It was a very prosperous community with many heavy industries, factories, slaughter houses and other businesses associated with them. The area was far removed from the city of San Francisco proper - not only because of the heavy industry, but primarily due to the stench emanating from the several slaughter houses. For this reason, if one was to visit that area they would say that they were going to "Butchertown", or "Putrid Row".

There were only two ways to get to Butchertown in the early 1900s. From the main part of the city it was necessary to use Third Street to Arthur, which at that period of time was land-filled Tide Lands, a wooden street and quite narrow.

The other route was via Oakdale Avenue, which was also a land-filled street and very nasty to travel, particularly in inclement weather, since the most common means of transportation in those days was by horse and buggy until the arrival of the horseless carriage.

A Dispensation was granted by the Grand Lodge in November 19, 1870, to fourteen brethren for the purpose of establishing a lodge south of the city of San Francisco. Their first meeting under dispensation was held December 1, 1870, in the home of the wife's parents of our later Past Master and Secretary, Wor. George Lastein, located at 1528 Jerrold Avenue.

On October 15, 1871, a Charter in the name of South San Francisco Lodge No. 212 was granted to the following fourteen brethren:
 

Henry F. Williams, P.M. George Keep Francis B. Wilde Diederich Dreyer Cornelius E. Dunshee Robert P. Kelley Andrew J. Hare

Charles Witte Brooks Mayers Francis A. Barrett Diedrich Langrahr Joseph H. Cording George McIntyre John Meyer

The first Master Under Dispensation and Charter in 1870 and 1871, was Wor. Henry Fairfax Williams, P.M. He arrived on the first steamship (the SS California) that ever entered San Francisco Bay, which also brought the Officers and Charter of California Lodge at the same time on February 28, 1849. He was the first to petition for the degrees of Masonry in California Lodge No. 1, and served as it's Master in 1858 and 1859. At great personal sacrifice he withdrew from California Lodge No. 1 to aid in the organization of South San Francisco Lodge No. 212.

Another brother of major importance in the history of this lodge was Wor. Alias C. Hare, P.M., who served as Master in 1880, 1881, 1882, and 1885. In 1887 he was elected Secretary and served in that capacity through 1898. He was Grand Lecturer of our Grand Lodge during the years 1891 through 1894, and was Secretary of the Masonic Board of Relief from 1893 through 1898.

The brethren of South San Francisco Lodge held their meetings in Hare Hall and Myrtle Hall prior to the construction of their own temple.

The Corner-Stone of South San Francisco Lodge was laid on May 30, 1888, by the Deputy Grand Master Morris M. Estee, acting as Grand Master. Exactly one year later from that date, MW Morris M. Estee, Grand Master, together with the Grand Lodge, dedicated this temple. Thus, Decoration Day of our Nation (as it was known and what we presently call Memorial Day) was twice most appropriately observed by these Masonic Rites.

Our temple and the South San Francisco Opera House (immediately adjacent to the temple) were both owned by the lodge and were constructed entirely of redwood in the classic Victorian style, and were located on the South-Eastern corner of Third and Newcomb streets.

Although the interior remained much the same during it's lifetime, major repairs were made to the exterior of the building in 1950. Later, other signs of deterioration became evident, particularly in the plumbing.

As an alternative to assuming these major expenses, the membership entered into a consolidation with Francis Drake Lodge No. 376 (located in South San Francisco) in 1965. However, the consolidation failed and South San Francisco Lodge changed it's meeting place the following year to Crocker Masonic Temple in Daly City. It should be noted that Crocker and South San Francisco Lodges had exchanged annual visitations and conferred the degrees of Masonry in the respective host Lodge fro many years.

South San Francisco Lodge continued to meet at that location until the members agreed to consolidate with Crocker Lodge No. 454, which was in distress.
 

The final meeting of South San Francisco Lodge was held June 29, 1989, having convened for the purpose of conferring the Third Degree of Masonry upon Bro. Dris. with the following Corps of Officers:
 

Master: Sr. Warden Jr. Warden Treasurer Secretary Chaplain Sr. Deacon Jr. Deacon Marshall Sr. Steward Jr. Steward Tiler

Xerxes F. Zapata Donnell N. Masalta Rogelio T. Gulen Manuel K. Biega, P.M. Claude J. Palmer, P.M. Pedro R. Caturay, P.M. Conrad L. Alfaro Jesus R. Bautista Manuel D. Castillo Eliseo E. Catig Jose S. Concepcion George A. Crane

Thus ended the final chapter in the rich history of South San Francisco Lodge No. 212, and it's One Hundred Nineteen years of service to mankind, and ushered in the beginning of a new Lodge in the name of Crocker Lodge No. 212, F & A M, effective July 1, 1989.

Fifty Years of Masonry in California (Vol. 1)
Wor. Henry T. Conserva, P.M., Lodge Historian (Deceased)
Bro. James H. Madden, Lodge Historian (Deceased)
Wor. Claude J. Palmer, P.M., Secretary Emeritus and Lodge Historian

Posted on the Web by Bro. Sonny V. Dionida, Webm@ster Crocker Lodge No. 212