Masonry in Taft, California

Freemasonry In Taft California

A Fraternal Organization With a Strong Social Purpose

Whose Members Have High Moral Standards

Who Work for the Benefit of Others

Midway Lodge No. 426, an " oil Lodge" owes its
existence to the development of the Midway Oil fields
whose Lake View Gusher made history back in 1911.
By the early part of that year, all the big oil companies
operating at Coalinga, California had acquired holdings
at Midway.

Among the superintendents, engineers, and other
representatives sent thither from Coalinga were several
Masons who had been active in Coalinga Lodge No. 387.

These brethren were not long in their new location
before they decided to demit from Coalinga and open
a new Lodge at Taft. By late summer, they had rounded
up most of the Craft in the new district and had taken
care of all preliminary requirements.

The Grand Lodge issued the dispensation October 17, 1911.

At the time Midway Lodge received its charter,
October 10, 1912, it filed returns on 16 Master Masons.
During the eight years between then and 1920, it had
grown to 231 members. In 1923, they built their Temple,
a three story brick building, richly adorned for it's
purpose.

Corner Stone Taft Masonic Temple

By 1930 the Lodge had 408 members but during
the depression membership dropped to 337 by 1941, but
with the coming of World Two, it bounced up to 469.

During the early years other Lodges formed in
nearby surrounding oil communities. Maricopa Lodge
No. 434 in the Town of Maricopa received it's charter
October 16, 1913, Temblor Lodge No. 447 in the Town of
Fellows charter was approved October 14, 1920 and Taft
Lodge No. 516 in the City of Taft received it's charter
on October 12, 1922.

Sadly, in the 1960's, big oil started shrinking. Offices
and support facilities were shut down with the result that
many of the people that had worked therein were either
transferred or laid off. As all of these communities were
based upon the oil industry, Masonry suffered greatly and
due to the lack of people available and willing to
sacrifice their time being officers, mergers were
instituted during the1970's.

Midway Lodge being the lone survivor, and now under
the name of Taft-Midway Lodge No. 426, is still going
strong. This year marks 100 years of masonry in this
town and met to joyfully celebtrate our centennial
this October 17, 2011. Come and join with us in celebrating our next 100 years.

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