What I learned today about Masonic records

~ Lark Dalin Robart ~ Leave a comment
A Masonic ribbon embroidered into a ‘crazy quilt’ made by my great grandmother Ada Cordelia (Buchenau) Blacker and her daughters Muzetta and Kate Blacker

I’ve been brainstorming with my Mom for a few days now about our biggest brick wall – her maiden name BLACKER. And she finally said to me: “Why don’t you call the Masonic Lodge in Montana to see if they might have some information about my grandfather?”

Actually, that isn’t the first time she’s mentioned this. It’s just the first time I was paying attention.

So after a little internet searching, I discovered that the records were probably located at the Grand Lodge of AF&AM of Montana. And I gave them call.

I asked the man who answered the phone if he might have records dating back to the late 1800s/early 1900s and he said he did. Typically, he explained, any record they have would probably include the date the member joined, his date and place of birth (Bingo!), date and place of death, and any offices he might have held.

I gave him my great grandfather’s name – DAVID LYMAN BLACKER – and told him I believed he was a member of the King Solomon Lodge,  based on a newspaper article from April 1911, just after my great grandfather died.

“Death Claims David Blacker”, undated clipping from unidentified newspaper. Privately held by Nina Jean (Blacker) Dalin.

I also asked him to search the name of my great grandfather’s brother, JACOB BLACKER, as I believed he was also a Mason.

He searched and searched . . and then searched again in some old archival records. But still no luck. We discussed the fact that my great grandfather originally lived in Virginia City, then relocated to Radersburg, and finally ended up in Helena. He checked the records again, thinking he might have originally joined another lodge, but still nothing.

After further discussion, we both began to wonder if David might have first become a lodge member in another state. He explained to me that if that had been the case, David would have been welcome to attend meetings and conferences in Montana without formally moving his membership from the original state where he became a member to his new place of residence.

I thanked the gentlemen for his efforts, hung up, and immediately began looking at my records to determine which state or states might be likely candidates for further research.

Just prior to his arrival in the Montana Territory in 1864, my great grandfather spent some time in Colorado. So that’s one possibility.

And before that, he may have lived in Missouri. Of the two locations, I decided Missouri was the best place to start. So I contacted The Grand Lodge of Missouri. 

The woman I spoke with told me they receive quite a few look-up requests from folks like me doing genealogy research – and that she loves researching old records. “Well then,” I said, “. . . I’ve got the right person!”.

I gave her the names of my great grandfather and his brother. And in addition, I asked if she would look for my great grandfather’s father-in-law, JOHN BUCHENAU, as I think it’s possible he was also a Mason – and he lived for a short time in St. Joseph, Missouri.

I expect to hear back with the search results some time next week. I’ll keep you posted!

“O Christmas Tree!”

~ Lark Dalin Robart ~ Leave a comment

When I hear the song “O Christmas Tree”, I am reminded of the Christmas trees of my childhood.

Perhaps a picture best illustrates the point.

This is my brother and me posing in front of our family Christmas tree in 1955 – probably our last Christmas spent in Montana before moving to New Mexico.

And yes, it’s a real tree. Covered with lots and lots and lots of tinsel. It’s impossible to see the lights and ornaments underneath all that tinsel but at night the red lights and shiny red ball ornaments were beautiful.

You see, my Dad was very particular about the tinsel. And as I recall, “tinsel-decorating-training” began at around age 6 or 7 – several strands draped very carefully, one branch at a time.

I wonder how many boxes of tinsel are on that tree??

The end result was always spectacular. And the lyrics so fitting . . .

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree!
Such pleasure do you bring me!

“Snowflakes in tinsel” featured image is from www.canstockphoto.com.

An idea for holiday cards from the family historian; or “one thing, and then another”

~ Lark Dalin Robart ~ Leave a comment

A few years ago, I came up with an idea for holiday cards that I think is a little different.

Well, actually, I can’t take full credit for the idea – because it came to me while scanning several beautiful Christmas cards that were created by my grandmother’s cousin.

Here’s an example of one of the cards – front, inside and back.

The artist, Aaron Schenck, was born June 14, 1923, in Neihart, Montana. I never knew Aaron personally but I’ve heard family members speak of these Christmas cards quite fondly.

When Aaron died in 2007, Michael Jamison of the Missoulian wrote a beautiful piece about him. I was certainly not surprised to learn that he was an art teacher. And interestingly, the article states he served with the ski troops in Italy during World War II – which explains the image and notation on the back the card. Jamison wrote that Aaron was also a “sketcher . . . of favorite old houses” and “a keeper of family and history”.1

Well, I’m certainly not an artist – but I loved the idea of sending a card that tells a family story.

So I decided to take an old family photo and create a fun holiday card to send to family and friends. Here’s an example of the card I sent in 2015.

It’s fun and easy to create these cards. And there are enough photos on both sides of my family to supply with me with ideas for years to come!

So . . . my original point in creating this post was to share a “clever” idea I had for creating holiday cards with family history in mind.

But as it turned out, I now find myself feeling a little disappointed for not having known Aaron – and incredibly grateful to have come across the article written by Michael Jamison.

One thing, and then another.

NOTES
  1. I redacted some information from the story inside the card – but you’ll still get the idea. ↩