Burning of the Mortgage

Janesville Masonic Hall,circa 1912.

There was a time, not long ago, when it was customary to through a celebration to burn a mortgage. After all, it was an important milestone to own the property outright.

On October 16, 1935 the Janesville Masons celebrated two events the first being it was the lodge’s sixty-first anniversary. The other they had just paid off the mortgage.

It was a festive occasion with Masons from Susanville and Westwood partaking. Superior Court Judge H.D. Burroughs of Susanville provided a history of the lodge. The Westwood Masons furnished the music. Len Dozier who served two roles one as master of ceremonies and the other to keep watchful eye on Steve Bass to make sure the only thing he burned was the mortgage.

In 1992 the Janesville Lodge consolidated with Lassen Lodge. A few years the Janesville Lodge building was sold.

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