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Changes? Bring them on!

Back in 1947, our country was reeling from many major changes. Word war II brought war to our nation. Over 400 thousand Americans died as a result of war casualties. Furthermore, the cold war was beginning…in June of 1948 the Berlin airlift started.

Meanwhile, California and the Bay Area were growing substantially. People who lived here started having children and others came from other states for jobs. California population grew from 6.9 Million in 1940 to 10.6 Million in 1950. There was a great demand for houses being built in areas north of Berkeley and Albany and East of Richmond.

Masonic membership grew rate greater than the population, and Many new lodges opened:

Membership in the area served by our 11 lodges grew from just over 1,000 in 1920 to nearly 4,000 in 1950.

  Carquinez Lodge# 337 (Founded 1899) meeting in Crockett
  Pinole Lodge #353 (Founded 1903) Meeting in Pinole
  McKinley Lodge #347 (Founded 1902) meeting in Richmond
  Charter Rock Lodge #410 (Founded 1910) in Berkeley
  Alpha Lodge #431 (Founded 1912) in Richmond
  Thousand Oaks Lodge No.478 (founded 1920) in Berkeley
  Stephens Lodge #451 (Founded 1923) in Berkeley
  Shattuck Lodge # 471 (Founded 1923) in Berkeley
  Harbor Lodge #502 (Founded 1923) in Richmond
  Point Lodge #503 (Founded 1923) in Richmond
  Albany Lodge #686 (Founded 1945) in Albany

Bay Cities Lodge continues to embrace our changing neighborhoods and offer to all qualified men the benefits of freemasonry. Feel free to ask us; we would be happy to answer any questions you may have.