San Fernando Lodge #365
The lodge was founded in 1891 by some real frontiersman. At that time, San Fernando was a dusty little settlement in what was known locally as the San Fernando Desert or the San Fernando Plain and which later became the San Fernando Valley. Because the climate was so arid, agriculture consisted primarily of dryland grain farming. Over the coming decades, the San Fernando Valley would evolve briefly into an agricultural region as Los Angeles began to import water from the High Sierras, but in the last decade of the 1800s, the area was still pretty desolate.
On August 16, 1890, District Deputy Grand Master William Perry Schlosser, a member of Golden Rule Lodge #160 in Los Angeles, instituted San Fernando Lodge, No. 365. (DDGM Schlosser was later elected Grand Master of California in 1916 when Grand Lodge Sessions convened at the U.S. Grant Hotel in San Diego.) The charter members included: John Burr, the lodge's first Noble Grand and its first representative to Grand Lodge in 1891 in San Francisco John H. Barclay, the lodge's first Vice Grand Robert Samuel Maclay, the lodge's first (Recording) Secretary and the brother of California State Senator James Charles Maclay. Senator Maclay had borrowed money from former California Governor (and "robber baron") Leland Stanford to purchase 46,000 acres of land in 1874 for $134,000 in the San Fernando Valley. A portion of this land was surveyed into lots, which he sold for $10 each, forming the foundation of the City of San Fernando. Joseph P. Frankhouse, the lodge's first Treasurer. Frank B. Reed, Past Grand Charles G. Jameson, Past Grand Charles S. Hogan, Past Grand William Boggett, Past Grand. A number of members were initiated at the charter ceremony, including Sheridan Michael Smith, who later became the (Recording) Secretary, and was the first DDGM from the new lodge, serving District #55 in 1899.
The first lodge building was located on McNeil Street northeast of the railroad tracks near where San Fernando City Hall currently sits. (Truman Street didn't exist at that time as it was added in the late 1940s to bypass the bustling shopping district on San Fernando Road.) Unfortunately, the original lodge building burned down in 1911, the year in which San Fernando incorporated as a city. Everything was lost to the fire, and there are no known pictures of the building. On September 26, 1911, the Odd Fellows and Masons banded together and formed a hall association, selling shares to their membership and to other interested parties. The eventually purchased lots #1019 and 1021 in the San Fernando Mall, and several months later, Walter Collins, a member of the Odd Fellows, began building a two-story brick building that included a lodge hall, kitchen and dining hall on the second floor. On the ground floor, a 20-year lease was given to Woolworth Department Store. Both fraternal organizations prospered, and in time, they bought back all the outstanding shares. In 1967, the Masons built a new temple for themselves on Maclay Street. The Odd Fellows continued to meet in the building until it was badly damaged in the Sylmar Earthquake of February 9, 1971. Fortunately, the brothers were able to salvage enough regalia and books from the rubble to hold meetings at the VFW hall. The Masons' temple was also badly damaged, and both organizations needed funds. They agreed to disband their joint hall association and sell the property on San Fernando Road. Because the Odd Fellows no longer had a lodge building, whereas the Masons' building merely needed repairs, the Masons let the Odd Fellows keep any chairs, tables, dishes, etc. that they could find in the debris of their old building. The brothers were able to save a set of 100 plates with the emblem of IOOF on one side and the Masonic symbol on the other. The Odd Fellows continue to possess and prize this unique dishware.
The San Fernando Odd Fellows purchased a building at the corner of Fourth and Hagar from the Presbyterian Church and remodeled it for lodge purposes, which they completed in 1973. On August 18, 1974, California Grand Master Marvin Gonder (a member of Van Nuys Lodge, No. 442 and the father of Marilyn True of Van Nuys Rebekah Lodge, No. 239) presided over a ceremony to dedicate the new building. Also in attendance were: Russell Joseph Mathews, Noble Grand, San Fernando Odd Fellows Lodge, No. 365 Joan Kies, Noble Grand, San Fernando Rebekah Lodge, No. 348 Betty Moates, President of the California Rebekah Assembly, who later became the President of the International Association of Rebekah Assemblies in 1988 The San Fernando Lodge, No. 365, continues to meet in this lodge building to this day. On February 10, 1999, when Trois Hindman was Grand Master of the Jurisdiction of California, Past Grand Master Tracy Dimon presided as consolidating officer over a ceremony, during which Glendale Lodge, No. 388 was consolidated into San Fernando Lodge, No. 365. He was assisted by Grand Secretary Max M. Holloway. As a result of this acquisition, the eight remaining brothers of the Glendale 388 became members of San Fernando 365, and all of Glendale Lodge's funds, codes, books, regalia, and robes became the property of San Fernando Lodge.
On August 16, 1890, District Deputy Grand Master William Perry Schlosser, a member of Golden Rule Lodge #160 in Los Angeles, instituted San Fernando Lodge, No. 365. (DDGM Schlosser was later elected Grand Master of California in 1916 when Grand Lodge Sessions convened at the U.S. Grant Hotel in San Diego.) The charter members included: John Burr, the lodge's first Noble Grand and its first representative to Grand Lodge in 1891 in San Francisco John H. Barclay, the lodge's first Vice Grand Robert Samuel Maclay, the lodge's first (Recording) Secretary and the brother of California State Senator James Charles Maclay. Senator Maclay had borrowed money from former California Governor (and "robber baron") Leland Stanford to purchase 46,000 acres of land in 1874 for $134,000 in the San Fernando Valley. A portion of this land was surveyed into lots, which he sold for $10 each, forming the foundation of the City of San Fernando. Joseph P. Frankhouse, the lodge's first Treasurer. Frank B. Reed, Past Grand Charles G. Jameson, Past Grand Charles S. Hogan, Past Grand William Boggett, Past Grand. A number of members were initiated at the charter ceremony, including Sheridan Michael Smith, who later became the (Recording) Secretary, and was the first DDGM from the new lodge, serving District #55 in 1899.
The first lodge building was located on McNeil Street northeast of the railroad tracks near where San Fernando City Hall currently sits. (Truman Street didn't exist at that time as it was added in the late 1940s to bypass the bustling shopping district on San Fernando Road.) Unfortunately, the original lodge building burned down in 1911, the year in which San Fernando incorporated as a city. Everything was lost to the fire, and there are no known pictures of the building. On September 26, 1911, the Odd Fellows and Masons banded together and formed a hall association, selling shares to their membership and to other interested parties. The eventually purchased lots #1019 and 1021 in the San Fernando Mall, and several months later, Walter Collins, a member of the Odd Fellows, began building a two-story brick building that included a lodge hall, kitchen and dining hall on the second floor. On the ground floor, a 20-year lease was given to Woolworth Department Store. Both fraternal organizations prospered, and in time, they bought back all the outstanding shares. In 1967, the Masons built a new temple for themselves on Maclay Street. The Odd Fellows continued to meet in the building until it was badly damaged in the Sylmar Earthquake of February 9, 1971. Fortunately, the brothers were able to salvage enough regalia and books from the rubble to hold meetings at the VFW hall. The Masons' temple was also badly damaged, and both organizations needed funds. They agreed to disband their joint hall association and sell the property on San Fernando Road. Because the Odd Fellows no longer had a lodge building, whereas the Masons' building merely needed repairs, the Masons let the Odd Fellows keep any chairs, tables, dishes, etc. that they could find in the debris of their old building. The brothers were able to save a set of 100 plates with the emblem of IOOF on one side and the Masonic symbol on the other. The Odd Fellows continue to possess and prize this unique dishware.
The San Fernando Odd Fellows purchased a building at the corner of Fourth and Hagar from the Presbyterian Church and remodeled it for lodge purposes, which they completed in 1973. On August 18, 1974, California Grand Master Marvin Gonder (a member of Van Nuys Lodge, No. 442 and the father of Marilyn True of Van Nuys Rebekah Lodge, No. 239) presided over a ceremony to dedicate the new building. Also in attendance were: Russell Joseph Mathews, Noble Grand, San Fernando Odd Fellows Lodge, No. 365 Joan Kies, Noble Grand, San Fernando Rebekah Lodge, No. 348 Betty Moates, President of the California Rebekah Assembly, who later became the President of the International Association of Rebekah Assemblies in 1988 The San Fernando Lodge, No. 365, continues to meet in this lodge building to this day. On February 10, 1999, when Trois Hindman was Grand Master of the Jurisdiction of California, Past Grand Master Tracy Dimon presided as consolidating officer over a ceremony, during which Glendale Lodge, No. 388 was consolidated into San Fernando Lodge, No. 365. He was assisted by Grand Secretary Max M. Holloway. As a result of this acquisition, the eight remaining brothers of the Glendale 388 became members of San Fernando 365, and all of Glendale Lodge's funds, codes, books, regalia, and robes became the property of San Fernando Lodge.
Main Details
Lodge Name
San Fernando Lodge #365
Contact
Jesse Garcia
Telephone
(818) 270-8453
Updated
Listing Details
Lodge Address
Meeting Date
2nd and 4th Wednesdays, 7pm Dinner, 8pm Meeting
Secretary
James Miles
Facebook Link
Lodge Type
Status
A
(Status Codes A = Active, I = Inactive, C = Closed)
(Status Codes A = Active, I = Inactive, C = Closed)
Map