Masonic, California
Encyclopedia
Masonic is a ghost town
located about 10 miles (16.1 km) northeast of Bridgeport
, Mono County, California
, USA. The town consists of an upper
, middle, and lower
town; most of the few ruins remaining are in the middle town. Gold was first discovered in the 1860s, but production ceased near the turn of the century. The town's population peaked at about 1000.
, hence its name. Middle Town, the largest of the three towns, had a post office, boarding house, and a general store. It also housed the offices of the town's newspaper: The Masonic Pioneer.
The Lorena post office opened in 1905, changed its name to Masonic in 1906, closed in 1912, re-opened in 1913 and closed for good in 1927.
Masonic's population in 1906 was about 500. The principal mine, called the Pittsburg-Liberty Mine, produced $700,000 in gold before closing in 1910. By 1911, Masonic was in decline, although some mines kept in production until the 1920s.
Ghost town
A ghost town is an abandoned town or city. A town often becomes a ghost town because the economic activity that supported it has failed, or due to natural or human-caused disasters such as floods, government actions, uncontrolled lawlessness, war, or nuclear disasters...
located about 10 miles (16.1 km) northeast of Bridgeport
Bridgeport, California
Bridgeport is a census-designated place that is the county seat of Mono County, California. It lies at an elevation of 6463 feet in the middle of the Bridgeport Valley. Bridgeport is located at the intersection of highways US 395 and State Route 182. The population was 575 at the 2010...
, Mono County, California
Mono County, California
Mono County is a county located in the east central portion of the U.S. state of California, to the east of the Sierra Nevada between Yosemite National Park and Nevada. As of the 2010 census, the population was 14,202, up from 12,853 at the 2000 census...
, USA. The town consists of an upper
Upper Town, California
Upper Town is an unincorporated community in Mono County, California. It is located about northeast of Bridgeport, at an elevation of 8061 feet ....
, middle, and lower
Lower Town, California
Lower Town is an unincorporated community in Mono County, California. It is located about northeast of Bridgeport, at an elevation of 7638 feet ....
town; most of the few ruins remaining are in the middle town. Gold was first discovered in the 1860s, but production ceased near the turn of the century. The town's population peaked at about 1000.
History
The town was founded by FreemasonsFreemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
, hence its name. Middle Town, the largest of the three towns, had a post office, boarding house, and a general store. It also housed the offices of the town's newspaper: The Masonic Pioneer.
The Lorena post office opened in 1905, changed its name to Masonic in 1906, closed in 1912, re-opened in 1913 and closed for good in 1927.
Masonic's population in 1906 was about 500. The principal mine, called the Pittsburg-Liberty Mine, produced $700,000 in gold before closing in 1910. By 1911, Masonic was in decline, although some mines kept in production until the 1920s.