Thomas Rodney Cusack (1868-1925) was not a Freemason but we have included this page about him on our website because of his connection to our Duncan Masonic Temple in 1912. Thomas Cusack’s printing company, Cusack Printing Company, 625 Courtney Street, Victoria, printed the Debentures which were issued to finance the construction of our Duncan Masonic Temple in 1912. We still have the 1912 receipt for our Debentures from the Cusack Printing Company, 625 Courtney Street, in downtown Victoria.
Thomas Cusack’s business premises at 625 Courtney Street, where our Debentures were printed, is listed on the Canadian Register of Historic Places.
Here is Thomas Cusack’s obituary in the Victoria Daily Colonist:
“PIONEER PRINTER CALLED BY DEATH
Late Mr. Thomas Cusack Arrived Here 40 Years Ago From Ontario and Learned Business in City
FOUNDED AND OPERATED PRINTING COMPANY HERE
Victoria lost another of its early builders early last evening when death came to Mr. Thomas Cusack, 931 Pemberton Street [note: should be Pemberton Road] and founder of the Cusack Printing Company, Broughton Street, Victoria. [note: should be Courtney Street. Broughton Street is one block north of Courtney Street]
The late Mr. Cussack had been suffering ill health for the past two years, but the final attack came suddenly and he failed to rally. He was down town on Monday [note: 9 March 1925] and was a caller at The Colonist office concerning some article on early sport in Victoria, about which he was keenly interested.
Deceased was fifty-six years of age. He was born in St. Thomas, Ontario, later moving to Toronto. He came to Victoria forty years ago and served his apprenticeship in the printing establishment of Mr. H. G. Waterman, who is still in active business here. Later he established his own plant in The Times Building, situate where View Street now cuts through Broad to Douglas Street. Some years afterwards, when Lieutenant-Governor W.C. Nichol, at the time publisher of The Weekly Province, transferred his business to Vancouver, Mr. Cusack took over his plant in the old church building standing at the corner of Gordon and Courtney Streets. Growth of his business led to the construction of the building at 625 Courtney Street, which is the home of the Cusack Printing Company.
During his younger days he was a keen sportsman and was a member of the first lacrosse team organized in Victoria. He was for many years a member of the Y.M.C.A. and did much to build up the splendid traditions that organization enjoys. Since his arrival in Victoria the late Mr. Cusack has been a member of the congregation of Metropolitan Methodist Church, and up until a few years ago took an active part in church affairs.
Survivors include Mrs. Cusack and one daughter, Noel Cusack, living at home, and one sister, Mrs. R.L. Drury, of Victoria. Funeral arrangements have not yet been made.”
(Source: Daily Colonist. 12 March 1925, page 1)
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