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To continue with the history of Wakan Lodge written by W\ Oscar E. Zabel, it is necessary to change the format because of the change in Lodge activities reflected by the daily life style changes, changes which are too numerous to mention but were experienced by all the brothers.
To add interest in Wakan Lodge activities the Fellowcraft Team was completely reorganized in 1945 and updated in 1951. Officers were elected, separate meeting dates from regular Lodge dates were set, and the meetings were held outside of the Masonic Temple. They were usually dinner meetings and a speaker or some program was presented. They even had a publication, "The Fellowcrafter", that told the members of the activities scheduled. The Club has continued to the present time but not to the extent as in the early days of reorganization. The Club still confers the second section of the 3° and has a summer picnic. Several times the second section of the 3° was conferred in other Lodges, both in and outside of Monroe County. The summer picnics started at R\ W\ Charles Thompson's cottage, but several times were also held at W\ Robert Zollweg's cottage on Honeoye Lake.
The Problem of having a suitable meeting place at a reasonable rent was met in 1952 by moving from the Masonic Temple at the corner of St. Paul Blvd. and Titus Avenue to the Grange Hall on Titus Avenue. In 1964 the Grange Hall was sold and we had about thirty days to find another meeting place. Fortunately, Fame Lodge No. 945 had purchased the building on Culver Road and they said that they could rent us the room but on a different meeting night. We agreed to move in with Fame Lodge and met on the second and fourth Wednesdays. Beginning in 1966, we were able to return to the second and fourth Monday meeting nights.
During the first several years at the Fame Masonic Temple, the main floor and basement arrangements were not the best. We had to enter the building by the door on the south side of the building and go to the basement, then up a stairway to the main floor; the present stairs and entrance were added later. The main floor had a very high church ceiling and was rather cool in the winter months. Wakan Lodge helped Fame Lodge in several construction and financial projects. We built the platforms in the East, West, South and North. We also helped pay for the original carpet and contributed to the installation of the air conditioning equipment.
One of the projects of Grand Masters for every Lodge is to sponsor some community activity. In 1948 the Lodge sponsored a Boy Scout Troop, Troop No. 83, which met in the Washington Street Firehouse, Brother Bert Lewis and W\ Harrison I. Grotzinger were committee members. The scouts demonstrated their projects several times for the Lodge. It appears, however, that this did not continue after 1949.
The several activities of the Lodge where the public could take part were Ladies Night held at the Lodge Hall after a short business meeting, dinner dances at country clubs and party houses, clam bakes held at the Lodge Hall to raise money for the Lodge, Christmas parties for the children, and family picnics. The participation varied year to year but all were successful. In 1984 Wakan Lodge and Coronation Lodge in Weston, Ontario, Canada exchanged fraternal relations with their ladies in attendance. This has continued to the present time.
Bylaws changes were made several times to help senior Masons in their dues payments. In 1955 the dues of members who were 65 years old and had been a Mason 25 years were reduced two-thirds the regular rate. This reduction was changed in 1971 to one-half. However, in 1982 a modification was made stating that brothers meeting the 65 years age and 25 years a Mason must also have been a member of Wakan Lodge for a minimum of 10 years. Other changes were to eliminate the meeting days on the fourth Monday of May, June, and December. Attendance in late June was usually very poor and the fourth Monday in May and December were close or on a National Holiday. In 1957 the meeting time was also changed from 8:00 P.M. to 7:30 P.M.
Many other topics of interest have occurred since the last written history in 1945.
In 1953 dues were discounted $2.00 for several years if paid by June 1 (later July 1) of that year. This was later discontinued, mainly because of misunderstandings regarding the discount.
The first past Master apron given to a Past Plaster was presented on behalf of the officers of the Lodge. The Lodge did not purchase it; the officers donated the apron. However, in 1978 the Past Master apron was purchased and presented on behalf of the Lodge.
In the later 1970's and early 1980's it was necessary to elect and/or appoint line officers during the year as officers dropped out of line.
The 50th anniversary of the founding of the Lodge was celebrated at the Thunder Ridge Country Club on May 29, 1976 with 127 people in attendance.
Several Grand Masters attended stated meetings of the Lodge. M\ W\ Clarence J. Henry presented a 50 year pin to Brother George Long in 1965 and M\ W\ Ernest Leonardi and M\ W\ Calvin R. Bond received donations to the Brotherhood Fund in the 1980's, The Grand Lodge of the State of New York made the following appointments since 1945:
R\ W\ Wallace R. Macaulay DDGM- 1951
R\ W\ Charles W. Thompson Grand Director of Ceremonies - 1956
R\ W\ Robert P. Zabel DDGM - 1967
R\ W\ Robert K. Orne Grand Sword Bearer - 1975
R\ W\ Joseph Savage Grand Director of Ceremonies - 1980
R\ W\ Fred Nielsen Grand Representative Queensland, Australia- 1981
R\ W\ Robert C. Pettit DDGM - 1982
R\ W\ A. John Tijou Grand Representative Brazil - 1984
The Dedicated Service Award has been give to:
W\ Joseph J. Dimino - 1975
Roy E. Connolly - 1980
W\ John J. Rees -1984
W\ Frank P. Denton - 1985
The following brothers have been crowned Honorary Members of The Northern Masonic Jurisdiction Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite of the Unites States of America:
R\ W\ Roy J. Riedesel, 33° 1951
R\ W\ John P. Jackson, 33° 1955
R\ W\ Robert P. Zabel, 33° 1962
R\ W\ Robert K. Orne, 33° 1971
R\ W\ Joseph Savage, 33° 1972
R\ W\ Fred Nielson, 33° 1973
R\ W\ Robert C. Pettit, 33° 1979
In addition to the Father and Son who became Masters of Wakan Lodge as reported in the 1945 history, there are also W\ O.E. Zabel and R\ W\ Robert P. Zabel.
Brothers who served as secretaries since 1945 are:
W\ Edgar F. Malleck 1945-1947
William G. Spicer 1948-1951
Rutherford Paget 1952-1955, 1958-1959
W\ Harrison I. Grotzinger 1956-1957
W\ Eric H. Lewis 1960-1966
R\ W\ A..John Tijou 1967-1970, 1977-1979
R\ W\ Robert C. Pettit 1971-1976
W\ Edmund K. Lange 1977
W\ Frank P. Denton 1980
Brothers who served as Assistant Grand Lecturers are:
R\ W\ Robert P. Zabel
R\ W\ Robert K Orne
R\ W\ Robert C. Pettit
R\ W\ A. John Tijou
It is also interesting to note that in 1945, the membership was 109. In 1955 it was 217 and reached a maximum of 268 in 1964. In 1975 it had dropped to 240 and at the time of the merger with Warren C. Hubbard Lodge it was still about 240 members.
In the 1945 history the Lodge names considered by a committee were mentioned, and it was stated that the name "Wakan" was an Indian word of the Iroquois Tribe, meaning sacred. At the installation ceremony in January, 1960, W\ Oscar E. Zabel said that in 1952 Bro. A. C. Parker, a full blooded Indian, gave a talk on "Masonry among the Indians" and gave the true origin of the word "wakan" with its correct pronunciation and meaning. The word comes from a Sioux indian expression "takoo-wakan" meaning "Behold the sacred mystery". The word is pronounced wau-kan and means "mystery".
The following brothers served as Master of Wakan Lodge:
R\ W\ Daniel DeLelys 1925,1926
W\ Wilford H. Crayton 1956
R\ W\ Roy J. Riedesel 1927
W\ M. Donald Darrohn 1957
W\ Raymond H. Farmen 1928
W\ Roger B. Edwards 1958
W\ Harry S. Merriman 1929
W\ George W. Lynch 1959
W\ Fred O. Buchan 1930
R\ W\ Robert P. Zabel 1960
W\ Edgar L. Gould 1931
R\ W\ Robert K. Orne 1961
W\ Oscar E. Zabel 1932
W\ David C. Graham 1962
R\ W\ George A. Butler 1933
W\ Charles H. Farrell 1963
W\ Clifford L. Johnson 1934
R\ W\ Fred Nielsen 1964
W\ Thomas Clifford 1935
W\ Erwin H. Keiser 1965
W\ H. Walter Hughes 1936
W\ Vernon E.Bishop 1966
W\ G. Theodore Gunkler 1937
W\ Eugene H. Waddington 1967
R\ W\ John P. Jackson 1938
W\ Edmund K. Lange 1968
W\ George W. Buchan 1939
R\ W\ Robert C. Pettit 1969
R\ W\ Wallace R. Macaulay 1940
W\ Joseph J. Dimino D.S.A. 1970
W\ Leon P. Morey 1941
W\ Glenn R. Goodno 1971
W\ Harold B. McElwain 1942
W\ Henry M. Kascher 1972
W\ A. Ried Vorhees 1943
W\ Robert F. Zollweg 1973
W\ Edgar F. Malleck 1944
R\ W\ A.John Tijou 1974
W\ Eric H. Lewis D.S.A. 1945
W\ John J. Rees D.S.A. 1975
W\ Herbert Sweemer 1946
W\ Frank P. Denton D.S.A. 1976
W\ Frederick L. Yackel 1947
W\ Eugene M. Brown 1977
W\ Walter L. Hoffman 1948
W\ Donald J. Brugger 1978
W\ Clarence W. Grey 1949
W\ John Lawrence 1979
W\ John J. Pittman 1950
W\ J. Webb L. Sheehy 1980
W\ Phillip A.Payne 1951
W\ Leonard L. DuBois 1981
W\ Harrison I. Grotzinger 1952
W\ Derek Wiseman 1982
W\ Henry G. Drury 1953
W\ Michael Adamus, Jr. 1983
R\ W\ Charles V. Thompson 1954
W\ Robert I. Nichols 1984
W\ Henry R. Parsons 1955
W\ Larry S. Beikirch 1985
In 1985 Wakan Lodge No. 1054 and Warren C. Hubbard Lodge No. 964 united and became Wakan-Hubbard Lodge, No. 1054.
This is a brief summary of the history of Wakan Lodge No. 1054 up to the time we became Wakan-Hubbard Lodge No. 1054. Complete details of all events are covered in the minutes of the meetings.
R\ W\ Robert P. Zabel
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