CHAPTER XI
HAMILTON WHITE PINE
LODGE NO. 14The story of White Pine Lodge No. 14, which was located in Hamilton, Nevada, is essentially an account of the district in which it grew, flourished, and with the decline of the mining industry, passed into history. It is a story involving struggle, opposition and disaster. It is also a story of courage and determination on the part of the brethren; courage to face the future against discouraging odds; determination to overcome financial involvement, surmount these obstacles, and eventually to establish and sustain a fraternal enterprise that became one of the splendid social and moral supports of that old camp.
For a number of years it endured, increased in numerical strength, extended its charity and continued a factor in controlling many of the civic problems of that district. Even after the camp was practically deserted, White Pine Lodge continued to carry on, but against such overwhelming odds, that the result was inevitable, and with only 8 remaining members, out of its once splendid number, on the 14th day of June, 1901 it forfeited its charter and as a lodge passed into history, having functioned for more than 31 years. The unbelievable richness of Treasure Hill, the ore ranging in value as high as $4,000.00 per ton, and the apparent abundance of valuable mineral in the territory adjacent to Hamilton attracted vast throngs of men and women, the influx of which started in 1869. It is estimated that more than 10,000 inhabitants were on the grounds by the end of that year. With this mad rush came many Masons, some of whom, more unfortunate than others soon found themselves in destitute circumstances; for, while the properties of many companies were employing hundreds of men, yet there was not sufficient work for a vast number who had rushed unprepared to endure a prolonged period of idleness, and among this class were many of the brethren. This condition induced the more fortunate among the craft of Treasure Hill, Shermantown and Hamilton to organize an association which continued until the Grand Lodge, acting upon a petition from the association, issued a dispensation in the early part of March, 1870, for the establishment and institution of a Masonic lodge.
On the 5th of April, 1870, the lodge was organized, electing Samuel B. Ferguson, W. M.; William White Hobart, S. W.; M. J. Henley, J. W. The signed constitution and by-laws reflect the names of some fifty odd members at the time of its organization; this number gradually increased as the camp became more stabilized, and by the beginning of 1875, is said to have had ninety members.
For nearly two years the lodge met in the upper story of the Cook building, in the meantime acquiring furnishings and appointments which made their hall attractive and comfortable. On the night of January 2, 1872, a fire swept the district in which the Cook building was located, and destroyed the hall where the brethren met and some of the records were lost, together with their charter and lodge paraphernalia. Although financially crippled the brethren courageously faced their loss, and a new temporary hall was found in which to carry on their work. Later on the lodge purchased what was known as the Walton building, built in 1869, with the expectation that the county would purchase it for a court house. This deal, however, failed to materialize, and the building was acquired by the Masonic brethren in 1872.
The following year, Hamilton was visited by another fire which virtually wiped out the town, entailing a loss of approximately $700,000.00. This fire was of incendiary origin, having been started by one Alexander Cohan who conducted a small store, and who fired the building, presumably to obtain the insurance carried on the stock. Previous to setting fire to the building he went to the edge of town and turned down the valve in the water main which supplied the town. There was a heavy wind blowing and soon the entire town was in flames. Cohan was tried, convicted and sentenced to a long term in states prison. Hamilton never fully recovered from this disaster. The town and county records were lost, some of which could never be replaced. In this fire the building occupied by the Masons was destroyed with all its contents; one or two small books were saved, among which was the constitution and by-laws containing the signatures of the lodge membership. With the erection of new buildings the lodge found temporary quarters, and continued to perform Masonic work. During the year 1874 a movement was started to erect a new hall of their own. I am informed that in this movement the I. O. O. F. lodge joined, and funds were raised to build a home. Work was started in the late spring and the building completed during December of the same year. The building was formally opened on January 1, 1875, with an elaborate social function; a hundred thirty-five couples are said to have been present. The tickets sold for $5.00 apiece, and an extra charge was made for a midnight dinner and a six o'clock breakfast. The building with its furnishings and decorations cost many thousand dollars and was considered one of the best halls in the state at the time of its erection.
Having become more affluent, in the course of a few years, the Masonic brethren acquired the interest of the I. O. O. F. in the building and furnishings, and here for many years, until the tide of fortune waned, and the town of Hamilton met the fate of all old mining camps and fell into decay, the craft performed their Masonic work. Fond memories linger in the minds of the few Masons who still remain (in 1944 - ed.) and either attended or were at one time members of White Pine Lodge, and this number is few; in this district the writer knows of but one, Bro. David MacLain, who came to Hamilton in 1874 as a young man, when 23 years of age. Bro. MacLain was not a member of White Pine Lodge but joined Eureka No. 16 some 44 years ago. He recalls, however, many of the incidents of Masonic interest which occurred in Hamilton, and after he became a member of the craft, was a frequent attendant at the lodge sessions. His mind is still active and alert - for many years he has been honored by being appointed marshal of Ely Lodge No. 29 of which he is a respected member.
The history of Hamilton is replete with interest from the boom of 1869 which brought it into prominence, and the little group of hand hewn log cabins grew into a town of between 10,000 and 15,000 people.
Masonry from Hamilton has furnished some splendid citizens to the state, many of whom acquired wealth through their connection with the rich silver deposits of the district, for at that time the price of silver ranged from $1.19 to $1.29 per ounce. A governor of Nevada was at one time a member and master of White Pine Lodge. Several members of the houses of legislature were likewise members of historic old 14, and it also furnished one state senator from the Masonic ranks.
The record of that old lodge was an enviable one, for over 31 years it grew and flourished, twice enduring the baptism of disastrous fires, compelled to endure the loss of a more or less transient membership, yet bravely carrying on, extending its influence, distributing its charity, and when the old camp had almost passed into history, its treasures exhausted, its inhabitants badly scattered, the brethren clung to the hope that the old camp might some day again take its place among the rich metal producers of the west, and stage a comeback. And so for several years the remnant of that once influential lodge continued to hang on, but to no avail, with barely enough members remaining to open a lodge of Masons. They finally realized how futile were their attempts to restore their one time prestige, and on June 12, 1901, forfeited their charter, by resolution presented to the Grand Lodge signed by J. S. Burlingame, S. A. Chapman and G. A. Macpherson, Committee on Charters, recommending that the charter of White Pine Lodge No. 14 and Esmeralda No. 6 be discontinued.
The records, seals and charter were taken in charge by Grand Lodge Secretary Vanderleif and White Pine Lodge became but a memory among the constituent lodges of the state.
Today the once famous mining camp is numbered among the ghost cities of the west. Its once commodious business houses, its mills and smelters, its comfortable homes and public buildings are but a collection of ruined walls and sagging roofs through which the sand sweeps, and the wind sings a requiem to the memory of a one time scene of excitement and activity. But in 1870, when Masonry was first instituted in the town, it was a proud city of some 8,000 or 10,000 people, with over twenty mercantile establishments, good hotels, splendid boarding houses, places of amusement and the ever present saloons and gambling houses. Embraced in its outlying district was Shermantown, Eberhart, California Springs and Treasure Hill, which supported in all seven smelters, and nine quartz mills.
A miners union also functioned together with a hook and ladder company, and a volunteer fire department to which companies it is said most of the brethren belonged. The old fire bell whose clang brought terror to the hearts of the populace when the alarm was sounded, still stands on its old frame staging just outside of the old Minrolette Hotel, where it was conveniently placed after the last fire worked such havoc in the town. Later, it was removed to Fly, and mounted upon two marble standards, in the lots devoted to the Ely fire department.
For many years, the old hand power fire engine purchased in the early seventies from the City of San Francisco and used by the Volunteer Fire Department at Hamilton so able in fighting fires, was a prized possession of the town, and was housed in a fine engine house owned by the city. With the partial destruction of the town however, by fire, the quarters which housed this fire engine were swept away. The finances of the town would not permit the erection of new quarters, and so for many years this old engine stood under the starry canopy of heaven, braving summer's sun and rain, and winter's wind and snow. Eventually its one time beauty faded, relic hunters robbed it of its burnished brass and ivory plates, and shorn of its glory, time and the elements threatened its utter destruction. However, through the agency of some of the remaining citizens of Hamilton, more romantically inclined than others, or who realized the value of this old fire fighter as a relic, the city of San Francisco was induced to rescue it from impending dissolution. It was accordingly returned to the place of its nativity, its old time dazzling beauty restored, and today occupies a treasured place among the historic relies of the San Francisco fire brigades.
The old Constitution and By-laws of Hamilton Lodge, beautifully and artistically hand lettered, and conveying the impression that they might have been printed from copper or steel plate, contains the names of 168 members; this old record is now in the possession of Ely Lodge No. 29, which acquired most of the lodge furnishings of White Pine Lodge after the charter of that lodge was taken up by the Grand Lodge, for the furnishings of old No. 14 were housed for several years in the old abandoned lodge room, and when Ely lodge was chartered, permission was given the Ely brethren to take over these old relies, among which was the old carpet bought in 1874. This carpet is one of the treasured possessions of Ely lodge, and is still (1944 - ed.) in use. The station emblems are likewise held by Ely lodge, and two pillars said to have been made by Bro. David MacLain when he first came to Hamilton, stand just inside the door of the lodge room, a reminder of the strength of Masonry and its firm establishment in the hearts of its votaries.
The old membership and visitors record, also held in the archives of Ely lodge, reflect the names of but five members present at its last meeting, reminding us how sadly the membership of this once thriving lodge had depleted.
Today (1944 - ed.) there are only a few families residing in Hamilton, and these eke out but the barest living. Some of the mining properties which gave promise of value when silver was King are being worked from time to time, not for any profit their owners derive from them, but to keep them from falling into total ruin, for the hope that silver may again be stabilized and take its place as a ranking monetary metal, is ever present with the few who remain. Should this happy event materialize, no doubt the old camp would stage a comeback, for it is claimed by geologists that, presumably, only the surface of this once renowned silver district has been scratched, and that undoubtedly vast deposits lie buried below the old town which once teemed with mad activity.
Whether this is so or not, we do not know, nor would we venture a prophecy, but of this we are reasonably sure, should the old mining camp stage ,come back, and priceless metal veins as of old be uncovered and worked, it will doubtless attract to its boundaries, as it did in the mad days of '69, many members of the craft, who, in the general order of events, will again unite to bring the glorious tenets of Masonry to the reincarnated camp.
The names of the members signing the Charter Roll of White Pine Lodge are merged with the names of those appearing on the report to the Grand Secretary, of July 15, 1870, which reflects the names of fifty-two members - besides one entered apprentice, one fellow craft and three demitted. The list follows:
S. B. Ferguson, W. W. Hobart, M. J. Henley, Wm. Ottenheimer, Luther Clark, John A. Moch, C. O. H. Beatty, T. H. Kennedy, Alvin Cook, M. Vucanovich, Reinhold Sadler, Sol Ashburn, D. St. Clair Steevens, Grange S. May, W. E. Boone, John V. P. Perry, Henry Bishop, P. A. Wagner, J. Tyson, H. M. Polleys, E. T. Lake, John P. Hutchison, Geo. F. Goomax, Morris Ballenberg, Henry Hilp, Thos. M. Browne, Isaac A. Phippson, O. Irwin, Alex Cochran, John King, L. Collean, P. Newman, J. M. Jones, D. Marshall, F. Owens, Nicholas Guguna, J. B. Shaw, Geo. Buchner, F. M. Frank, E. Johnson, Jos. Goddard, L. Lobenstein, E. J. Grandeme, M. Howard, R. Honeyan, Alex Brown, Josiah A. Curtis, L. N. Dougherty, F. Locklander, Wm. McCaskell, John Wearre, Philander Chambertin.The list does not reveal the names of the entered apprentice, the fellowcraft. or the three demitted members.
It is to be regretted that the old visitors and members registers are not available, for in all probability there would appear upon them the names of prominent Masons who afterward contributed largely to the civic, industrial and professional fame of the state. For it must be remembered that while no one knows what the bullion output of the Hamilton district was, yet on one claim alone, in a space not one hundred feet square, over four million dollars are said to have been mined, and to such a center would come men and Masons from almost every quarter of the globe lured by the wonderful richness of the district, and the hope of acquiring a fortune.
Reinhold Sadler
Distinguished among the Masons who helped to place White Pine lodge among the prominent Masonic lodges of Nevada, in its day, was Reinhold Sadler, whose name stands high on the honor roll of the state. His name appears among the first on the charter roll of White Pine Lodge No. 14.From the time of his raising as a Master Mason, he was an enthusiastic member of the craft, faithful in attendance at the meetings, and honored in the councils of the lodge.
His fraternal enthusiasm and his grasp of Masonic law and usages, soon caused his merited advancement.
During the year 1876 he served his lodge as master, attending the Grand Lodge the following year. Moving to Eureka, he entered the grocery business, which he conducted for many years. Demitting to Eureka lodge shortly after he left Hamilton, he continued his activity in Masonic work, and was elevated to the master's chair of that lodge in 1880.
His prominence as a business man, his zeal for the party of his choice, his close touch on state affairs, his constructive ability, and his farsightedness, led to his nomination and election as governor of the state in 1894, in which office he served with credit and distinction.
At the close of his term as governor, he returned to Eureka, where he continued his mercantile and business pursuits until the date of his death, which occurred in 1902.
Henry A. Comins
One of the former outstanding members of White Pine Lodge No. 14 who served Nevada with distinction in the state legislature, was Henry A. Comins.He was born in East Eddington, Me., in 1836; in 1858 he moved to California and engaged in placer mining; in 1866 he came to Nevada and engaged in the lumber business at Empire City. In 1869 he moved to White Pine county, and from that time on until the date of his death, was a prominent character in the political, social, fraternal and civic life of that county.
The membership roll of White Pine lodge shows the name of Brother Comins as recorded in 1876. From that time on until he moved to Cherry Creek, he occupied a prominent place among its membership and in its councils.
With the organization of Steptoe Lodge No. 24 at Cherry Creek, he demitted from White Pine lodge, and became prominently associated with the affairs of that lodge.
In later years he took up his residence in Ely, and with the institution of Ely Lodge No. 29, transferred his membership to that lodge, and became its first secretary.
He was elected to the state assembly in 1875, and served for one term. In 1877 he was returned to the legislature as state senator, which office he filled for two years. Again in 1879 he was sent to the state senate from White Pine county, and for ten years he occupied that important office, serving his county with wisdom and distinction.
Henry Comins carried the teachings of Masonry into his business as well as observing its fundamentals in his private life. He was a Builder; not of material dwellings, but rather a builder of character. Ever sensible to the call of the needy, generously, yet unostentatiously he contributed to those who were worthy and in distress. Young and old loved him, loved his dignified mien, loved his musical voice, his cheery smile and his hearty laugh, when, in his gayer moments he threw off the yoke of responsibilities and entered into the humor of life's game.
He died on December 12, 1917, the fiftieth anniversary of his wedding day.