Downieville School and Freemasons Uphold Eight-Decade Ice Cream Social Tradition

DOWNIEVILLE — On May 14, 2025, Downieville K-12 School held its annual Open House and Ice Cream Social. Over 85 years ago, members of the Downieville Masonic Mountain Shade Lodge #18 voted to host this community event in coordination with the school. The lodge, which once boasted 60 members at its peak, has since merged with Harmony Lodge #164. Its historic building on Commercial Street now belongs to a private owner.

The Ice Cream Social was started to bring the community together and for families and students to learn about Masonry. Freemasonry is the world’s oldest and largest secular fraternity with over five million members. The Social also provides a chance to see more of the school, speak with other community members, meet teachers, and see the fantastic work their children and other students do throughout the school year.

At the Ice Cream social dinner, Brother Bill Miklos, of Harmony Lodge #164, presented a $1000 donation to Mr. Sean Snider, Superintendent, on behalf of the Masonic lodge members. Brother Miklos said, “As a lodge we were wanting to do something special, that maybe hasn’t been done before, for the students for not to go hungry, providing some money to the school for snacks that usually teachers have been paying [for] out of pocket over the years.”District School Superintendent Sean Snider expressed his thankfulness on behalf of the teachers and district saying, “we are a small-town community with a lot of tradition sharing here with the Masons for some 80 some years... We are grateful, it is wonderful.”

Residents of the small gold rush town expressed gratitude for the event. Kathy Fischer, Owner/Operator of Downieville Day Spa, said, “We really appreciate the Masons doing this tradition [and] keeping it alive. My grandfather and brother were masons,” who Fischer said grew up in the area and attended the Downieville school. She, her children, and her four generations of a Masonic family have enjoyed the ice cream social for decades.

Kristy Folsom, business operator, cosmetologist, and massage therapist, said, “I remember the ice cream social when my kids started school in the mid-2000s. The ice cream draws people in [who] might not normally have kids in school... to see what the students and staff are doing. I could say that most everybody in this community really cares about what they’re doing... and [wants to] see their little projects they’ve worked on… it’s a little bonus to get some great ice cream.”

Harmony Lodge #164 Freemason Jerry Brzyscz said the Downieville school’s open house allows local masons to show support for public schools and community involvement. This event surpassed the typical 75 bowls of ice cream handed out in past years. Over three gallons of ice cream were scooped out in an hour, aided by large portions. The patrons also devoured batches of homemade cookies baked by Heather Cooper, the wife of past Grand Master of California Freemasons John L. Cooper III. Cooper thanked Larry Breed, owner and operator of Sierra City’s general store, who has been generous with his assistance for Masonic events and for his reliability in supporting community causes.