Sunday, April 6, 2014

Where did these pictures come from? Fred Breckon

Where did all of these pictures come from?  Well, the Lodge was very lucky to have a certain Fred Breckon as a member.


1960's or so

Here is a Bio of Fred,  From the Washington Rural Heritage Website:

"Fred L. Breckon was born on August 27, 1883 in Altamont, South Dakota Territory, but lived most of his young life in Salt Lake City, Utah where he attended the public schools. In 1902, he served with the National Guard and the Utah Light Artillery. While living in Salt Lake City, he married Edith Christy in 1912. Fred was a land surveyor and civil engineer beginning his career with the Utah Copper Company. He later moved to Idaho taking a variety of engineering and surveying positions. The family moved to Ellensburg, Washington in 1924 where he was employed by the Bureau of Reclamation conducting surveys for the High Line Irrigation Canal. In 1931, Fred became the City of Ellensburg city engineer from which he retired in 1946. He was a member of the First Christian Church and a 50-year member of the Masonic Lodge. He became interested in photography in 1906, and he continued throughout the rest of his life photographing people and places. Fred died in Ellensburg on March 2, 1971 at the age of 87 years. The Breckon Family donated thirteen albums of Fred Breckon’s unique Ellensburg and Kittitas Valley photographs to the Ellensburg Public Library in 1979."

on the left, I think.  1900s or so


We had known that Fred had a substantial collection of local photos and we were interested in this project.  (link to daily record article.)

Then one night in 2014 Bob Johnson didn't make it to the Lodge meeting.  This was problematic because Bob had always put out the Tyler's register - and probably had for 50 or so years.  No one else seems to know where it was.  During the search we discovered a photo album - seemingly from the 1960's - that had a huge collection of photos with the names and offices of members.

Most, but not all, of the pictures on this blog came from this book





What a jewel.  This photo album had many pictures that were available on the library website and many that weren't.  This gave a huge jump-start to the project.  For which we are grateful.  These pictures also show the members of the Lodge in their everyday-about-town or work settings.  This really adds to the feel of history.  It would not be nearly so interesting if everyone was in a top hat and collar holding a gavel.  It also adds a feel that this Lodge is a reflection of the community an made up of men of all walks of life meeting as equals.

Thanks Fred!

1940s - maybe

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