WILLIAMS LAKE MASONIC HALL

When the Pacific Great Eastern (PGE) Railroad completed construction from Squamish north to Quesnel in 1919, it heralded the start of a community in what is now “downtown Williams Lake”. With the railroad came construction, maintenance, and train crews, several of whom were Freemasons. Interest grew in the area to form a new Masonic Lodge. With no suitable space to rent, they built their own. The Williams Lake Temple Association was Filed and Registered November 26, 1924 pursuant to the Societies Act.

In June, 1925, a two-story frame building was ready for occupancy, at a cost of $4000. A Government Liquor Store was the first tenant, on the ground floor (1926 – 1945). Cariboo Home Furnishings were second. The building was extended in length to the “back alley” in 1946 to accommodate the tenant’s need for more space. They were followed by the Sweet Sixteen store until 1975. In May of 1975 the ground floor was leased to Lake Footwear Ltd, and assigned to Walk Rite Shoe Store in August, 1978. The shoe store is here today.

On the afternoon of August 15, 1970, a fire originating in the Sweet Sixteen store totally destroyed the Temple and an adjoining building. There was $60,000 insurance on the building and contents. A mortgage was secured through the head office of the Bank of Montreal to complete a new building on the same site at a cost of approximately $104,000. The first meeting was held in the new Lodge facility in May, 1971, a remarkable tribute to the efforts of the Building Committee.