WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY15TH, 1933 FORMER CEDARVILLEITE WINS ICE SKATING CHAMPIONSHIP John L. Wood, formerly of Cedarville, won the League Skating Championship of California at Yosemite recently. His partner, Miss Mabel Thorns, took the ladies championship in the same event. They together won the "Pair Skating Championship". Both of the above skaters will appear in San Francisco o the 4th of March and compete with others for the Indoor Championship for the Pacific Coast. 13 FEET SAVE MAN FROM PRISON TERM By the narrow margin of 13 feet, Truman Lawson, New Pine Creek, was a free man one day last week. Lawson was charged with resisting a Modoc County officer. He was brought to trial. Things were not proceeding so smoothly. Then the defense proved that the argument took place in Oregon, 13 feet from the California line. The case was dismissed. HISTORY OF SURPRISE VALLEY LODGE NO. 235 By E. C. Bonner, of Alturas, Cal. History of Surprise Valley Lodge No. 235, F. & A. M. at Cedarville, in Surprise Valley, Modoc County, California, to July 1932. Extending into Oregon on the north, Nevada on the east and Lassen County on the south, Surprise Valley is principally in Modoc County, but separated by the Warner Mountains, named from an army officer, who lost his life at the hands of hostile Indians in pioneer days. Originally in Utah, later in Nevada, the valley is now principally in California. Cedarville, formerly known as Deep Creek was founded in 1867 by William T. Cressler and John H. Bonner. Surprise valley Lodge, originally had jurisdiction over Modoc County but last the upper part of the valley to Northeast Lodge of Fort Bidwell on its organization and the western and central parts of the county to Adin, No. 250 and Alturas, No. 248, on the organization of those lodges. On July 23rd, 1873, James J. Dorris, founder of Dorris Bridge of Alturas, donated to Modoc County for public building purposes the site both of the old and the new court houses at Alturas and who was a member of Scio, No. 39 of Oregon, Emory I. Nickols, of Lassen No. 149, California; George W. Laine, of Sierra Valley, No. 184, California; Stanford M. Farmer, of Amador, No. 65, California; Uriah gresham, of Buckeye, No. 195, California; James M. Hornback, of Chico, No. 111, California; Isaac Skillman of Gravel Range, No. 59, California; William T. Cressler, of Vesper, No. 84, California; Amandus C. Kistler, of Washington, No. 4, Washington; Ward S. Stevens, of La Fayette, No. 126, California; Leonidas turner, of Mount Zion, No. 114, California; Robert W. Minto, of Antioch, No. 127, Illinois; Henry L. Merryfield, of Sierra Valley Lodges, No. 184, California; met at Eagleville, sixteen miles south of Cedarville to organize a lodge. James M. Hornback was chosen chairman; James J. Dorris, William T. Cressler, Frank McClintock and Emory I. Nickols respectively, Master, Secretary, Senior and Junior Wardens; Steps were taken to secure consent of the nearest lodges, being Susanville at the south obtained by James J. Dorris and Sisson or Mount Shasta at the west obtained by James M. Hornback and the building still used by the lodge at Cedarville was completed and occupied in November, 1873, upstairs by the lodge and downstairs by the Deep Creek school district, as the district was then called. In October, 1884, the lodge bought out the school district for five hundred dollars. During the time the building was so occupied high winds must have been the rule for a resolution is found in the minutes empowering the officers to act with the school trustees to keep the wind from blowing the hall down. During the life of the lodge, donations have been received as follows: James M. Hornback, thirteen aprons; Uriah Gresham, original three gavels, Charles W. Lee, original square and compass; John F. Reynolds, present square and compass; W. B. Whittemore, firearms of Daniel Hogue and $36.20 in cash; various framed photos from various persons; William T. Cressler and John H. Bonner, land for the hall; John H. Bonner, original flag of thirteen stars; E. C. Bonner, wiring lights and $250 to keep the lights going; and will receive from estate of S. O. Cressler in due time $1500. The lodge acquired a cemetery site of R. Thorp for $80 in February 1888, and later deeded to Cedarville cemetery district. Meeting again and at Cedarville August 30th, 1873, further steps were taken and on March 23rd, 1874 petition for dispensation was sent to the Grand Master, which dispensation being had April 8th, 1874, work was begun. The Lodge August 12th, 1905 laid the corner stone of the High School building at Cedarville with Masonic ceremonies, the oration being given by W. H. Patterson and E. C. Bonner acting as Grand Master, Bonner Chapter, O. E. S., was instituted in 1805 (I believe this is 1905) by Eagle Chapter, O. E. S. Dorris Chapter, No. 115, R. A. M. at Alturas was named after our first Master. The first petition for degrees by William A. Freeland and for affiliation by John M. Russell, an entered apprentice of Tehama, No. 3, at Sacramento and both being elected. Russill received the first degree of fellow craft conferred August 29th, 1874. September 19th, 1874, petition for charter was sent Grand Lodge and that date the first raising were had, being on Freeland and Russill. Charter was issued October 16th, 1874 and the lodge was instituted November 25th, 1874, by R. Thorp, Past Master of Oregon, for the California Grand Lodge, John H. Bonner receiving first degree then. All charter members are now dead, the last having been McClintock in San Jose, June 1926; and W. T. Cressler in January 1920. Cressler was our assemblyman, who in March 1874. A total of 6 created Modoc County out of Siskiyou in March 1874. A total of one hundred and ninety have signed the roll up to July 1932 and there are now on the roll seventy-three. The oldest member in standing is W. S. Murdock, but there is an older not in standing, John W. Pendleton, suspended 1893 and living in Oakland, California. (Continued next week) FORMER CEDARVILLE YOUTH PASSES SUDDENLY IN SONOMA COUNTY DEATH OF IVAN SHIRK CAUSED BY TUMOR ON BRAIN After a brief illness of a few hours, Ivan Lawson Shirk passed away in a Santa Rosa hospital February 2, 1933. Death was due to a brain tumor. Ten months ago the youth had been ill for a few weeks with what the doctors pronounced pneumoccocci meningitis, but he had recovered and was apparently in good health until late afternoon of Feb. 1. He was laid to rest in the Sebastopol cemetery, near Forestville, February 3, amidst a bank of flowers, surrounded by many relatives, boyhood friends and sympathetic neighbors. Ivan Lawson Shirk was born in Cedarville, California, July 5, 1913 and resided in Lake City and later in Cedarville until he was eleven years old. In 1924, he moved with his mother and sisters, Frances and June Shirk, to Forestville, California, where the family have lived ever since. He graduated from the local grammar school and finished at Analy High School at Sebastopol in June 1931. Since that time, he has worked in the fruit orchards and farms nearby and lived at home with his family. Quiet and reserved by nature, but always friendly. Ivan leaves behind a host of relatives and friends who regret his passing. Their many friends in Surprise Valley extend heartfelt sympathy to the family in their sad bereavement. (1:4) Dan Hill, son of Mr. and Mrs. W. E. Hill of this place, had his left hand operated on at the Merritt Hospital in Oakland last Friday. The operation was found necessary on account of having the tendons in his forefinger severed while cutting a piece of tape off of a hose and the knife slipped thus inflicting the injury. Reports are that his hand is getting along fine. Boyd Herrin, son of Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Herrin, of Vya, Nevada, is seriously ill at the Hotel Surprise this week. His illness is due to the result of the flu. It is thought by Dr. Kennedy, that he is suffering with an abscess on the brain. MAN BELIEVED DYING, FLAGS TRAIN FOR AID BACHELOR RANCHER IN MODOC IS STRICKEN, CRAWLS TO RAILROAD TRACK Lookout, (Modoc County) February 15, - Paul Demuth, bachelor rancher residing at Egg Lake, fifteen miles north of this place, lies seriously ill at the general hospital at Alturas after having given up his own case as hopeless. Demuth’s house s close to the Great Northern Railway track, over which freight trains pass daily. Demuth was stricken with illness, but managed to crawl to the railroad track and place a sign. Lying alone in bed, Demuth heard the train thundering by, but again managed to crawl tot he railroad track and replace his sign. Again it was buried with the falling snow and it was not until he had made the third attempt that train-men saw his posted notice and picked him up. He was taken to Klamath Falls, given first aid and sent to the hospital at the Modoc County seat. UNDERGOES SERIOUS OPERATION Dr. P. W. McKenney went to Fort Bidwell Saturday to operate on Curtis Matthews, who is suffering from gall bladder trouble and other complications. Mr. Matthews is improving, but is very ill. Dr. McKenney was assisted by Dr. Jewett of Fort Bidwell and Mrs. DeMotte, nurse, who accompanied the Dr. to Bidwell. – Plaindealer MODOC BABE COMES WITH TWO TEETH Alturas, February 11 – A nine pound boy born at the general hospital Wednesday to Mr. and Mrs. Drans Mohr of Likely is not only a husky youngster rejoicing in the name of Hans, but came into the world equipped with two teeth. – Bee WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 22, 1933 MRS. W. H. SHIRK PASSES AT HOME IN OAKLAND TUESDAY INTERMENT SATURDAY IN THE MASONIC CEMETERY The Surprise Valley Lodge, No. 235, F. & A. M. received a message this morning announcing the death of Mrs. W. H. Shirk at Oakland last night. The body will arrive at Alturas Saturday and will be immediately brought to Cedarville, where it will be interred in the Masonic cemetery, beside the grave of her husband, W. H. Shirk. Rev. Virgil A. Vinyard, Pastor of the M. E. Church, will officiate. We understand that the services will be held at the graveside. Mrs. Shirk is an aunt of Mrs. Zetus Spaulding, of Nevada. (1:1) We are informed that Al Monroe, who has been at the General Hospital for sometime, was operated on yesterday and his condition is quite serious. Mrs. L. A. Wheeler returned yesterday from Lakeview, where she has been for several weeks nursing her mother, Mrs. E. C. Coffman, during her illness. She reports her mother is able to be around again. Mr. and Mrs. R. E. Jones, newlyweds, who spent the past month in the south-land on their honeymoon trip returned to their home at Lake City last Sunday, where they will be "at home" to their many friends in Surprise Valley. Boyd Herrin, son of Mr. and Mrs. L. L. Herrin, of Vya, Nevada, who has been critically ill during the past two weeks at the Hotel Surprise, is not improving and his condition is very grave. Born at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Charles E. Cummins in Cedarville, Cal., February 18th, 1933, to Mr. and Mrs. Homer Beeson, of Eagleville, Cal., a fine 8 ½-pound baby girl. Mother and babe are doing nicely. NEWS ITEMS FROM LAKE CITY Mrs. Mary Dunham, who has been so seriously ill, has improved so much as to need but little care from her neighbor. R. O. Ward and H. G. Ward were Alturas visitors last week. R. O. had the misfortune to upset on his return trip. Fortunately he was not hurt and the sleigh only needed a few nails and a piece of bailing wire to make it go again. Some difference from an auto wreck. Sam Garrett used an ax on his forefinger of the left hand last week, cutting it quite badly. Sam said he didn’t want Earl Wamack to have all the sympathy and besides he did hate to milk these wintry days. Mr. and Mrs. Rileous Jones returned from their honeymoon Sunday evening. They are now at the R. O. Ward home. The people in neighborhood treated them to a tin can serenade Sunday night. Their friends of Lake city, Cedarville and Fort Bidwell will pay their respects in like manner on separate nights, as soon as roads are better. Earl Daniels was out with sleigh bells all day Monday. Sure seemed like the "good old days". Mrs. George Toney has been quite sick with flu. Earl Wamack’s hand is improving slowly. It will be sometime before he has the use of it again. Earl Wamack cut his hand severely last Friday P. M. at the Roy Hobbs’ home. Dr. Kennedy was called and dressed the hand and then ordered him taken to Alturas for expert medical treatment. Earl Hobbs and Mrs. Pearl Painter accompanied him. All returned Saturday night. ~~~~~~ Billie C. & Anita 'Jean' Reynolds Modoc County, California "The Last Frontier" www.rh2o.com/modoc --- Our outgoing mail is checked by avast! AntiVirus. Avast! Is Free To Home Users.