st. peter’s quamichan – Temple Lodge, No.33, Duncan, B.C.

Christopher Dobson – Featured Deceased Member of Temple Lodge For December 2016

Posted on December 3, 2016 by admin

Each month Temple Lodge, No.33 features a deceased member as a way of highlighting our Lodge history and the role Lodge members have played in the history of Duncan and the Cowichan Valley.

The featured Deceased Member of Temple Lodge for December 2016 is Christopher Dobson (died 1937, aged 74), who was the first new member Initiated in Temple Lodge in 1900 after Temple Lodge was formed in December 1899.

Christopher Dobson came to Duncan in the 1890’s and built what is now 101 Station Street (currently occupied by Leaf and Petal florists) for his wheelwright and carriage repair business. It is one of the oldest existing buildings in Duncan.

101 Craig Street was built circa 1893 by Christopher Dobson for his wheelwright and carriage making business. — 101 Station Street was built circa 1893 by Christopher Dobson for his wheelwright and carriage making business.

Christopher Dobson’s house is still standing at 220 Beech Road in Duncan.

Christopher Dobson house, 220 Beech Road, Duncan. B.C.

Christopher Dobson was an excellent carpenter. In 1927 and 1928 he built the altars which are still in use in Temple Lodge, No. 33 and in Ashlar Lodge, No. 3 in Nanaimo.

Christopher Dobson, circa 1928, with the altar he built for Temple Lodge. This altar is still in use today (photo copyright Temple Lodge, No.33)

Christopher Dobson is buried in St. Peter’s Quamichan Anglican Cemetery.

Christopher Dobson grave, St. Peter's Quamichan Anglican cemetery — Christopher Dobson grave, St. Peter’s Quamichan Anglican cemetery

Richard Guy Mellin (1875-1931) – Joined Temple Lodge, No.33 in 1904

Posted on March 8, 2016March 14, 2016 by admin

Temple Lodge, No.33 puts information about Deceased Brethren on this website and has found that the pages on Deceased Brethren are among the most viewed and most popular pages on the website. Genealogy is a very popular pastime and Temple Lodge, No.33 gets frequent requests for additional information from researchers who have found ancestors on our website.

Temple Lodge, No.33 also sends out requests for additional information on our Deceased Brethren. When we recently put up a page on Richard Guy Mellin (1875-1931), we sent information requests by email to Manchester Grammar School and the Association of Professional Engineers & Geoscientists of B.C., both of which kindly provided information which appears on our web page for Richard Guy Mellin and in the blog post below.

Richard Guy Mellin (5 March 1875 – April 1931) joined Temple Lodge, No.33 in 1904 and remained a member of Temple Lodge, No.33 until his death in 1931. He was Initiated, Passed and Raised in Temple Lodge, No.33 in 1904.

He was born in Manchester, U.K. and was educated at Chorlton High School and Manchester Grammar School, which he attended from 1888 to 1892.

We contacted Manchester Grammar School seeking information about Richard Guy Mellin and we were kindly given the photograph below, showing Richard Guy Mellin in 1890, aged about 15, in the back row, second from left.

The "Lower Classical Remove" class of 1890 at Manchester Grammar School. Richard Guy Mellin is #2, in the back row, second from left (photo courtesy of Manchester Grammar School, used with permission) — The “Lower Classical Remove” form of 1890 at Manchester Grammar School. Richard Guy Mellin is #2, in the back row, second from left (photo courtesy of Manchester Grammar School, used with permission)

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Kenneth Forrest Duncan, first Mayor of Duncan

Posted on January 20, 2016March 14, 2016 by admin

Worshipful Brother Kenneth Forrest Duncan (1881-1952) was a member of the family for whom the City of Duncan is named. He was instrumental in establishing the City of Duncan in 1912. He served as the City of Duncan’s first Mayor in 1912-13. Kenneth Street in downtown Duncan is named for him.

Kenneth F. Duncan, circa 1920. First Mayor of Duncan, 1912. W.M. of Temple Lodge, No.33 in 1913. (Photo courtesy of City of Duncan)

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