Mt. Juneau-Gastineaux Lodge No. 21
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The first Masonic Lodge in Alaska was chartered in Sitka in 1869, only two years after the U.S. purchased the territory from Russia. Many of the sourdoughs who pioneered Alaska and the Yukon were Masons. White Pass Lodge No. 1 in Skagway and Yukon Lodge No. 45 in Dawson City, Yukon were both organized in 1901 and continue their Masonic work to this day. Today, more than 1,600 current Alaska members, together with our brothers in Canada, uphold that proud legacy.
Masonry in Juneau has its roots with Gastineaux Lodge No. 124, Free and Accepted Masons (F.&A.M.) of Washington, which first met under dispensation on December 9, 1902 in Douglas. In a ceremony officiated by Acting Grand Master W. S. McKean of what was then White Pass Lodge No. 113, Gastineaux Lodge No. 124 received its charter June 10, 1903, with John H. Duckworth as its first Master.
Shortly thereafter, Mt. Juneau Lodge No. 147, F.&A.M. of Washington, first met under dispensation on March 14, 1905, in Juneau. It received its charter June 10, 1905, with Thomas H. George as its first Master.
In 1915 gold production peaked at the Alaska-Treadwell mine and the population of Douglas approached 3,500. However, catastrophe struck on April 21 and 22, 1917 when three of the four mines comprising the Alaska-Treadwell complex flooded, effectively ending production and closing the mine. The Douglas lodge suffered a significant drop in active members at that time. Many of the miners either left Alaska or moved to Juneau to work in the Alaska-Juneau or Alaska-Thane mines.
Gastineaux Lodge met in the Odd Fellows Hall in Douglas until it burned in the devastating fire of October 1926, a fire that ravaged the cities of Treadwell and Douglas. They then moved to the Douglas Eagles’ Hall and met there until 1950, when they moved to the Gross Theater in Douglas. In 1963, the Scottish Rite Temple in Juneau became the new home for the Douglas Masons.
In January 1925 Gastineaux Lodge held the distinction of being guided by the youngest Master of any lodges under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Washington. At the youthful age of 24, Alexander Sey became the Worshipful Master of the Lodge, following in the footsteps of his father, Charles Sey, who was Master just two years prior.
In December of 1995 the two lodges merged to form Mt. Juneau-Gastineaux Lodge No. 124, F.&A.M. of Washington. In January 2000, the members voted to move from the jurisdiction of Washington to the Grand Lodge of Alaska, becoming Mt. Juneau-Gastineaux Lodge No. 21, F.&A.M. of Alaska.
On the weekend of September 14-15, 2002, Mt. Juneau-Gastineaux Lodge began a yearlong celebration of 100 years of Masonry in Juneau.
2023 Officers
- Worshipful Master: Bro. Torrey Jacobson
- Senior Warden: W. Bro. Jeff Polizzotto
- Junior Warden: Bro. Jason Nardi
- Treasurer: W. Bro. Allen Bell
- Secretary: V.W. Bro. Jim Robinson
- Senior Deacon: Bro. Angel Catindig, Jr
- Junior Deacon: Bro. Anthoney Horine
- Senior Steward:
- Junior Steward: .
- Chaplain:
- Marshal: W. Bro. Dan McCrummen
- Tyler: V.W. Bro. John Barnett