were appointed to draw up a set of By-Laws. On February 2nd, 1922, a meeting was opened on the Second Degree, where 16 Brothers paid their dues becoming Charter Members. May 11th, 1922, it was announced that the land was available to build on. It was inspected in the next week which wasthis property right here (108 W Old Cascade Hwy Skykomish, WA 98288). September 14th, President Trucksler resigned and moved away and Brother Asa Smith was elected to fill out the rest of the term. Brother Smith was our first Worshipful Master.
On April 26th, 1922, a motion was made to float a loan to build a Masonic Temple in the name of the Acacia Club. Upon being granted a charter, the new lodge would be deeded all the real property and assume all obligations occurring from said property. At the time, the dues were $2.50.
Clearing and grading of the land was finished the week of 3 May 1923. Lumber and materials ordered; the Acacia Club continued to operate until at least 9 April 1925, having dances and fundraisers for the building. That was the last of their minutes.
Skykomish Lodge received authority to operate as Skykomish Lodge Under Dispensation on April 27, 1923, with WB Asa Smith as Worshipful Master; Br. Harry Raymond, SW; and Br. John Hartley, JW. The Lodge was authorized to admit, enter, pass, and raise 3 Masons, according to the ancient constitutions of the Fraternity. The Grand Lodge Seal was affixed at Tacoma August 9th, 1923 and signed by Most Worshipful Brother Tom Holman, Grand Master. On August 24th, 1924 was the first meeting of Skykomish Lodge #259.
Karl Warren had the pleasure of knowing 4 of the original members of this Lodge, the Charter members. They were still working on the railroad when he started his Masonic life. In Karls words “They all were great men, one was a B&D Foreman, and he and his gang did a lot toward building this building. His name was Fred Shaw.”.
Almer E. Bright was agent down at Richmond Beach, when they had a depot down there and agents there and the others were out on the railroad here. Paul Gustafson, he was an Engineer, worked out of here, over the old mountain in the old days. Karl Warren really had the privilege of meeting all of them and knew W.B. Asa Smith. He came to Karl’s installation in 1960 and he was about ninety-eight years old. It was really a privilege to meet those men, they were great men.