Chapter XIV
HUMBOLDT LODGE NO. 17
Unionville, NevadaThe discovery of precious metals in the Humboldt range of mountains in 1860, was the occasion for a rush of prospectors and miners to the rugged slopes of the gold and silver bearing ledges of that range.
By the beginning of the year 1862, the nature and extent of these discoveries had been tested, and it was evident that great mineral values had been opened up; as a result, hundreds of men and women in search of fortune and adventure lined the trails leading to the new strikes, much valuable territory was located, and claims were staked out far and near.
The new field brought together many outstanding men, hailing from all over the Union, men who were destined to guide the destinies of a section of Nevada which has become famous for its makers of history, among whom were those of different callings and professions who, in after years distinguished themselves in the development of that part of the state. Among whom were: Hiram Knowles, William Dixon,W. H. Claget, M. S. Bonnefield, Joseph F. Nenzel, Tom Ebert, Roy Beeson, John McCracken; these and many others pioneered Humboldt County, and brought luster and prestige to its borders.
One of the most historic towns of the county was Unionville, located in Buena Vista canyon about eighteen miles south from Imlay, a freight division east of Reno on the Southern Pacific railroad. The town was laid out by Capt. Hugo Pfersdorf, who, with J. C. Hannon and four Indians had come from Virginia City in search of promising territory.
Pfersdorf was not only crafty, but he was grasping, and is said to have held the price of lots in the new town at so high a figure, that a man by the name of Chris Lark started another town on ground he located, farther down the canyon, and soon had many buildings in the process of construction.
It is claimed that most of the residents were southern symyathizers, the war between the north and south being then in progress, and the town was named Dixie; within a year however, so many Union men came into camp, that public sentiment changed, and 15 northern Sympathizers far outnumbered those Of the south, on Iuly 14th, 1861, the name of the town was changed Unionville; when Humboldt county was organized in 1862, Unionville was named the county seat, and held this title for ten years, when Winnemucca was designated the county capital. It is said, that at the peak of its prosperity, Unionville was a town of 1500 inhabitants; it had three stamp mills, two general stores, two restaurants, a livery stable, post office building, express office, telegraph office, a Methodist church built at a cost of $2500.00. It also boasted a well equipped and published newspaper, "The Humboldt Register".
The invasion of this mountain city by men and women from almost every section of America, was the agent through which Masonry was eventually introduced into this section of Nevada, and resulted in the organization of a Masonic lodge under dispensation, on Nov. 6th, 1871, when Unionville is said to have reached its peak of prosperity and growth. Under this dispensation the brethren continued to operate until Nov. 20th, 1873 when a charter was authorized by the Grand Lodge of Nevada, naming Wm. M. Franch worshipful master, Geo. F. Muller senior warden, and O. R. Stamply junior warden. In the meanwhile, it had become necessary to select a permanent home for the lodge, as the temporary meeting place, said to have been in the rear of one of the restaurants, was unsuitable for such purposes, besides which, it was of too public a character for the lodge to carry on Masonically. It is claimed that the first officers of the lodge were installed in the home of one of the brethren, after the place had been cleared of all who were not members of the lodge; that this meeting might obtain an air of strict Masonic legality, the Dispensation granted by the Grand Lodge was removed from the walls of its temporary home, to the residence where this meeting place was held, and, as an additional precaution, guards were stationed around the exterior of the house, to guard against the approach of cowans and eavesdroppers.
Upon receipt of the charter, steps were taken to provide suitable quarters for housing the lodge and charter, the location selected being on the second floor of a general store, which was placed in order and fitted with appropriate furniture. When this location had outlived its usefulness, and the finances of the lodge warranted it, steps were taken to acquire their own building. To this end a piece of ground was selected over against the hills on the east side of the town, and the brethren built a commodious one story building of native field rock, forty-five by twenty-five feet in dimensions, into which they moved their belongings, and where they continued to meet as long as the lodge flourished. This building was placed due east and west, and was fitted with the latest system of oil lighting the times afforded.
It became not only a meeting place for the lodge, but was also a social center where the town's inhabitants would congregate to hold their community events. Until Unionville ceased to be the county seat, the Masonic building continued to he an outstanding edifice of the town, and the old timers remembered it long after the little hamlet outlived its usefulness and its people drifted into other settlements, as a sanctuary where many outstanding social functions were held. In like manner, the membership of the lodge held it in reverence, for it had been the scene of many fraternal gatherings, opening its doors to receive Masons of note, and large delegations of visiting brethren from lodges throughout that section of the country, upon numerous occasions.
Unlike other mining camps in Nevada, Unionville was never the Mecca toward which gravitated the rougher element usually found in most mining camps in that period of time, consequently the town was free of brawls and those scenes of discord so often found in mining centers. Law and order prevailed, and no unusual incidents of a vicious nature disturbed the morale of the town. Humboldt lodge became a vital factor in the affairs of the community, and enjoyed a healthy growth.
The records of the lodge reflected that the average membership of the lodge was seldom more than twenty-five, but it must be remembered that this was the average; some years there was a marked increase over this number, other years showed a loss. As a whole the lodge was active, and the enthusiasm of the brethren made not only a fine fraternal unit of Masonry, but in the social activities of the camp such as they were, it continued to be a popular resort for the town's entertainments.
During the year 1876, due to the curtailment of mining activities in the district and a consequent slump of business in Unionville, there was a pronounced exodus of residents from the town, so much so that the situation became acute, and it was apparent that if conditions did not improve, the town would go the way of so many camps which in the early days of the state depended upon their mining activities for support, and were eventually abandoned due to the exhaustion of ore supply. Although Unionville did not suffer this fate at once when the mining industry of the district was retarded, for there was still left to the locality the support from the surrounding agricultural area which had been considerable ever since the town was established, yet this industry also weakened, and in a short period of time was reduced to less than two per cent of its former volume, and when the county seat was removed from Unionville to Winnemucca, weakened by the exodus of the flower of its populace, and with only a remnant of its former fifteen hundred inhabitants remaining to maintain its one time prestige, it was inevitable that the morale of the town should break.
For several years longer Humboldt lodge continued to carry on, but eventually, with its membership scattered or demitted to other jurisdictions, its finances depicted, and the impossibility of assembling sufficient members to constitute a Masonic quorum to open a lodge of Masons, it failed to function, and as no meetings were held for several months prior to the Grand Lodge communication of 1881, at that Grand Session, its charter was declared forfeited with the recommendation that its remaining membership be transferred to some active lodge within the county limits, and another unit of Masonry was added to the extinct lodges of the state.