WHITEHORSE MASONIC TEMPLE

Freemasonry came to Skagway, Alaska, the Yukon and Atlin, B. C. during the years of the Gold Rush. The first form of a Masonic organization at Whitehorse was a picnic held during the summer of 1901.

On June 11, 1903, a warrant was issued by the Grand Lodge of Manitoba to Whitehorse Lodge No. 81. In 1907, a petition was presented to the Grand Lodge of Manitoba requesting permission to surrender the Charter and seek a new one from the Grand Lodge of British Columbia. A new Masonic District, No. 11, was created for the Yukon and included Atlinto Lodge No. 42 at Atlin, B.C.

From October 1902 until 1906, the Masonic Lodge held its meetings upstairs over Whitney & Pedlar’s store, later Taylor & Drury Department Store, until a new Lodge was built on Lambert Street in 1957. A decision was made to sell the property at Lambert Street in 2005, as operating costs were slowly draining the funds of the Lodge. Arrangements were then made with Ajax Steel to enter into a lease for a Lodge room as well as a banquet and kitchen area. In 2007, a property was acquired at 1501 Dogwood Street, Porter Creek, and the construction of a new building with seven rental apartments was undertaken. Meetings took place in this building beginning in June 2009.

Whitehorse became the central point for the construction of the Alaska Highway and later, the Canol Pipeline Project from Norman Wells, N.W.T. to Whitehorse. The Army and Air Force both had bases at Whitehorse and many servicemen joined our Lodge. Originally, Dawson City was the capital of the Yukon. As the Gold Rush declined, the capital was relocated to Whitehorse in 1950. After construction of the Alaska Highway, Whitehorse became a transportation hub, connected to Skagway, Alaska by the railroad and later a highway in the 1970’s.

In addition to placer mining, there were a number of large hard rock mines developed over the years. With road and rail connections, Whitehorse, and the Yukon in general, received another industry in Tourism.

On May 28, 1977, the Lodge celebrated our 75th Anniversary, there were 217 members. As we enter our 101st year, our Lodge, as well as others in the District, are facing difficult times with losses in membership. Today we only have 57 members with a number of these being non-resident members.

Several concordant bodies meet at this building, including the Order of the Eastern Star, Royal Arch Masons, and Atlinto Lodge No. 42.

Establishing Atlinto Lodge in the remote north-west corner of British Columbia was not easy. The first meeting of brother Masons interested in the formation of a local Lodge, was held on March 26, 1903, but it was not until February 16, 1905, that the first meeting of Atlinto Lodge (Under Dispensation) took place.

The dispensation was signed by Most Worshipful Brother W. J. Bowser, Grand Master, on December 30, 1904, but did not reach Atlin until early in February 1905, due to the geographical location of Atlin, and was issued by the Grand Lodge of B. C. after discussions with the Grand Lodge of Manitoba who had originally showed an interest in claiming Atlin.

The Lodge Meetings were held in the Ancient Order of United Workmen Hall until August 6, 1908, after which date, they were held in what was previously the Atlin Club building, that had been purchased by the Lodge and altered to suit its purposes.  Many of the social events in the town were organized by the Masonic Lodge and were not restricted to "members only" but were designed to include everyone who wanted to attend.  Remoteness and lack of well-defined boundaries raised jurisdictional questions as well with Whitehorse Lodge which had just demitted from the Grand Lodge of Manitoba and joined B.C.

Freemasons came to Atlin as part of the Klondike Gold Rush. The population of Atlin diminished, and in the mid - 1970's, the decision to move the Lodge to Whitehorse was taken, the building was sold in 1978, marking the end of the Lodge's time at Atlin. The new home was to be the Masonic Hall at Whitehorse. Atlinto has struggled with a general declining membership. Amalgamation or merging with Whitehorse Lodge No. 46 was considered and rejected. During Atlinto’s history they have carried on a bursary program and until 2006 held annual picnics during the summer.

Lodge Brethren met upstairs, with rental revenue downstairs.  The clock was a landmark with many photographs taken. It is still here today.

Atlinto Lodge had several homes over the years.  First as a tenant in the A.O.U.W. Hall, followed by the acquisition of its own premises on purchasing the Atlin Club Building in 1908.  This was located on the Government Waterfront Reserve alongside the Atlin Inn.  In 1920, the White Pass & Yukon Company sought the property which was occupied by the Lodge building, to allow an addition to be built to the south end of the Inn.  Atlinto Lodge was provided another suitable building (two story's, plus a basement, with the upper floor finished to the Lodge's requirements at no cost to the Lodge) by the W.P.& Y.R., at the corner of First Street and Trainor Avenue.

Atlinto Lodge No. 42 now meets in the Whitehorse Masonic Hall, constructed in 2009, which boasts seven rental apartments on the top floor, with the Lodge Room, Banquet Hall, and kitchen on first floor .