cr ft m sonry - Onondaga and Oswego Masonic District Historical ...

Because of his schedule, Gordon was rarely around the family. He would leave the house at two o'clock in the morning so the milk
would be in the customer's milk boxes before they arose. After his route was done for the day, he came home and was in bed and
asleep by early evening.
After the advent of motor cars, 'Gramp's' horse and buggy milk route was abandoned. For a short time, during the depression years,
he became involved with a friend of his in the house-building business. They built two houses on Winkworth Parkway, off Bellevue
Avenue, in Syracuse.
The Stevens family purchased a home at 1707 Bellevue Avenue, later moving to a home at 1826 Bellevue Avenue. In the early
1930's 'Gramp' built a home at 206 Carleton Road, also on the city's southwest side. They lost this home during those years
immediately following the depression. My mother, Dorothy Elizabeth Stevens, was married at the Carleton Road home in
September, 1934. I still have the blueprints for the home--a gracious Dutch colonial.
Sometime around this time, and perhaps leading to the loss of the Carleton Road home, my grandfather and a friend invested in a
Florida land deal. They purchased what they believed to be land in Winter Haven, Florida. During that era, land sales in Florida was
a big business, and unscrupulous people are always attracted to investment deals such as this. After purchasing the land, 'Gramp'
and his friend took a cruise to Florida to check out their investment. When they arrived, they found the land under water. After a six
months' stay in Florida they returned to Syracuse empty handed.
Gordon went to work for Yackel & Rupp, insurance agents, as a premium collector. He was given an automobile, and crisscrossed
the city of Syracuse to collect premium payments from folks who notoriously paid late. He worked there for many, many years,
retiring at the age of 85.
Gordon and Alice Stevens then moved to 111 Cherry Road in the suburb of Westvale where
they rented for 15 years. After that, a one-year lease at 401 Avery Avenue, and another oneyear
at 411 Hopper Road discouraged them from renting individual homes where one-year
leases ended with another move. Their later years were spent at 219 Village Drive, in the
Eastwood area of Syracuse, where they rented a one-bedroom apartment for many years.
< Alice (Williams) & Gordon W. Stevens (50th Wedding Anniversary)
Gordon Stevens was a Mason at the Salt Springs Lodge No. 520; 32nd Degree in the
Scottish Rite, Valley of Syracuse. He was also a member of the Citizens' Club on James
Street in Syracuse. For his entire life he played billiards. I have several newspaper articles
and photos of him playing billiards at these two clubs. He was a crack shot, and regularly
beat opponents of all ages. After his retirement from the insurance business, he would take
the bus from Grant Village to downtown Syracuse to play billiards at the clubs.
At age 96, and six years after the death of his wife, he went to live at the Masonic Home on
Bleeker Street in Utica. Although active and vital up to that stage, he became increasingly
resigned to his age and lost vitality. He was living at the Masonic Home when he died at age
102.
Written by Jill Sibson Holmes Russell
http://www.eclipse.net/~sholmes/gwstevens.html
Chapter III Spanish-American War, Boxer Rebellion, World Wars I and II, Koran War
Spanish American War
3 Oct 1898. A communication was received from the Grand Master requesting the secretary to forward a list of all members
participating in the War with Spain. This roster could then be presented to Grand Lodge On 7 Jun 1899. This report was published in
the Grand Lodge Proceedings of 1900, pages 321-329, by R.’.W.’. Peter Ross, Grand Historian. Salt Springs Lodge is not included
in the list, however, W.’. William Crabtree indicated that two brothers participated in this conflict: his brother-in-law, John Shackleton,
and Melvin Estes.
Boxer Rebellion
Max Klein was born in Orgave, Russia, was a 60-year member of Salt Springs Lodge and oldest living veteran (1962), who
participated in the Boxer Rebellion. His experiences are worth recording.
Bro. Klein enlisted in the U.S. Army on 4 Jun 1898, and was assigned to Company D of the 9th U.S. Infantry Regiment, then fighting
in Cuba. On reaching Tampa, Florida, hostilities had ceased, so further service was spent at Fort McPherson, Georgia, and
Sackett’s Harbor, New York. He was discharged on 29 Jan 1899 but reenlisted the following day for three years. The regiment was
sent to the Philippines where it was involved in a series of engagements against the insurgents on Luzon in the post-war period.
Two incidents in which he brushed eternity occurred. The men had arrived at Angeles, a small town north of Manila, at dusk and had
retired when they were attacked. As the first shot was fired, Klein jumped up and as he did a bullet struck the pillow where his head
had rested seconds before. The next close call occurred while riding with a squad of men in a wagon when lightning struck, killing
three soldiers and the mules, the wagon being completely demolished.
The outfit was then ordered to China during the Boxer Rebellion to relieve our Legation and missionaries who were surrounded by
the Chinese. They arrived at the Port of Taku in late afternoon on 12 Jul 1900, proceeding on flat cars to Tiensten, twenty miles up
the Pan River.
The eight companies, with those of other allies, were assigned to the recently vacated quarters of the Chinese. Any thought of rest
were interrupted by severe bombardment, beginning during the night. An emergency council held be General Chaffee decided upon
a frontal assault at 6:00 a.m. with the 800 Americans being held in reserve of the 5,000 French troops in the front lines. Flank fire
65